Mumbai & Ujjain

This was my first trip to India.

It was Monsoon and I was on my high heel

(Done by a pro..don't do this at..anywhere*)

Funky Auto around Bandra, Mumbai

But, it wasn't a holiday trip..I came to India with huge tension and pressure over my back to visit my native (to be) in laws. Although I heard that staying in India will eventually release you from any tangled mess up pathetic stuff  in your life through a special kind of spiritual awareness, unfortunately, I didn't stay that long to experience such. Instead, these are what I experienced during the trip and it was always breath taking:

Recently Indonesian are capable to acquire Visa on Arrival (VOA) in four major airports in India (Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata & Chennai) on payment of US$60 or equivalent in Indian Rupees inc. children. Although, the VOA shall valid for 30 days max, in my experience the immigration officers will give the length of stay on the VOA depending on your return tickets date (not exceeding 30 days).

Mumbai Central Entrance

On this trip, our main destination are Ujjain and Indore of Madhya Pradesh India. The nearest entrance will be through Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Mumbai then you can take another 1 hour flight to Indore or in my case "take the 12h 40m train trip". Yes, the train, India has the biggest railway industry in the world and it has become the nation's artery vein, so take the train, and I don't mean by any train. Take the AC Duronto Express Mumbai - Indore, leave around 23.00 from Mumbai Central and will reach Indore just in time for morning tea :). The train looks pretty fancy and quite clean along with its excellent service, each compartment  has 8 convertible beds with blanky, pillow and curtain to cover up your 'bedroom' when you're asleep. Anyway, it amazed me how long a train in India could be, it's like never ending, my partner even said for a single non-passengers train could stretched as long as 150 coaches..and I'd imagine if they ever cross a busy street somewhere..chai time anyone?? :)

Just like any other foreigner coming to a new place, I did my homework figuring out about the place & the people, but I did it wrong. Here is how I did it wrong:

Stunning beauty @Jahaz Mahal

1st I watched plenty (too plenty perhaps) of Bollywood movies and swayed by its songs and dances. I even fall in love with one or two of the actors yet my grand advise: you CAN'T learn India from Bollywood movies a.k.a Bollywood movies does not represent Indian culture nor daily live!! (I supposed it applies for Hollywood as well). 2nd I learnt that reading is not the same as feeling or experiencing. I read a lot of other people experiences online which mostly consist of unpleasant stories ending up in a spiritual bloom I mentioned earlier. Well, I thought I was mentally ready but no, adding up with my personal tension, the experience and the feeling were very much overwhelming that it just break me down embarrassingly in front of everyone. I won't called it cultural shock anymore..it wasn't culture that break me down..it was reality struck. From seemingly no rules whatsoever on the street (that I think cars could hit people anytime and vehicles can hit other vehicles every time they cross path) to the 'honk ok please' sign encouraging more honking frenzy on the street that driving me crazy escalated to the way people personal hygiene behavior in the toilet..I found it very hard to deal with it BIG time. People in this country deserves better.

But that just tiny itsy bitsy part of India which I'm sure anyone can adapt along with time. Unfortunately, I was there for only a brief of time that I couldn't immerse with the local rhythm yet. However, in my brief of time I have also discovered the bliss of India that forever will spark a light in my mind each time I remember it.

Let's start with the FOOD..!

Rajasthan cuisine..yummy

A cake with Chili twist..thrilling

Oh yeah..the food is like celebration in here, and I don't mean only by the quantity but also by the taste and the variations. If I wasn't so emotionally weary, I will eat whatever dish comes in my sight like an easy prey. Oh,  did I mention that India have sweet shops like heaven??! if I ever given another shot to be there, I won't care about anything and anyone in the world, time can go turn upside down and I'll just pick the biggest shop and sit nicely on my chair tasting every single bit of those heavenly sweets like it's the Day 1 in heaven :-* but of course there are some good food and bad food and in India, I reckon the best food should be coming from the street food (if only I have the immunity to try some), but will do in other less significant occasion, coz..bhai shab, it's where the real fun begin..taste what's the local people taste and discover new buds on your tongue (okay, maybe a little too much :) but honestly, in better circumstances it was food heaven!!). 

So follow the HERITAGE..!

Jahaz Mahal, Mandu

Don't bother to ask about past civilization, arts and history to any Indian, coz when you are in India, all you have to do is to look. Yeah, I came to the country like the Flash but at some point they took my breath away that I just need to slow down and daydream about those epic romanticism era and hoping if someone..anyone..has invented time machine..Nooo..I'm not crazy..look for yourself:

Jami Masjid

   

Rewa Kund

  

Kaliadeh Palace, Ujjain

I visited 3 cities but one of them is actually one of the seven holiest city in India called Ujjain (56km from Indore), the capital of Avanti kingdom in the ancient time and the place where Lord Krishna received education :) I am now a graduate :)

Despite Kal Bhairav Temple, The Kaliadeh palace is one of the place I visited and it was awesome, Persian type of palace sitting on the bank of Shipra river, believed to be built in honor of Lord Surya (God of Sun). Moving along to Mandu (100km from Indore) the view gets even more jaw dropping. It's actually an ancient fortress city and therefore you can see plenty of remaining scattered around the sites:

Hindola Mahal

Baz Bahadur swimming pool :)

1. Jahaz mahal (ship palace) and it's grand..it got its name bcoz it has two artificial lakes around it and the palace looks like a ship floating on water. Trivia time: Do you know what is Jahaz mahal built for? think of yourself as a great Sultan at that time with money and power and obviously people..what else will you wanting for? :):):)

2. Hindola mahal (Swing palace) marked by its significant sloping wall. Believed to be the audience building during those moment. Now, seriously, has anyone inventing time machine yet??

3. Jami masjid, looks like the great mosque in Damascus, simple but grand

4. Rewa kund, it's artificial water reservoir built by dead romantic king Baz Bahadur for his beautiful beloved queen Roopmati. (now I almost convinced that the only ancient structures ever built for male sake is just Colosseum) :) 

Baz Bahadur palace from Roopmati pavillion

Roopmati Pavillion

5. Baz Bahadur palace, it said that Baz Bahadur chose to stay in this palace so he can be as near as possible with Queen Roopmati (her palace is 5 mins away on top of the hill). From his palace and from her palace too, they used to spot on each other from the roof..oooowwwwww... :) nooo...no fences on the roof and no binocular..beat that..

6. Roopmati palace, or pavillion bcoz it was supposed to be a watch station for the army but since the Queen desire the view of its surroundings then it hers since, and from there too she could gaze on the king's palace down the hill. Jealous? don't be, their story doesn't ended up as romantic :( 

There are other small palaces in the sites that are equally magnificent and worth the visit, you could spend a day or two there, after all, it was a fortress city fit for kings :)

Then be BOLLYWOOD..!!

Touch down @Shah Rukh Khan house.. \( ^_^ )/

Miraculously, whenever I think of Bollywood, I got this music playing at the back of my head and it just instantly lighten my day. Anyway, Storming Bombay won't be complete until you get a stir of the dazzling Bollywood. Unfortunately, to be able to have a tour in some of the studios, you will need pre-arrangement for clearance which I didn't do. However, there are spots in Bombay that equally shinning bright, and I'm just a mesmerized fireflies to be flown there. 

Me @Haji Ali Site

1st spot, definitely the home of my beloved charismatic, since childhood super fave actor: King Khan (gong sound - bow..!!!). His beach front house is located in classy Bandra Bandstand area, it's a rocky beach but the view are just magnificent. Next actor house I visited was the one and only "Big B" Amitabh Bachchan, located in Juhu beach area. Along in the route, I gotta stop at a popular religious spot called Haji Ali which consist of a tomb and a mosque 500yards from Bombay shoreline. Plenty of vendors lining up along the walk path to the main building which will give you the feeling of "you never walk alone" :)

Juhu Beach, Bombay

Other spots in the menu are the Gateway of India, Taj Hotel, Elephanta island, Marine drive and hundreds of other cool spots including temples and shrines. If you go to the Gateway of India, Taj hotel just accross the landmark and better viewed in daylight (in my say) and any Indian will tell you the better time to go to Marine drive is during evening or night time so that you can see the bling of city light across. I couldn't tell you about Elephanta island since I came during monsoon and it was closed..hikkssss...

My first visit to India has left a deep impression in my heart. Now I understand why those stories ended up in spiritual bloom. India offer its visitors a clear defining way of experiences: its glorious past, its hustle today and its promising tomorrow. It depends on each of us how the experiences could enlightened the very soul but once you were there, you'll know..Jai Hind!

Happy Bye Bye  :)