Mumbai

Last weekend Malcolm and I had two very different weekends.  Whereas he got to go to the mountains and walk in the snow, I got to go to a MYP workshop for school in Mumbai.  The workshop was for Friday - Sunday.  I was looking forward to the workshop, being able to once again wear a t-shirt during the day and also to staying in a hotel with ENGLISH TV!!!!!!!!

I stayed at the Novotel on the beach in Juhu.  The school where the workshop was held was a world school that had security guards everywhere.  The workshop was excellent and very worthwhile even if I did only get a couple of hours sleep the first night.  On the Saturday night I took a private car and went for a brief tour of South Mumbai (the main part of the city).  We went to the laundry in the slum area.  It was amazing to see how they could clean so well in these conditions.  The water looks dirty but they are using a particular type of black soap, the laundry was very clean.  

We then went inside a temple, inside a wedding venue that would host 3000 people and into the local markets.  It was great to drive around but sad when beggars knocked on your window. 

During our lunch break on Sunday we went for a walk around near the school.  One of the guys had lived in India for 20 years so he led us through one of the small slum communities.  It was fascinating to see.  There was a tea house, butcher, tv repair shop and more.  Everyone was friendly.  We spoke to some boys who were off to play cricket and invited us to join them but we had to get back to school.

After the final day I went back to the hotel and took a walk along the beach.  The beach was packed but you rarely saw someone swimming in it.  Then dinner at the hotel with other teachers that I had met, before flying home.  To see more pictures click here.