[Janetw]

Hi I am travelling to Mumabi with my husband on Sat. He will work mon to thurs and I wondered if anyone had any tips as tho what are the 'things to see' and if there is a tourits office anyone can reccomend who do day tours maybe to elephanta island ??

[Misty]

Sorry i can't actually be of any help but i just wondered how you went about getting a visa. Did it take long and did you have to give up your passport while the visa was being processed?

Thanks

[jayinhongkong]

Definitely check out the city side. The Gateway Of India and Colaba are fun. Check out the Victoria Train Station if you're into colonial architecture. Mumbai's gonna be friggin' hot at this time of year. Good luck

One more thing, I suggest you sign up for a tour. The Marriott and Taj hotels will have good tours available. Some Indian men tend to objectify foreign women as sex objects thanks to what they see on TV, so I don't recommend you walk around alone unless you fancy getting grabbed. Dress down and don't wear any jewellery if you can help it. Watch out for the beggars. If you give one of them money, it's quite possible you'll be mobbed by people with their hands and bowls out in a matter of minutes.

[goodfood]

The tourist ' sights' per se in Mumbai aren't all that great . But if you're open to wandering around and experiencing this hot, noisy, chaotic, congested but incredibly buzzing city, then here are a few recommendations to help you get a feel of the place

1. Walk along the Colaba seafront and the Gateway of India. Then sip a cuppa at the Taj Hotel while watching the boats over the Arabian sea

2. Check out the latest exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery and grab a snack and a drink at the ethno-chic Samovar restaurant in the same complex. And pop over to the David Sassoon library across the road where wizened old men sleep in the darkened recesses amidst a century-old collection

3. Check out the colonial architecture of Victoria Terminus and Churchate train stations, and throw yourself into the throngs of officegoers coming out of the stations at peak times to experience what it means to be in a country of 1 billion+ people. After a while wander into the Oval maidan and watch youngsters play cricket.

4. Watch the sunset while walking along Marine Drive and drink some Nariyel Pani ( fresh coconut water) with hot corn on the cob

5. Go to Elephanta Caves if you must but there are other better day trips from Mumbai like Alibaug beach or Manori Bel resorts or Madh Island / Marve or the forts in Murud Janjira. Your hotel should be able to organise all these for you

6. Watch a Play at the Prithvi theatre in Juhu and relax with some great Irish Coffee at their garden bar. Watch a Bollywood potboiler at any of the new Multiplexes around town

6. There's incredible food in Mumbai, right from the tastiest snacks on the roadside to chic eateries and deluxe restaurants in 5 star hotels. Assuming you'll not want to venture into street food or anything too adventurous, here are a few restaurant recommendations: Trishna and Mahesh in the Fort area for Mumbai specialty mangalorean-type seafood including some of the best crabs you'll ever eat. Any of the Indian restaurants in the Taj Hotel or the Oberoi Hotel for good Indian food from various parts of the country; Indigo in Colaba and Olive in Bandra for chic mediterranean food; Goa Portugesa in Central Bombay or Martin's in Colaba for fabulous Portugese-influenced Goan food; Oh Calcutta for food from Calcutta, Bengal; Paradise in Colaba for great Parsi food - another Mumbai specialty

These are safe but great restaurants. If you want to get into something more adventurous, I could throw out a few other names

And there's much more, but this Post is getting too long.

[kombuchakid]

As you are getting 3 days off a week, would suggest heading out to nearby hill stations to cool off.

http://www.indiatravelite.com/weeken...y/matheran.htm

or even a bit further afield

http://www.indiatravelite.com/weeken.../panchgani.htm

best to ask your concierge for latest deals

[Janetw]

Hi Misty

Really easy. 26 floor of united building admirality. take a photocopy of id card and passport info page and two photos. they do it in the same day. googls indian embassy hong kong and you can download the application form from there. you have to take the photocopies tough as they will not copy for you.

[Janetw]

Wow goodfood - great tips. thanks very much. we are staying on Marine drive, so i think there is quite a bit a short cab ride away. Elephanta was top of my list - will ahve a rethink now....
Jay glad you reminded me about the grabbing i was in delhi at 25 and was traumatised by it all. am a bit older and stroppier now though !!!!
kombuchakid - will still have to meet with hubby in the evenings.... but thanks for the links

[HKFella]

Not to worry - that Delhi problem in general doesn't afflict Mumbai. In that sense the two cities are very different.

[back2HK]

Originally Posted by HKFella

Not to worry - that Delhi problem in general doesn't afflict Mumbai. In that sense the two cities are very different.

Couldn't agree more.. Mumbai is nohing like Delhi - nobody will grab you. Just go ahead and have fun. Be prepared for traffic bottlenecks..