Report
Traveling date: 4-6 October 2014
Guidebook
Wikitravel on Mumbai.
Visa
Visa on Arrival for Indonesian passport.
Must bring:
1. Passport size photo (1)
2. Copy of return flight ticket
3. Copy of hotel booking
4. Pay Cash USD 60
Accommodation
Stayed in Diplomat Hotel, booked with Agoda, about USD 75 per night.
The only good thing about this hotel is the location.
Just behind the famous Taj Mahal hotel nearby the Gate of India.
A lot of restaurants are in walking distance, including McDonald, and Starbucks is just across the street. And the famous Leopold Cafe (appeared in Shantaram) is 5 minutes walking.
From nearby big road, can ride bus or taxi.
The AC is non-split AC which is noisy, the TV is brown-tube not LCD, the elevator is manual opening, overall facilities were not satisfying.
Eating
Since I was afraid of getting stomachache, I avoided food street, I ate mainly in the restaurants.
- McDonald's
There is one just a block away from my hotel and Leopold Cafe. There is no beef, instead there is vegetarian paner (cheese) burger. Lots of spicy choices.
- KFC
Ate in the airport. Lots of spicy choices too.
- Mahal Moti
In Bandra. Upper class. Delicious. Ordered Butter Chicken, Roti, Nan, Crocquete, and 2 Lemon Lime soda, costed 1311 rupees.
- Copper Chimney
There are one in Fort area, and one in Highstreet Phoenix. Upper class. Ordered gravy prawn curry, gravy bean meal, and kofta in gravy, 3 beers, spent 2800 rupees.
- Thrishna
Upper class seafood restaurant, located in Fort Area, not far from Rhythm house, recommended by Wikitravel, Trip Advisor (rank 22), and my Japanese friend lives in Mumbai.
Ordered very yummy crab garlic butter and spicy fried fish, and beer, spent 1750 rupees.
Transportation
- From airport to my hotel in Colaba, I took prepaid taxi, and paid 550 rupees. It is a mini car (normal taxi in Mumbai) and non-AC. Take about an hour in early morning (no traffic jam), from the International airport to Colaba.
- Taxis are cheap. Initial rate is 21 rupees. From Colaba to Phoenix Mall costed 200 rupees.
- Rickshaw is tuktuk. Initial rate is 17 rupees, only operate in certain area (north area).
- Bus is super cheap. From Colaba to CST train station is 8 rupees. From Malabar Hill down to Gigaon Chawpaty Beach was 5 rupees.
- Local train is super cheap too. From Churchgate to Mahim Junction (for the famous slum area Dheravi) was 10 rupees. Same price from CST Station to Bandra. From Lower Pare (Highstreet Phoenix Mall) to Churchgate was 5 rupees.
- Ferry from Gate of India to Elephantas Island was 160 rupees (return).
Sightseeing
- Elephantas Cave.
A world heritage ruins in the caves, located in an island about 1 hour ferry ride from Gate of India. Entrance fee was 250 rupees for foreigner (for local only 10 rupees). Arriving the island, there is small and over crowded train take people to the start of the climbing stairs, the train costed 10 rupees, but have to fight to get on.
It was better that my expectation, the pilars in the cave were beautiful, so as the carvings.
There is trekking area called Canon Hill, started just before the ticket entrance. About 15 minutes walk to the first canon, then 5 minutes more to the second.
- Gate of India
The most famous icon in Mumbai.
- Taj Mahal hotel
You can enter to see the luxurious interior.
- CST Station and colonial buildings in Fort and Colaba areas.
Beautiful colonial buildings, and art deco building.
- Gigaon Chowpaty Beach
Dirty due to rubbish, but interesting to see the local people.
- Juhu Beach
Located in the north, a bit cleaner that Gigaon Chowpaty Beach.
- Hanging Garden at Malibar Hill
Can see the necklace shape of Chowpaty beach and Marine drive. There is famous boot-shaped hut.
- Slum tour to Dheravi
Joined Reality Tour, costed 750 rupees per person. Meeting at 09:15 at Churchgate in front of book store inside the station. Then we rode the local train to Mahim Junction.
The tour was both, interesting and depressing.
Interesting that the people in the slum area working hard in business like recycling plastic, leather work, and clay pot.
Depressing seeing safety is not a concern in the working places, and the habitat is not hygienic.
Another company conducted the same tour is Be the Local, charging cheaper 500 rupees per person, departing from Mahim Junction station.
- Crawfort Market
Just nearby CST train station. Can see people selling spices, fruits, vegetable, meat and pet.
- ISCKON
Khrisna temple located near Juhu beach. No visit is OK too.
Missed Attractions
- Movie tour
Was full.
- Prince of Wales Museum
Was closed on mondays.
- popular worship places such as Haji Ali mosque and Mahalaxmi temple
- afternoon high tea at Sea Lounge at Taj Mahal Hotel.
- meal at Shree Thaker Bhojanal.
Was closed on Sunday nights. Ranking no.1 in Trip Advisor recommended restaurant.
My Diaries
Watching Slumdog Millionaire and reading Shantaram, made me want to visit Mumbai since long time ago. Moreover, I love Bollywood movies, their dance and music, their beautiful and handsome actress and actors.
I used 4 days Eid Al Adha from my company to go to Mumbai for 3 days, 4-6 October 2014.
Chose the cheapest available ticket, I flied Indian Jet Airways.
Going flight plane was old and no individual monitor, but returning flight had the monitor.
Arrived 5AM in the morning, applying visa on arrival, then took taxi to my hotel, Diplomat hotel in Apollo Bandar, Colaba area.
Since it was too early to check-in, I walked around the hotel.
Didn't expect it that my hotel is located so close to the most famous the Gate of India and Taj Mahal Hotel. So the location of my hotel was perfect, but not the facilities.
When I checked in Facebook, a notification came that a Japanese friend was living in Mumbai.
Thanking Facebook for the reminder, I contacted that friend and made appointment to meet later.
Then I called the Reality tour to join their slum tour started at 9AM. Though was a bit expensive (750 rupees) than Be the Local tour (500 rupees), I chose the Reality since it started in the morning, and it said 80% of their profit goes to the slum community.
So I took a taxi to Churchgate station where the meeting point.
With other travelers, the guides took us by local train to Mahim Junction station, the nearest station to Dheravi slum area.
Was divided into several groups, I was grouped with a Taiwanese and a UK gay couple.
The guide took us to the area, and reminded us that taking pictures was not allowed.
The first stop was plastic recycle industry.
They separated plastic rubbish into several types, then they grind to make it small like pallet, which to be sold to plastic manufacturers.
The machines used for grinding the plastic were all locally made in the area.
Then the guide took us to the residential area, leather industry area, clay pot making areas.
That day was 2 days before Eid Al Adha celebration where they cut goats, that we saw a lot of goats. Couldn't imagine on Eid Al Adha day when they cut all the goats, should be blood everywhere.
While it was interesting to see the industries and the life in the slum, it was also depressing seeing the work conditions that not considering safety. Also the hygienic condition was so poor.
Traveling date: 4-6 October 2014
Guidebook
Wikitravel on Mumbai.
Visa
Visa on Arrival for Indonesian passport.
Must bring:
1. Passport size photo (1)
2. Copy of return flight ticket
3. Copy of hotel booking
4. Pay Cash USD 60
Accommodation
Stayed in Diplomat Hotel, booked with Agoda, about USD 75 per night.
The only good thing about this hotel is the location.
Just behind the famous Taj Mahal hotel nearby the Gate of India.
A lot of restaurants are in walking distance, including McDonald, and Starbucks is just across the street. And the famous Leopold Cafe (appeared in Shantaram) is 5 minutes walking.
From nearby big road, can ride bus or taxi.
The AC is non-split AC which is noisy, the TV is brown-tube not LCD, the elevator is manual opening, overall facilities were not satisfying.
Eating
Since I was afraid of getting stomachache, I avoided food street, I ate mainly in the restaurants.
- McDonald's
There is one just a block away from my hotel and Leopold Cafe. There is no beef, instead there is vegetarian paner (cheese) burger. Lots of spicy choices.
- KFC
Ate in the airport. Lots of spicy choices too.
- Mahal Moti
In Bandra. Upper class. Delicious. Ordered Butter Chicken, Roti, Nan, Crocquete, and 2 Lemon Lime soda, costed 1311 rupees.
- Copper Chimney
There are one in Fort area, and one in Highstreet Phoenix. Upper class. Ordered gravy prawn curry, gravy bean meal, and kofta in gravy, 3 beers, spent 2800 rupees.
- Thrishna
Upper class seafood restaurant, located in Fort Area, not far from Rhythm house, recommended by Wikitravel, Trip Advisor (rank 22), and my Japanese friend lives in Mumbai.
Ordered very yummy crab garlic butter and spicy fried fish, and beer, spent 1750 rupees.
Transportation
- From airport to my hotel in Colaba, I took prepaid taxi, and paid 550 rupees. It is a mini car (normal taxi in Mumbai) and non-AC. Take about an hour in early morning (no traffic jam), from the International airport to Colaba.
- Taxis are cheap. Initial rate is 21 rupees. From Colaba to Phoenix Mall costed 200 rupees.
- Rickshaw is tuktuk. Initial rate is 17 rupees, only operate in certain area (north area).
- Bus is super cheap. From Colaba to CST train station is 8 rupees. From Malabar Hill down to Gigaon Chawpaty Beach was 5 rupees.
- Local train is super cheap too. From Churchgate to Mahim Junction (for the famous slum area Dheravi) was 10 rupees. Same price from CST Station to Bandra. From Lower Pare (Highstreet Phoenix Mall) to Churchgate was 5 rupees.
- Ferry from Gate of India to Elephantas Island was 160 rupees (return).
Sightseeing
- Elephantas Cave.
A world heritage ruins in the caves, located in an island about 1 hour ferry ride from Gate of India. Entrance fee was 250 rupees for foreigner (for local only 10 rupees). Arriving the island, there is small and over crowded train take people to the start of the climbing stairs, the train costed 10 rupees, but have to fight to get on.
It was better that my expectation, the pilars in the cave were beautiful, so as the carvings.
There is trekking area called Canon Hill, started just before the ticket entrance. About 15 minutes walk to the first canon, then 5 minutes more to the second.
- Gate of India
The most famous icon in Mumbai.
- Taj Mahal hotel
You can enter to see the luxurious interior.
- CST Station and colonial buildings in Fort and Colaba areas.
Beautiful colonial buildings, and art deco building.
- Gigaon Chowpaty Beach
Dirty due to rubbish, but interesting to see the local people.
- Juhu Beach
Located in the north, a bit cleaner that Gigaon Chowpaty Beach.
- Hanging Garden at Malibar Hill
Can see the necklace shape of Chowpaty beach and Marine drive. There is famous boot-shaped hut.
- Slum tour to Dheravi
Joined Reality Tour, costed 750 rupees per person. Meeting at 09:15 at Churchgate in front of book store inside the station. Then we rode the local train to Mahim Junction.
The tour was both, interesting and depressing.
Interesting that the people in the slum area working hard in business like recycling plastic, leather work, and clay pot.
Depressing seeing safety is not a concern in the working places, and the habitat is not hygienic.
Another company conducted the same tour is Be the Local, charging cheaper 500 rupees per person, departing from Mahim Junction station.
- Crawfort Market
Just nearby CST train station. Can see people selling spices, fruits, vegetable, meat and pet.
- ISCKON
Khrisna temple located near Juhu beach. No visit is OK too.
Missed Attractions
- Movie tour
Was full.
- Prince of Wales Museum
Was closed on mondays.
- popular worship places such as Haji Ali mosque and Mahalaxmi temple
- afternoon high tea at Sea Lounge at Taj Mahal Hotel.
- meal at Shree Thaker Bhojanal.
Was closed on Sunday nights. Ranking no.1 in Trip Advisor recommended restaurant.
My Diaries
Watching Slumdog Millionaire and reading Shantaram, made me want to visit Mumbai since long time ago. Moreover, I love Bollywood movies, their dance and music, their beautiful and handsome actress and actors.
I used 4 days Eid Al Adha from my company to go to Mumbai for 3 days, 4-6 October 2014.
Chose the cheapest available ticket, I flied Indian Jet Airways.
Going flight plane was old and no individual monitor, but returning flight had the monitor.
Arrived 5AM in the morning, applying visa on arrival, then took taxi to my hotel, Diplomat hotel in Apollo Bandar, Colaba area.
Since it was too early to check-in, I walked around the hotel.
Didn't expect it that my hotel is located so close to the most famous the Gate of India and Taj Mahal Hotel. So the location of my hotel was perfect, but not the facilities.
When I checked in Facebook, a notification came that a Japanese friend was living in Mumbai.
Thanking Facebook for the reminder, I contacted that friend and made appointment to meet later.
Then I called the Reality tour to join their slum tour started at 9AM. Though was a bit expensive (750 rupees) than Be the Local tour (500 rupees), I chose the Reality since it started in the morning, and it said 80% of their profit goes to the slum community.
So I took a taxi to Churchgate station where the meeting point.
With other travelers, the guides took us by local train to Mahim Junction station, the nearest station to Dheravi slum area.
Was divided into several groups, I was grouped with a Taiwanese and a UK gay couple.
The guide took us to the area, and reminded us that taking pictures was not allowed.
The first stop was plastic recycle industry.
They separated plastic rubbish into several types, then they grind to make it small like pallet, which to be sold to plastic manufacturers.
The machines used for grinding the plastic were all locally made in the area.
Then the guide took us to the residential area, leather industry area, clay pot making areas.
That day was 2 days before Eid Al Adha celebration where they cut goats, that we saw a lot of goats. Couldn't imagine on Eid Al Adha day when they cut all the goats, should be blood everywhere.
While it was interesting to see the industries and the life in the slum, it was also depressing seeing the work conditions that not considering safety. Also the hygienic condition was so poor.
2 comments:
Post a Comment