Preparing to leave
January 22 in India
🌙 25 °C
I spent today packing and organising myself. I was going to leave a bag with Neha, but I got everything in my case and was still underweight, so I didn't need to. This afternoon, Neha came over, so IRead more
Arriving in Mumbai
January 23 in India
☀️ 26 °C
I woke up with my alarm at 5.15am. Sheetal and Ikjot had already left for the long drive to Bangalore. I packed my last few bits and was ready when Umesh came to pick me up at 6am. He was very happyRead more
Exploring Coloba
January 23 in India
☀️ 26 °C
There are other impressive buildings in the area including the state police headquarters and Mumbai's main museum. I also stopped to look at the historic Regal cinema. I was tempted by the idea ofRead more
Out and about with Dimple
January 24 in India
☀️ 23 °C
I was meeting Dimple, my GreetHer greeter at 10am this morning near the Gateway of India, so I was up in good time, showered (hot water for the first time in weeks!), and on my way for breakfast byRead more
Coffee and churches
January 24 in India
☀️ 25 °C
From there, we went to the Abode Hotel, one of the oldest in the city, with great displays of vintage luggage and a terrific book exchange. Sadly, we were too early for their coffee shop to be open.Read more
The end of our walking tour
January 24 in India
☀️ 26 °C
We ended our tour at Flora Fountain (it wasn't working 😀) at 1pm and I made my way back to the vicinity of my hotel. I had a meal in Leopold again. It wasn't quite as rammed as yesterday.
At theRead more
Mumbai by night walking tour
January 24 in India
🌙 23 °C
My evening tour was due to start at 6, but my guide Jawwad messaged to say he was stuck in traffic so could we move it to 6.30. The meeting point was only a 10-minute walk from my hotel, so I didn'tRead more
The end of my second tour of the day
January 24 in India
🌙 23 °C
Incredibly, the city council has built a special 'tourist podium' in the middle of a busy street to allow visitors to take photos of the outside of rhe station! While we were there, a sufi parade wentRead more
Cookery class
January 25 in India
☀️ 25 °C
I had booked a cookery class and market visit for this morning. Shortly before it was due to start, I got a message from the company saying the start time would be delayed by an hour. There seems toRead more
Visiting a local market
January 25 in India
☀️ 27 °C
When we had finished, Yuka had to dash off to a Bollywood tour, so Dinesh and I went to the market. It was a small local market down a back street. Once I knew where it was, I told Dinesh he didn'tRead more
Early morning at the fish market
January 26 in India
🌙 22 °C
I didn't sleep very well, probably because I knew I had to be up early and was worried I would miss my 5.15 alarm! There's no kettle in my hotel room here, so I wasn't able to use any of the coffeeRead more
Dhobi Ghat and the wholesale market
January 26 in India
☀️ 22 °C
From there, we got back in the taxi to go to Churchgate Station, where we caught a local train to Mahalaxmi to visit Dhobi Ghat, the world's largest open-air laundry. Here, thousands of washermenRead more
Mumbai's wholesale flower market
January 26 in India
☀️ 23 °C
Our next stop was at the wholesale flower market. Again, there were both legal and illegal stalls. They were all doing a roaring trade, both because it's Republic Day today, and also because it's theRead more
Dharavi Slum
January 26 in India
☀️ 29 °C
For the final part of the tour, we got back on the train and rode a couple of stops to visit Dharavi Slum, stopping for a much-needed coffee on the way. This slum is home to an estimated 2 millionRead more
Personal stories about slum life
January 26 in India
☀️ 30 °C
My guide, Subhan, was born and raised in the slum, and still lives there with his parents and two younger sisters in a tiny space. He has little chance of escaping. To rent the smallest shared roomRead more
Trip to Elephanta Island
January 27 in India
⛅ 24 °C
I was up with my alarm at 7 and decided that, if I applied enough plasters, I could do my pre-booked tours today. I left the hotel at just before 8 to go the the Café Mondegar for breakfast.Read more
Visiting Elephanta Caves
January 27 in India
☀️ 26 °C
There are 120 steps up to the caves. I had no problem climbing them, but by the time we got to the top, my heels were bleeding and were incredibly painful! Luckily, I'd had the foresight to put a pairRead more
From Mumbai to Udaipur
January 28 in India
☀️ 22 °C
I was up on time to pack the last few bits and head to Café Mondegar for a final breakfast in Mumbai. When I went to the loo, I witnessed how egg deliveries happen here 😂.
I took an Uber to theRead more
Udaipur by night
January 28 in India
🌙 17 °C
I took a taxi to my hotel in Old Udaipur, 27 kilometres from the airport. It was a few degrees cooler than I've been used to - a mere 21°C!
The taxi couldn't get up the narrow streets of the oldRead more
Breakfast by the lake
January 29 in India
☀️ 11 °C
It felt cold overnight. I was grateful for the quilt on the bed!
This morning, I got up and went out for a walk. The city was so peaceful at that time, especially at the ghats by the lake. I enjoyedRead more
Bagore Ki Haveli Museum
January 29 in India
☀️ 15 °C
After eating, I went to Bagore Ki Haveli Museum. The building it is in was originally constructed by Shri Amar Chand Badwa, Prime Minister of Mewar from 1751 to 1778. After his death, the haveli wasRead more
Creepy puppets 😀
January 29 in India
☀️ 15 °C
Some of the original 138 rooms, balconies, terraces, courtyards, and numerous corridors now house displays of puppets, weapons, paintings, and much more. Listen to the commentary on my video of theRead more
Photos of the lake from the museum
January 29 in India
☀️ 16 °C
Stunning glass & a talented craftsman
January 29 in India
☀️ 16 °C
Final photos of Bagore Ki Haveli Museum
January 29 in India
☀️ 16 °C
Who knew there were so many types of turban? 😀



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































