So after a long and tiring 22 hour train ride I made it to Mumbai. I was a little apprehensive about arriving into the city without a guidebook, but I am couchsurfing here with a couple that live in a suburb called Chembar and they had given me good instructions on how to get to their place from the Bandra train station. I managed to completely screw it up though and was ripped off by the taxi driver, but it was my own fault. I had a bad feeling about the ride when I got in the taxi, because the guy was already protesting that the distance was really far, but I was exhausted, tired, and drity and I didn't have the energy to find another taxi. I told the guy to reset the meter when I got in, because that was what the hosts had told me to do, however I had no idea how the meter should run. By the time we got to his apartment the meter was reading 38, I knew that there was some calculation you needed to do to get the actual cost, but I didn't know what it was, he handed me a card with the calculation and I immediately knew that it was completely bogus, because my ride was going to cost 600rs, which didn't make sense. We got in a huge argument, arm waving, him swearing at me in hindi and eventually I ended up giving him 250rs, which he of course tried to short change me on by 50rs. It was a nice welcome to Bombay :) I wasn't really annoyed at all, it wasn't enough money for that, but it was a good lesson. Always understand approximately what you should be paying before you get in a taxi!
My hosts here are great. A really nice couple, one is a banker and the other works in IT. I'm getting an interesting glimpse into the lives of a middle class Bombay couple. More about that later. Going to have some lunch with them.
3 comments:
Stop by Leopold's if you get a chance, but avoid the main touristy hours.
Hey Conor! i've just been catching up on your last few posts, but it looks like you're a pro! How do you find these couchsurfing gigs? Sounds awesome there. Have a great time with Deva. :) big hug to you both.
Hey Conor.. following your blog. Awesome stuff. Actually my high school and college in Mumbai were in Chembur - OLPS and Vivekanand - not sure if you're staying close to these, you could ask ur hosts :) And I lived in the suburb next to it - Ghatkopar. Definitely do the walk from CST station to the Taj hotel. there is so much along there. Also try to get lunch at "Cream Centre" on marine drive, esp. their "chole puri" - best in the city for sure. Looking fwd to your bollywood experiences. have fun!
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