Sri Lanka & India 23/24

The Dhobi Ghat is the most famous of open laundry's in Mumbai. Wikipedia says it was constructed in 1890 and is said to be the largest open air laundry in the world.

Around 7,000 Dhobi's (washers) flog, scrub, dye and bleach clothes on concrete wash pens and hang them out to dry wherever they can find a spot. They estimate 100,000 pieces of cloth are washed every day from the hotels and hospitals of Mumbai. We marvel at how they don't lose anything!!Read more

Having read the book Mum did a wee Google to see if there was a Shantaram tour and sure enough there was! It was guided by Prabhakar's nephew, it just had to be done!

Prabhaker was the character who initially befriended Shantaram (also known as Lin and Linbaba) and took him back to his village and taught him many of the local ways including finding him somewhere to live in the slum.

First stop on the tour was the brothel owned by Madam Zhou. In the story it was burned down in the end, Madam Zhou was a particularly nasty piece of work but made for a good villain in the story. There wasn't much to see now so it was a quick drive by.

Next up was the infamous Bombay prison where Lin spent many months in the most inhumane conditions one could possibly imagine. We vow never to deal drugs in Mumbai lest we end up there!

Next up was the docks. This is where the drugs came in by boat hidden in fish. Lin had a role in overseeing things making sure product got to where it needed to go.

We got a photo of Shantaram on his bike on a return visit (sadly, not with Abdullah, one of Lin's best friends in the gang world).

And finally, photos of where Shantaram lived in the slum. This was very different to the ethical slum visit where we were shown industry and endeavour. Here it was very narrow pathways and people just living. Still, every child smiled at us and every person we met made us feel welcomed. This is their home and they are proud.Read more