We made it to Mumbai...I mean Bombay...no Mumbai

After a harrowing set of train rides, one in a cleeper coach with two Indian men and one in some seats with 100 or so Indian travellers, we have arrived in Mumbai, which the Indians still call Bombay. We did get totally ripped off by two taxi drivers that were a tag team effort, one awaiting poor unsuspecting non-Indian travellers on the platform - and the other in the taxi with some make shift lamenated paper with various rates and fares. They are very clever and fast and quickly shuffle you along into their cabs and drive you away. It was pouring down with monsoon rain and we were deleriously tired, but when we arrived at our pristinely clean, but dormlike, un-air conditioned and shared toilet/shower facility hostel, we were way over charged and the one driver actually tried to swap some bills around in his had to make it appear as though we hadn't given the correct amount. Luckily, I observed this shady maneuver and screamed at the top of my lungs and got my correct change, but unfortunately this was too late and we were overcharged anyway. I did feel rage, but Alex was able to calm me down and once we settled into our hostel, we went to a delicious, yet pricey restaurant for pasta. We needed a break from curry!
Today we woke up in ools of clean sweat and got dressed. Our hostel manager asked us if we wanted to be extras in a Bollywood movie, but we respectfully devlined. Then, we went this this tasty little bakery and had some yummy cheap croissants and discovered that after 9pm all the pastries are buy one get one free so we will be returning at 9:01pm tonight to stock up! It was pouring down with rain, as we are in the midst of monsoon season. The India people are thrilled for the rain, as everything is so dry, but Alex and I are not as happy for it. We did purchase waterproof anaraks with my gift certificate from my SISP team before we left and they are a G-d send, I must say! We came across a Regal Cinema playing one English speaking film so we dicided to see the Karate Kid with Jackie Chan for about 1 pound 80 pence each. As we nestled into our assigned seats in the balcony wathcing a slideshow of random commercials, all of the people in the theatre stood up with arms by their sides. We quickly realized that they were playing the Indian Anthem and that you must stand up and look intentively at the screen. Then the movie began and it was quite funny...I group of young Indian school girls sitting in the corner certainly thought so. Just as it was getting good, the movie stopped and there was an intermission, which was wonderful, as I needed to use the "loo" and I was able to purchase some caramel and salted mix popcorn for 35 rupee. This was a yummy treat and Alex enjoyed it too! After the movie ended, we came back outside and walked through the rainy streets of Mumbai finding respite in a quirky and best of all free art gallery with several exhibits of paintings and sculptures being displayed. We walked around from room to room looking at all the amazing artwork and signing the artists guest books when we suddenly realized that the actual artists were in the rooms watching all of the people viewing their artwork. We slipped into one of the gallery rooms where an artist was giving out free chocolates and we pretended to get into a deep and meaningful about her art so that we could get some free candy, as we were starving having only eaten a croissant, some mixed popcorn and water. Those chocolates were a delicious lunch! We then left and walked along the water (not to swim in...it is toxic) and found a tiny hole in the wall shack an got 4 samosas for 20 rupee, as Alex was beginning to hallucinate from lack of food! We are now in an internet cafe catching up on emails and waiting for the rain to stop and 9:01pm to come so we can get some 1/2 price pastries, as we will be super hungry by then, but these are the things you have to sacrifice when travelling...food and comfort! Tomorrow we are going to go to Elephanta Island if we can avoid getting ripped off and it isn't raining too badly. We are also going to again attempt to upload some pictures of all of our adventures so you can actually see what this place looks like...it is amazing!