After one month of travel, including flights from Israel to South Africa, Joburg to Cape Town, renting a car, and flights JoBurg to Mumbai, India, the first month will easily be the most costly month of the trip. We figure to spend much less in India.
There are four main focuses when traveling: Accommodation, Transportation, Entertainment, and Food. With our type of traveling, living out of our backpacks and trying to limit unnecessary spending, shopping for souvenirs and trinkets are out of the question.
There are no fixes costs when traveling, as we can decide to take a bus instead of a taxi, fly coach instead of upgrade, order cheaper items on a menu, or book a lower quality AirBNB/hotel or even a hostel.
Accommodation and food are the most flexible, as the options are greater. Nadine purchased an insulated bag from Marshalls so we can buy groceries along the way as opposed to eating at restaurants everywhere. We saved hundreds of dollars in South Africa by shopping and cooking for ourselves. For accommodation, we try to stay in lower end hotels or AirBNBs that have good ratings and reviews. We aren't spending a great deal of time indoors so a clean bed, consistent electricity, running water, wifi, and AC is all we ask for. In America these things are a given, but it not the case in Africa and certainly not in India.
The following morning was a continuation of the day before. Ben went downstairs to order breakfast from the front desk, which was listed as free on hotels.com. There was no discussion about money as the food was delivered to the room. Since there were no tables or chairs in the room, we put the tray of food on the bug-infested bed and eat off it.
On our way out of the door, Ben was summoned over to the front desk and presented a bill for breakfast to the tune of 250 rupees ($3.5). Despite being free through hotels.com, they are trying to charge us for the free continental breakfast. The cost is low, but the amount is irrelevant; breakfast was supposed to be included. Supposedly, the reason we have to pay is because our reservation through hotels.com was magically cancelled, again, and oh by the way, we owe them cash for the two nights as well. Only in cash. We argued back and forth for a while, told them we would deal with them later in the day when we returned, knowing very well we wouldn't, especially since our credit card had already been charged.
We would not let this incident ruin our second day in India, figuring this type of cheating behavior will happen in almost every place we stay in India. 10 minutes later we hopped on a local bus in the direction of the famous Gateway of India, an arch-monument built in the early twentieth-century. It was erected to commemorate the landing of the first British monarchs, King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary, to Mumbai (then Bombay) in December 1911. The arch is located on the waterfront at an angle, opposite the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and overlooks the Arabian Sea. Today, the monument is synonymous with the city of Mumbai, and is amongst its prime tourist attractions. The gateway is also a gathering spot for locals, street vendors, and photographers soliciting services. It holds significance for the local Jewish community as it has been the spot for Hanukkah celebrations, with the lighting of the menorah, since 2003. There are five jetties located at the gateway, of which two are used for commercial ferry operations.
A few feet from the gateway We boarded a commercial ferry to the Elephanta Gharapuri Island. The island is six from the south east coast of the island city, an hours ride. On the way we saw oil refineries burning and disgusting, polluted waters. On the boat we met a nice Indian who looked like a combination of Kanye West and Russel Wilson. He originated from some unpronounceable island but was only visiting for the day. The way glared at each of us indicated to us that he rarely sees white people. Not just him either, we tend to turn heads all over the city.
We arrived at the island and just as expected there were lines of small stands selling street food and tours of the island. Against our better judgement, we followed some locals and purchased two tickets to a mini train that was supposed to take us to the caves. 500 meters later we descended from the train, without realizing the caves were still 300 steps and 20 minutes away. This is exactly how to waste money here. The cost was only 40 rupees, less than a dollar, but 40 rupees is half of a meal in India. This is also the typical example of the Indian scam.
On our way to the entrance of the caves, we saw monkeys stealing food from unsuspecting tourists.
The price for an Indian resident to enter was 40 rupees, while the price for a foreigner was 600 rupees. Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a collection of cave temples dedicated to the Hindu g-d Shiva. Although wildly expensive compared to what Indian pay, the place was very peaceful and charming. We walked though the caves, people watched while people watched us, and let the monkeys entertain us with their money watched. The best thing about it was the mischievous monkeys. They are thieves!
On our way down from the caves we stopped for a quick bite. Next week we will see the Taj Mahal, but today we will dine on Vefi Tali at the Raj Mahal! This plate was known to us as the wonder food. It was a $2-3 plate that included, rice, and a few unknown spices and tasty things, it is served with nan and it is perfect for two people.
On the bus back into town Ben engaged in conversation with the ticket collector, Dnyaneshaw, who gave Ben his phone number for some reason, and may or may not have invited us over to his house for dinner with his wife. He was an inquisitive man, and in his limited English, asked many questions Israel and the relationship with India.
Dinner was at Cafe Paradise for the second straight night. It was safe, cheap, and consistent. Tawa Chapati and Vegetarian Pulav
Alas, we returned to find that the room had not been cleaned, nor were the bugs exterminated. The sheets were still stained from our sweat and the food tray from breakfast. The reasoning behind this, according to the housekeeper, was because the hotel ran out of bed sheets. A quick check in the hallway closet the next morning proved otherwise. Nevertheless, with our spirits remained high as we showered, lay amongst our incest family, and recharged our bodies for the trip to New Delhi the following day. To the North!
INDIAN HEALTH TRACKER
Diarrhea-free: 2 Days
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