Around the World Part 7; Mumbai, India

Destination: Mumbai India

Date: March 2012

At the Haji Ali Mosque in Mumbai
India, March 2012

What an amazing day!  India is everything I've ever seen on TV and more.  The sights, sounds and smells of India are hard to describe and it can be a wearisome event, but because it is so different from anything that I have ever experienced in my travels I love India.  We started off our day by disembarking our boat.  Because India requires special visas along with our passports it takes a little more time to get off and on to Indian soil. 

Clay on our walk into the city
Mumbai, India 2012

Once outside the ship we had to walk along the port to get to the main gate and get out of the port area.  There were armed guards checking paper work against IDs, and since many of our crew on our ship were Indian there were many that were going out for the day.  They were visiting their families and taking along souvenirs and gifts they had picked up in other ports.  All of this extra baggage made our wait a little longer as the guards were checking all of their parcels.  Trent finally ended up going over to the other gate exit, that was closed, and slipped a guard five hundred rupees (about $10) to get us through the gate with our party of ten.  

Taxis in the city
India, 2012

Bailey and Clay at the Gateway of India
Mumbai, India March 2012

Outside the green gate we were overwhelmed by taxi drivers.  Everyone wanted to have us hire them for the day.  We had heard this would happen but urged not to do this since traveling in India by taxi is so cheap, and a all day taxi driver is not necessary.  So driver after driver refused to just meter taxi us to our destination so we decided to walk out to the main road to get away from all of these crazy drivers.  We finally caught a metered taxi that took us to the Gateway of India for about one hundred rupees ($2).  The gateway of India is  massive arched building on the water that was finished in 1920 and is a welcoming point for westerners.  It was a great place to take pictures and feed pigeons and look over to see the Palace Tower next door and its beautiful architecture.

The Gateway of India with Trent, Bailey, Clay and Me
Mumbai, India March 2012

After a few pictures we caught another taxi and had them take us to Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat.  It is a huge laundry in the middle of Mumbai and it has a huge dirty, dank looking organization to it.  It was impressive to see how the Indians have this organized system of doing their laundry.  We could see dozens of uniforms hung in rows as well as costumes, and local clothing.  It was a sight to behold with the irrigation systems of water and soaps running through the floors of this open aired laundry.  

At this sight we also met a few new friends.  We never got to find out their names but they were two of the most adorable Indian boys we have ever met.  One was older probably seven and holding a baby around ten or eleven months in a sling on his side, the other boy was probably six and full of personality.  Our friends the "R"s had already met the boys on the street as they begged at their taxi door for money in which the "R"s gave them some money and some gum.  The boys loved it so much they followed the "R"s taxi to Dhobi Ghat and found us all together there.  Though they didn’t speak English and we had no words in Hindi to share, we had a small relationship for a few blocks as we walked from the Dhobi Ghat looking for our next destination the Haji Ali mosque built in the Indian Ocean in 1431.

These two boys stole our hearts because of their happiness.  They both were dirty, and looked like they had been wearing the same clothes for as long as they could probably both remember, the little baby girl had on minimal clothes but she had sparkling dark eyes and small little jewelry wrapped on her wrists and ankles.  They begged for money but they did it with smiles on their faces and personality oozing out of their ears.  I don’t know how to explain them.  The smaller boy climbed right up the pole at the stop light as we waited to cross just to get face to face with "J." and beg at eye level.  When I gave the older boy, with the baby, a ten rupee note, about twenty cents, the other boy was sad because I didn't have any other small notes on me.  Then Clay found a coin in his pocket.  We didn’t know how much it was worth but Clay gave that to the younger boy.  He quickly folded his arms, curled his lip under in disgust pouting that we had given the older boy more money.  It was so adorable I had to try and figure out ways to break some of our larger bills to give to these adorable boys.  

One of our taxis dropped us off in the middle of a freeway much to our surprise
Mumbai, India March 2012

While we were crossing the street the boys disappeared for a moment and soon came back without the baby girl. They were just the two of them now and they walked with us several blocks as we looked for the mosque.  Soon the baby girl caught up with the mother, we presumed, and after giving the mother some rupees the boys were off and we said our goodbyes.  It was good to see that in their life of poverty that they could have so much happiness on their faces.  

The trash found near the ocean while the tide was out
Mumbai, India march 2012

Some typical living quarters for the people of Mumbai
India, March 2012

By this time our walk to the mosque was getting longer than anticipated.  In a land where taxi rides cost $1 we were getting sweaty and hot for no reason.  One sight disgusting sight we saw on our walk was two blocks that must have been designated by locals as a human latrine.  There was human feces everywhere and it had the most horrific smell.  We couldn’t believe what we had come across, and that in the middle of a city on a paved road, there could be human poop on the street.  On our walk we passed slums and women sweeping the dirty floors of their little areas in ragged clothing with brooms made from branches and twigs.  It was a humbling sight. 

The Haji Ali Mosque
Mumbai, India 2012

Walking the pier to the mosque, yes that is trash off to the side in the water
March 2012

My friend "S" wasn't willing to try this refreshing drinking water at the mosque
Mumbai, India March 2012

After walking about one and a-half miles we finally got to the mosque.  Since the tide is out on Thursdays and Fridays we were able to get access to the mosque.  We walked along the pier and passed many crippled men, women, and children with all forms of ailments.  There were missing arms, legs, a man that looked like he had leprosy, a child with a huge brace screwed into his leg and he wasn’t more than 3-years-old.  One man made me feel so guilty because he was so severely burned I couldn’t look at him.  My heart ached for these people as I tried to stay strong for the sake of my kids.  It was hard on Clay and Bailey to see this kind of suffering and wonder why no one was helping them.  Since it was a far walk out to the mosque we decided not to give any money to the beggars until we were on our way back because having only been in Mumbai for three hours we had learned that handing out money creates a large following of beggars.  

This poor man was suffering from an awful skin disease and begging on the street
Mumbai, India March 2012

The mosque wasn’t very exciting, we were mostly taken aback by all of the filth that surrounded this area especially since the tide was out and there was so much pollution in the seabed.  My friend "S" walked for ages with her coke can determined not to throw it on the ground like the locals, and tried to find a trash can.  It was sad to see so much filth surround what must have been a beautiful mosque at one time.  Out on the far side of the mosque in the rocks there were naked men bathing.

Bailey walking on the pier was overcome with the garbage
Mumbai, India March 2012

Baileys following of child beggars
Mumbai, India March 2012

Clay and Trent doing a little shopping on the pier
Mumbai, India march 2012

On our way back down the pier we ran into the same cripples and children and Bailey began handing out the money.  She had quite a following in no time.  She loved one particular girl who had such a beautiful little smile and reminded her of an Indian version of a cousin she loves.  By the time we got to the end of the pier one of the shop keepers threw sand at the children to get them to leave us alone as we searched for a taxi to our next stop.  There are all different levels of people in India and these beggars and cripples are so far down and so worthless to so many people that they have no problem showing cruelty to get them to obey.  It was another harsh reality for all of us.

Clay wasn't willing to eat on the street
March 2012

Bailey and friends "S" and "J" in a taxi ride in downtown Mumbai
March 2012

Our little reprieve at the Four Seasons in Mumbai
March 2012

By lunchtime we were ready for a break from this new, interesting, but sad world.  We needed to find a clean bathroom, and a place to eat a safe lunch so we found a Four Seasons Hotel on our google maps and headed off to refuge.  We had a great lunch that cost about $25 per person but at that moment we needed a break.  Sounds selfish I know, but we needed to regroup before heading back out to this foreign land.

Trent never stops negotiating our taxis for us where ever we go!
March 2012

Clay and me in an open rickshaw or tut-tut near Linking Road
March 2012

We were told by the hotel concierge and many others that there was great shopping up at Linking Road so we grabbed taxis for our twenty-five minute drive north.  For two hundred and twenty rupees we were dropped off for more shopping where I bought some Mac makeup, two bags, four pair of shoes for my girls, and some pants for Bailey.  It wasn’t the best shopping but it was fun haggling and hunting for treasure.  When we left Linking Road we took a rick shaw to Hill Road in Bandra and when we got out of the rick shaw our driver said it was seven.  Trent was confused at what "seven" meant and so he gave him a hundred rupee note.  The driver gave Trent ninety rupees back and realizing that he meant only seven rupee (about fourteen cents) Trent went ahead and tipped him another twenty rupee.  The money is so interesting because it is so little to us it is hard to grasp the value.  I never thought I’d be in a place where money would seem so worthless.  

Apartment living for the wealthier local
Mumbai, India March 2012

Bailey loved negotiating the amazing deals of India
March 2012

We shopped a little more but decided it was time to get back down to our ship area so we again grabbed another cheap taxi and headed back toward our ship.  We stopped one more time at the Taj Palace hotel, we haggled a little more, we ate ice cream cones at McDonalds all the while passing out money and candy, gum and power bars to beggers.  We ended up giving out all of our snacks we had packed that day, since we had eaten so well at the Four Seasons, and gave the kids  in Mumbai a little more to smile about.  Though we know we can’t change those children's lives, for that one day we could make a difference.  

This man was selling delicious looking grapes but with the water concentration of grapes we didn't
dare purchase any.
March 2012

A private school let out at this bus stop with lots of debris and rubble
Mumbai, India March 2012

One interesting tip for the day was always inspect what you are buying.  While we were near the Gateway of India some young men approached us to sell us some huge balloons.  They were carrying one balloon that measured about five feet long and two feet in diameter. Since Colton's birthday would be happening the day we flew back to the states I decided to buy some of these ginormous balloons.  So I made my purchased and received a package of balloons.  The boys that sold us the balloons quickly left and I thought I had made a good purchase.  Then another group of boys came by asking if we would like to buy their ginormous balloons.  I told them no that we had already bought some and they asked if we had bought the right size and asked to see our package.  I pulled it out and showed them, only to find out I had been hood winked.  My balloons once blown up were only about two feet tall and eight inches wide.  Frustrated, I bought the second set of balloons, which looked much larger in the package and thought again I'd made a good purchase.  Only when I flew home to the states and started blowing up balloons for Coltons birthday did I find that my balloons were a medium size at about three and a-half feet long and one and a-half feet wide.  I had been hood winked for a second time.  So next time I will always take out and inspect my package!

Bailey in our 20 cent rickshaw ride
Mumbai, India March 2012

Seeing these brahmas on the side of the road was a common site since they are considered holy in this Hindu culture.  Our friends "W" and his son "M" got up close and personal
Mumbai India March 2012

Out front of one of the nicest hotels in Mumbai, the Taj Hotel.
This hotel was a focus of a terrorist attack and bombed in 2008
Mumbai, India March 2012

After a very long, productive, and educational day we headed back to the boat.  The kids learned so much about this culture in just one day and I think it opened their hearts for a lifetime.  Safe and Happy Travels!!

Treasure's of St. Thomas USVI

Destination: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Date: November 2011

At Blackbeards castle, St Thomas USVI
November 2011

As I've mentioned before, the best vacation for kids is a beach destination.  Believe me I've done Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios and nothing compares to the ease of a beach vacation with kids.  I'm not saying those other trips aren't fun but they are a hassle.  Lines, lots of cash, and organization are the necessities of amusement parks. Sometimes what everyone needs, including mom and dad, is a day, or a week on the beach.  Packing is also another bonus to beach trips.  There is so little to pack!  A few swimsuits, coverups and two extra "real" outfits are all that's needed for a week trip on an island.

Bright and sunny day on the island of St. Thomas
All six kids, Bailey 13, Lexi 7, Bella 4, Leah 7, Clay 9, Colton 15
November 2011

For Thanksgiving 2011 we decided to take our kids to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.  We made this decision based on the fact that we have a Marriott timeshare that we could trade for a week in a two bedroom, condo-type, room that fits eight perfectly.  So we packed up our kiddos, and with their small duffles on hand, we set off for Frenchman's Reef.  More info on this location can be found on the Marriott website: www.marriott.com

Driving to the beach in one of our two cars
November 2011

One downside to visiting such a small island, during such a popular time of year, was that we could not find a car rental for eight.  So we did the next best thing and rented to small cars, in which Trent and I had to each drive to get our little army around the island.  It reminded me a lot of the movie The Italian Job, because we were in these tiny cars, on trepedous island roads, and running around the island like it was our own personal playground.  I should mention that though the cars are a standard left side drive, the roads down there are the opposite of what we have here in the US.  So either Trent or I would start off driving on the right side of the road, only for the other driver to follow and realize the mistake.  Then the following driver would start honking to get the first drivers attention, and get them onto the left side of the street.  It was a little white knuckle at times but we managed, and we all made it home safely.

The view from our hotel suite
November 2011

Once we were checked into our resort we were excited to see the beautiful views and get to our room to change into our swim attire.  The Frenchan's Reef sits in a beauitful cove overlooking the Caribbean and it was beautiful.  One of the best moments was when we all got down to the pool area and noticed the large iguanas that collect down there.  Bella, who was four at the time of our trip, stopped quickly in her tracks and began screaming at the first sight of these small dragons.  There weren't just two or three there were fifteen or twenty that roamed the bushes and sprawled out on the hot stone sidewalk around the pool, lounging like they owned the place.  Of course these iguanas were harmless and only caused me heart attacks when they saw a small crumb on the ground and went dashing for it every now and then.  I will say I wasn't the only pool patron that let out a few shrieks!

Clay posing with one of the many iguanas found around the island
November 2011

At only fourteen miles long and three miles across St. Thomas is a small destination but there are many things to keep a traveler busy.  Our most favorite sight to see was Blackbeard's castle, www.blackbeardscastle.com For $14 per adult and $5 per child, twelve and under, there are lots of things to see at this attraction.

At the top of Blackbeard's castle
The kiddos pose with one of the pirate statues
November 2011

Bailey having a heartfelt conversation with this pirate
November 2011

Lexi posing with yet another statue
November 2011

Clay in the middle of this statue duel
Did I mention there were a lot of statues?
November 2011

At this one sight there's Blackbeard's Castle, The West Indian Treasure Company, The Rum Factory & Store, and  there's life size pirate statues- even Jack Sparrow if your interested!  There are beautiful estates to browse, like the Pedersen Estate or the Haagensen House, and with the right tour guide these are fun and informative.  Our kids couldn't get enough, and laughed imagining using the "toilets" they had in the homes.

Toilets found in the Pedersen Estate on St. Thomas
November 2011

One of the dioramas found on the tour
Clay loved it!
November 2011

One can never get too many of these kinds of pictures taken in their lifetime...
Bailey posing like always
November 2011

The gardens around this area are well taken care of, and since this is a tiered sight overlooking the bay we started at the top at the lookout post, and gradually made our way down the side of the hill toward the water.  Along the way there are many pools that most people think are just for looking at but once my kids enquired they found out they were indeed open for use, so my kids jumped in got wet, looked at another home or garden, then ran back to get wet again.  Since I don't think many of the other tourists knew that the pools were open for use, I could tell they thought my kids were quite the dare devils.  For some reason I felt like I needed to explain to the other tourists that the pools were available for use, but my kids preferred letting them think we were breaking the rules.

One of the pools found on site
Leah wasn't afraid to let loose!
November 2011

Bailey giving the statue of Jack Sparrow a little kiss, much to Colton's distain
November 2011

Towards the bottom of Blackbeard's castle there is also an Amber Waterfall and large pieces of amber that have been found on the island.  One in particular is for making wishes upon, and all six of my kids needed a chance to make their wish as we continued on the tour.  The tour lets out here at the amber store, where we could purchase anything we've ever desired made from amber.  

At the Amber waterfall at the bottom of Blackbeard's Castle
November 2011

Bella making her wish on the amber stone
I'd love to know what she wished for!
November 2011

My kids weren't too interested at the amber store and  wanted to get out to the local shops to do some negotiating and find a few trinkets and treasure of their own.

Even Bella had to negotiate the price of the doll she wanted to buy
November 2011

Looks like she was successful in her negotiation
November 2011

After a torrential rainstorm the kids finished their shopping and we were off again
November 2011

My favorite place to dine while we were in town was Iggie's Beach Bar, www.iggiesbeachbar.com

We made it for the all-you-can-eat crab night and it was delicious.  They cook the crab right there on the beach, our table was twenty yards from the ocean and an island band was playing off in the corner for a very perfect evening with the kids.  Nothing is as relaxing as a steel drum band playing in the distance.

Lexi and Trent posing before dinner arrives
November 2011

Like I said we keep it very casual on the island and that includes not even doing our hair
November 2011

The kids loved running around on the beach, playing on the hammocks located on property, and keeping themsleves busy while we waited for our food. Once it arrived, we gave them the signal and they 'd all come running back to the table to fill up.  There was no reason to even wear shoes for the majority of our stay in St. Thomas, see why I think a beach vacation is so much easier than Disney?

The hands on exhibits were pretty cool for the kids
Leah loved handling this starfish
November 2011

Another sight we decided to go see while on island was Coral World, http://coralworldvi.com  As the website reads "Come to Coral World Ocean Park and experience the beauty and magic of life under and above the Caribbean Sea. Stay dry while gazing into the ocean from 15-feet under in our Undersea Observatory or take the plunge “moonwalking” through ocean gardens with Sea Trek.

Lexi loved the shark aquarium
November 2011

See tiny seahorses, giant lobsters, scorpion fish and other fascinating sea life in the Marine Gardens. Or get in the swim with our playful Sea Lions. Enjoy the sounds and colors of our Rainbow Lorikeets or hand feed these sociable birds."  I had to put their description into the blog because it really all does sound fantastic and with an open mind it is!  However, my kids are spoiled, as is any child who has ever visited a Sea World in the US.  Other aquariums and sea life encounters just aren't the same in foreign countries.  Yes even the USVI does not count as truly being a US experience.

Colton gets up close to the feeding frenzy of the iguanas
This is enough to make me have chills!
November 2011

The best part of Coral World was watching the feeding time of the iguanas.  Though we thought there were lots of iguanas at our hotel pool, here the numbers were closer to the triple digits.  When the park workers came out with their lettuce scraps twenty or thirty iguanas would run to grab a leaf.  It was cool but eerie all at the same time.

All six posing for mom at the shark exhibit
It never fails that all six can't look at the camera at the same time!
November 2011

 It was neat to see how hard these locals are trying to preserve something beautiful for future generations but it is going to take a lot of investment to make this site something that anyone would want to spend more than an hour observing.  That is basically what we did.  We got in saw everything rather quickly and then left to go to a beach.  Luckily my favorite beach on the island, Sapphire Beach, isn't too far from Coral World.

Bailey and I enjoying a very relaxing Thanksgiving Day at Sapphire Beach
November 2011

This is why I love the beach so much... it seems to bring the best out of my kids
Lexi giving Leah a smooch, November 2011

Clay climbing the trees that were so close to shore on Sapphire Beach
November 2011

This may give you an idea of the shoreline by Sapphire beach
November 2011

All giggles as they played on the beach... Lexi says no more pictures
November 2011

Sapphire beach is located in a gated community but we just told the guard where we were going and he let us right in.  The beach life around this amazing beach is a little sad since it is surrounded by many foreclosed or out of business condos, restaurants, and drink stands.  The real pull to this beach is the beautiful beach line, the perfect amount of waves for the kids, and the trees so close to the water that I could keep shaded and still be apart of the fun.

Waiting patiently to board the ferry over to Tortola
November 2011

On board the ferry to Tortola
November 2011

One day adventure that we took while in St. Thomas was over to visit the neighboring island of Tortola.  Since this is a British Virgin Island we had to take our passports and board a ferry that would take us over.  After a short forty-five minute ferry ride we arrived in Tortola.  Right away, like usual, we waved down a taxi and negotiated a price for him to take us sight seeing.  Luckily it was a van with a very kind taxi driver and he took us to pick up a picnic lunch and head to a very beautiful beach, Long Bay West.

Clay enjoying the taxi ride to the beach
November 2011

The little girls loving the beach
November 2011

All the kids with Dad on Tortola
November 2011

Everyone is having fun jumping the waves
November 2011

Posing on the beach
November 2011

It was so beautiful with only about a twenty yard beach front and almost a mile of beach.  We sat up close to the foliage and the kids ran around and played in the surf.  The ocean shelf was long and wide and the kids could go quite far without being out too deep.  When we arrived at Long Bay West, it was only our family and one other little family there, for the entire three hours we spent swimming and playing.  We picnicked here and took lots of pictures while our sweet taxi driver sat over in the shade reading his book.  I think we were the best fare he'd picked up in weeks.  

Colton on board the Morning Star sail boat
November 2011

Lexi and Leah loved everything that has to do with sailing
November 2011

One other fun day trip we took while in St Thomas was over to St. Johns.  We decided to charter a sail boat with Morning Star Charters,  www.morningstarcharter.com  It was the best decision we made all week.  It was an amazing day!  Our captain was a good ol' American boy named Mike and he was very kind to the kids.  He let anyone who wanted to captain the boat steer at the helm, and take turns letting others be his first mate.  Even when we arrived over to St. Johns and realized we had forgotten to bring our snorkel equipment he quickly pulled out his stuff and fitted the kids perfectly.

The three little girls swimming in from the sailboat in the far right corner
November 2011

Lexi and Leah were all outfitted to snorkel by our Captain Mike
November 2011

Bella was already to snorkel in St. John's
November 2011

Once we were at St. John's, about an hour and a half sail from St Thomas, our captain showed us where we could swim into the beach and relax, while he and his first mate made us an absolutely delicious meal on board the boat.  The kids, Trent and I all snorkeled looking for sea turtles, crabs, and fish while they prepared the best meal I have ever had on an excursion like this.  I'm being serious.  Most of the time I'll get a dry sandwich wishing there was mayo or mustard around but never had I been given a warm meal of perfectly seasoned chicken and vegetables and corn on the cob with a roll.  It was so good that even my kids chowed down.  Of course weather in the Caribbean is unpredictable and we had rain and wind, only for it to dry up in ten minutes time, and another beautiful day reveal itself.  It was the perfect way to see the beach in St. John's.  We also loved visiting with Captain Mike and received so many helpful hints and insights of St. Thomas.  By the time we left his sailboat we felt like old friends and our kids couldn't resist giving him a hug goodbye.

A special night out with just the big kids, Colton and Bailey
November 2011

Another wonderful restaurant we ate at was Havana Blue.  Check out the website havanabluerestaurant.com, I think the website does a great job giving you a small taste of our encounter there.  This is for a romantic evening for two though we decided to let our older children join us while the little kids were having a pool night with the hotel staff in the kids club.  We enjoyed more island music in a beautiful restaurant that was on cliffside over the water.  We could hear the ocean hitting the rocks outside all of the open windows as the light linens on the windows fluttered a little from the ocean breezes.  It was a fun night for the four of us as we discussed the upcoming Christmas rush.  It will be one of my favorite nights when I think about this fun vacation with the kids.  Just being with Colton and Bailey as we all dressed up in one of the two "real" outfits we brought that week and laughed about our weeks events.

Three of my girls and I enjoying our time together
November 2011

Our Thanksgiving dinner was at a restaurant that wasn't amazing and therefore has slipped my mind what it was called.  Of course like any place in St Thomas, the people were kind, and sweet, and so nice to our kids.  I think sometimes in cultures where family is valued so much they treat those with a big family with more respect.  The people, seriously, were so good to us.  We love our untraditional tradition of travel during the holidays.

Going to church "island style"
November 2011

We also had a great opportunity to spend a Sunday on the island where we attended church before our flight home.  The kids love to visit other congregations and see so many similarities but yet still a few differences like no air conditioning, boys in sandals and things they aren't used to seeing in the states.

Our attempts to get a good family photo taken on the island of St. Thomas
It proved to be very difficult since we didn't have a photographer, only the timer on my camera!
November 2011

This Thanksgiving, 2012, we will enjoy an unexpected stay here in Texas as we get the chance to celebrate with Trent's family.  Yes all forty!! It should make for a very exciting holiday week and I'm excited to catch up with them all, and watch my kids rekindle their friendships and recommit to better contact in the future.  However, I'm sure maybe just every now and then, through all the hustle and bustle of so much family, I might just find myself imagining a hammock, ocean side in the beautiful island of St. Thomas!

When I think of my kids this is the perfect picture that comes to mind
Our last day on island
November 2011

Be Safe and Happy Travels!