from the horizon

I left New Zealand with very similar baggage as I had left with for the first time back in 2005. It has been a while since I have been able approach a check in counter without having to worry about how overweight my check in will be, able to carry, rather than wheel, my luggage. I wasn’t going somewhere to live or to work: I was travelling again.

To India. I have always regarded India as a rather challenging travel destination, and I have had friends tell me how it will be a mind blowing experience. I haven’t spent a huge amount of time here yet, however I’m finding it all very… easy. Perhaps it is all relative, and after living in Indonesia, there is just a certain degree of inconveniences, communication difficulties and cultural misunderstandings which I take for granted. Sometimes you’ve got to squat and there usually isn’t toilet paper. Get used to it… and carry hand sanitizer.

I had decide to give Couchsurfing a go, and with the facilitation of their fantastic website, spent my first nights in India staying with and Indian Couchsurfer and his family. It was a much better introduction to India than staying in a backpackers surrounded by foreigners.

Not an uncommon sight!

Still being rather exhausted from my rush to leave NZ,  and jetlagged from the flight, I decided to visit a cinema to watch Slumdog Millionaire. It does seem rather excessive to travel to Mumbai to see a movie set in Mumbai, but it was a fantastic movie, which seemed relevant to where I was. It followed the story of an orphan boy and explored a number of facets of poverty in India, with a (some what controversial)  feel good, Bollywood dance scene ending. I definitely recommend. It all seemed to be brought back to earth when I walked out of the theatre to be met by a small boy with an outstretched hand, touching my arm, and motioning to his mouth…

After 2 night in Mumbai, I boarded the AC Seated Coach on the Koyna Express bound for Pune.