Today was our final (cough) day in Bombay (cough).  As I experienced before, the air in the city is hard on the throat and lungs, though this time it took longer to affect me than it did in 2005.  So I guess that's saying something for them.  They've been replacing some of the tuk-tuks with compressed natural gas ones which should, over time, improve the air quality.

Since this was a work day there's not a lot to post, but after work we did have time for a 2 hour tour of the city.  Because of the unmatched traffic, that only gave time for two real stops before we had to get back to the hotel.  Both I saw back in 2005 but they were new for Bob.  This time I was able to get a camera into Gandhi's house as well.  Here we go...

A family that commutes together, stays together...

These 4 guys only had some rope to hold onto, and let me tell you, they took advantage of it every time the truck jerked forward.

There is so much advertising in Bombay I'm surprised they need to advertise for it.

Tata trucks and cars are everywhere, but I liked this one that not only said "Horn Please" but also "India is Great"

Another shanty town, this one along a route that is being dug up for drainage.  There were people living in the pipes by the road - they were about 6 feet tall.

People ask me how much gas is - here you go - the cheap stuff is 35 rupees per liter, or about 75 cents.

Another block of flats above some stores.  Not exactly the high rent district but not the worst around.

Oxen hauling a cart. 

An example of a building housing a large IT operation.  This is nice, especially compared to what's out on the street outside.

More not-so-high-rent housing.  Drying the laundry is done outside.

After work we went to the house where Gandhi lived when he was in Bombay.  You can read the story on my 2005 page.  This room is part of a larger library where they are accumulating every book where he is mentioned or cited, as a repository for future generations.

This is his primary room, where he learned how to spin wool.  That act became a revolution.

Significant events in his life are depicted in a set of large dioramas. This one is of a protest he led against the prohibition of Indians to make their own salt.

This is the depiction of the bonfire of foreign-made cloth.

This is the outside of the house.  Bob is trying to negotiate a deal on some postcards.  No sale.

As we drove to the next site we went by the water and were able to get a decent picture of downtown.  That IS the high-rent district.

The front of the GM/Chevrolet/Opel dealership is held together with wooden scaffolding, as usual.  I will acknowledge that I saw a lot more steel scaffolding on this trip, and even the occasional piece of heavy equipment.

We then stopped by the enormous outdoor laundry operation, which is apparently not used quite as much as in years past, as many people have moved up the income scale and now have washing machines. 





Here's where we stayed, the ITC Sheraton Grand Central Towers.  Although the top floor is #30, there are no floors 2-9 or 13.

Another few views of the city.




That's it for Bombay. The next day we flew to Bhubaneswar which you'll see tomorrow.