Elephanta
As every guide book recommended it, I could just not NOT do it… a day trip to Elephanta Island, and the temples that have been carved into the rocks. It’s a nice one-hour boat trip from Mumbai, the boats leave every ten minutes from the Gateway of India. It seems like a tourist destination, though […] Read More
Street Food hunt
I met up with Shashank, a freelance TV producer, who is currently preparing a documentary for a TV team from Singapore, on Mumbai’s street food vendors. I simply went along for the ride, as he figured out a few places and family businesses that would be willing to be interviewed. First stop: Chowpatty Beach, a […] Read More
South Mumbai stroll
I made my first steps into India today, first with one of the young men working in the hotel. He took me to a nearby mobile phone stand and organized me an Indian SIM card. He managed to get the color photo copies of my passport and visa pages, warned me that I needed a photo and […] Read More
On and on and on: Mumbai
One week was definitely too short for Bangkok, and next time I come in winter when the temperatures are lower… Off to Mumbai today, where the temperature reached 36 degrees today… Here are the fight details: Flight 32 to Mumbai Date: 12/11/2014 Code: TG317 from BKK to BOM Airline: Thai Airways Plane: Boeing 777-200 Distance flown: 1885 […] Read More
My Indian itinerary
It took quite some time to figure out my Indian itinerary. Most of all because there is so much to see, but I haven’t really read anything. As usual I am not interested in India now, I was in Hong Kong, now Bangkok, I just can’t be bothered to read about a future stop. Alas, […] Read More
Taking on India
I feel like the booking of flights and hotels and stuff never stops. Now I am taking on India. This is the country I have most respect for, as I do not know what to expect, except many people and in-your-face experiences… So far, I have secured a hotel for 5 days in Mumbai, in […] Read More
Got it
The trip can go ahead as planned. Today, the Visa for India arrived from Germany, with DHL. Some 200 Euros for the whole process. Better be worth it… I’m still getting weird messages from the Agency in San Francisco, wanting me to fill-out a non-attached form in order to re-fund me, and not responding since… Read More
Asian update
The past days I was busy planning a bit more of the Asian leg of my journey. First, I booked a place to stay in Hong Kong. I’ll be in the Sai Ying Pun Neighborhood on Hong Kong Island. It sounded good, was affordable, and seems to be well connected with public transport. I will stay […] Read More
Indian Visa, round two
Just when I thought the visa for India is on track, I get this email from the agency dealing with it, basically saying… well, what exactly? The following Documents are incomplete:- 1)proof of address not acceptable, if not resident of san francisco is not able to apply tourist visa to india. 2) provide legal valid […] Read More
Visa application
I spent the last two days assembling my visa application for India. Honestly, without Renato’s patience and help, I would not have made it. It’s a cumbersome, bureaucratic, ridiculous process. The embassy has outsourced the check of the documents to a private company, which only forward the complete, correctly filled out applications to the embassy. However, […] Read More