Today I came back from my longest journey in India.
I left Delhi 30.10.09 to go to.... MUMBAI!! Finally I saw this great city!
This adventure was completely different than any other. Why? Hmm.. Let's start from the train. That was the first time when I didn't take sleeper class (normal, without AC, just fans in the cellar and quite dusty, blue beds;)), but I went by 3AC class, which means, ys, I actually didnt know what does it mean, although I was sure that the only difference will be in AC (air conditioning). How wrong I was! Firstly: every passanger had his own bedsheet, blanket and pillow (CLEAN and WHITE). Secondly (the most important): in this clas the food is provided! So after about 30 minutes from entering the train, one person from the staff gave us a plante with a sandwich, kachorri, sth sweet and juice. Later he brought a soup with breadsticks, later a big supper - U can choose: veg or non - veg and in the morning a big breakfast. Tea and coffee as much as U want. That was a shock. Better than in Europe! Especially when we're talking about the prices: 1450 Rps from Delhi to Mumbai! Not even 100zl for 1160km! And I felt like in the est InterCity (departure from Delhi 4.30pm, in Mumbai 8:30 - very fast).
When we got out from the train, on the station, there was waiting for us who??
ARITRA!!!
YS, that was the second thing which differs this journey from the other: I met my friend!!! It was soo crazy and great :)
So thanks to Aritra we had a place to sleep, because he knew a guy from coachsurfing and contacted him, so we had a nice place :) quite near to Aritra's place, so it was good :) because Mumbai is soo big...
So during our first day we've seen whole Mumbai (from the bus of course, because our place was in north Mumbai) and we've been more hmm.. chilling out, because U know Aritra.. he's lazyyy ;) so we've just come to the seaside and then to the beach, where I forced Aritra to walk :D I was able to do it unless in front of us tdhere appeared a kind of a small river going throught a beach and Aritra had shoes, so he said he's not going to take them off..
so we've turned back, but it was good :) for him it was suuuch a long distance ;) after that we wen for a juice from a sugarcane and then for supper and sth favourite... beer and drinks :) Aritra took us to the place with happy hours, so 1 beer = 2 beers, 1 drink = 2 drinks :) veery nice place :) Unfotunately, next day Aritra had his classes, so we arranged 2.10 by ourselves. First of all we had to know, how to reach the city centre, but it turned out that Aritra's family is going there, so they decided to take us there. So tat's how I met the whole Aritra's family :) ;)
They are incredibly nice people, hey decided to show us a city before dropping us next to the India Gateaway, so we had an opportunity to ride through a big, new bridge above th sea. Finally, when they dropped u in the ccity centre, we went to the Elephanta Island by boat. Elephanta Island is an island with caves, where are many sculptures in the walls etc. it's better to see it in the pictures ;) very nice place. 
Later we went to the India Gateaway, Taj Hotel and the city with many old, beautiful buildings like the Clock Tower or Mumbai University. When we wanted to go to the promenade near to the Gate, we've finally went to slums... But what was not normal for me: nobody wanted money from us, nobody stared like usual. These people just didnt treat us like different people. And that was great. Really. Because in India people always stare at U, especially when somebody is like me: white with blond hair and blue eyes. But there, in slums, I felt really... safe. But of course, we left these surroundings to look for a promenade :) there was amazing! when U can see skyscrapers and the seaside :) Almost like Manhattan ;) At night even just like New York. At night Mumbai is mysterious, stunning and looks like a big European or USA city. Actually, Mumbai is a very civilized city, more than Delhi. People don't horn there all the time, there is cleaner and rickshaw drivers use meters!! I Delhi they dont wanna use it, U have to bargain, but in Mumbai it is normal! I think that Mumbai should be a capital, but doesnt matter. We came back about midnight back to the flat by local train (like metro) and rickshaw ;) 3rd day in Mumbai we spent in Mahalaxmi area, where is a huuuge laundry (check in he picure), a temple and a mosque on the water. Later, in the afternoon we went to Aritra's house for dinner. OMG.. that was AMAZING!! I am a great fan of Indian cuisine, but home made food is just.. perfect ;) we've spent a nice afternoon and evening, I met more people, Aritra's friends. Last day a train was at 1:30 pm, so we were able to go to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (earlier: Victoria Terminus), a delightful building (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Terminus). This day it was raining a lot, so we had to go to the train.
So from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and from Ahmedabad to Udaipur :) This time we've been travelling by an old train... I dont wanna talk about it
so.. Udaipur is a city with a beautiful City Palace, the Lake Palace (one part of James Bond was shooting there), some hotels imitated for palace and.... a lot of places to shop :D:D:D:D so actually a place for me ;)Udaipur is better to see in the pictures, so.. go to my Picasa and see them!! :)
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/anna.praselek
I haven't written anything about my trips to Amritsar, Jodhpur and Shimla, but one day I will ;) Maybe later ;)
An for now the most important is... our RECRUITMENT!!
Join to AIESEC Katowice AE!!
U can go for an internship, just like me and be a member of our organisation - just like me =)
Do U wanna make Ur dreams come true?? Join US!!--> www.aiesec.org/poland/katowiceae
