The last few days

Distinction 1st Class certificate and hiding my “whaat up, sucka” t-shirt.

Chickens accompanied by 2 live sheep.

Trying to finally get a good shot before leaving.

After receiving our certificates on the 31^st of January 2011, Ernie, Lucy (roommates) and myself left the ashram with Cedric and Martha in a hired taxi.  We shared rooms at the Carleton Hotel in Colaba, Mumbai.  Not the nicest of places for Western standards but quite clean and in a super location.  There was no hot water and brushing teeth took place at a sink in the hallway outside the showers.  Since the ashram, we now had to find our own food… this alone made living in the ashram a luxury!  However, they’ve sub-contracted a great chai maker here at the Carleton…one of the best tasting chai I’ve had in India!

The Taj Hotel.  Behind this is the place I stayed at! 🙂

No comparison to the Taj!

The Carleton is literally just behind the Taj Hotel (that got bombed ~2 years ago, dozens killed / held hostage).   Just around the corner is the Gateway of India and the overrated Leopold’s café.  This cafe was mentioned several times in the book ‘Shantaram.’  Our room overlooked the Taj and their guards who sat on the street level and on the patio of the level above that.  They had a great view of our room too but we had curtains!  While walking around Mumbai on the 1st of February, we spotted Tyler who took the yoga course with us.  Tyler is a dancer from Toronto.  He has quite the posture and reminds me of superman when he struts around.  I wondered about his posture if he only puts this on but noticed he has absolutely no ability to slouch.  The things I notice!  So, during our karma cleaning duties, I was compelled to ask him just how long he has been dancing.  He started since he was 10.  He’s now 28.  He was waiting for 2 hours at Leopold’s for a few others from the ashram.  We invited him to park in our small hotel room since his flight leaves late afternoon.  I wasn’t sure he would show up, but a couple hours later, the hotel guy knocked on our room door and said there was someone in front asking for me!  When was I named instigator?  Tyler stood there grinning nervously with his luggage on the floor!  Not long afterwards, Parul (from New Delhi) and Aislinn showed up.  Aislinn (pronounced ‘Ashlynn’) was my 3^rd roommate, the Irish one who almost left us the 1st week of ‘survivors camp’.  Our small room was beginning to become quite cosy.  Soon after, Ricardo and Alvarro transferred from their cockroach-ridden hotel to ours and they joined in on the ‘party.’  As some left for their flight back home and others remained, we transferred rooms to accommodate the declining numbers and shared the charges.  This happened until it was just me in a small room with a small bed.  I remembered getting concerned that I would be SO bored on my own and would need the company of others.  The 3 days I had in Mumbai before my departure flight was a concern from the beginning of this trip.  I had asked others at the ashram if they’re staying in Mumbai after the course for a few days just so that I have company.  However, after these last few days with so many people in the hotel, I could have done with a couple extra days on my own.  I ate, shopped and did the sight-seeing on my own.  I didn’t have to deal with a multitude of plans and best of all, didn’t have to deal with others’ disappointments in travel plans.  

The restaurant I ate at by myself!! 🙂

That final and glorious day of the 3^rd, I got ready for 9am, had breakfast and took a taxi to Chor Bazaar.  I had the whole day to myself and the taxi was scheduled to pick me up at 9pm for the 1:30am flight to Vienna. However, I had to be back at the hotel to move my stuff into a smaller room at 12 noon.  So, off I went to the Chor Bazaar which I read about before in a travel guide before leaving Canada.  Chor means ‘thief’ and the bazaar had/has a reputation of carrying stolen goods.  Apparently, if you loose anything in Mumbai, you can buy it back at Chor Bazaar!  Chor Bazaar is the largest flea market in Mumbai and has all the coolest crafts (statues of Indian Gods, antiques and antique restorers, wooden décor, Victorian furniture, car parts, etc) at haggling prices.  It was beyond interesting and could’ve spent a few more hours browsing the maze of alleyways.  After much contemplation and crossing off what I couldn’t carry due to weight or size issues, I settled on a couple of matching antique door handles of the Indian snake Goddess, Nagarani.  There was this large, absolutely gorgeous door handle of the Goddess Manasa, with about 7 cobras arranged in a row, sheltering her head.  Now that I’m home, I regret not picking up that one or the carved wood panel with voluptuous figurines…or…or…!  After Chor Bazaar, I took a taxi back to the hotel, moved my stuff to a smaller room, did a bit of packing and went out in search of food and anything interesting.  I ended up in a popular local spot that the ashram group dined at a couple times.  It was great to sit in the restaurant and watch the bustle of servers and customers and not have to feel observed or wonder what people must think of me eating on my own.  This time, I was the observer and a confident one too!  I enjoyed it thoroughly!  Before the taxi arrived, I packed a plastic bag of stuff I didn’t need to carry back with me and gave it to a family living on the street.  Then, I left for my next 25 hours of travel time.