Mumbai, Maharashtra

hello all,

we've spent the last 2 days in Mumbai, graciously hosted by some friendly faces who are here on various internships with International Justice MIssion.

our time in Mumbai has been short, but we've managed to see a fair amount and most importantly, take the time to dangle our feet....i'll explain this bit in a second.

in the 48 hours we've been here, we've

-watched the film, Amelia, in a theatre, and were surprised to learn that each movie always begins with the Indian national anthem, and also includes an intermission...aka bathroom break
-checked out the posher areas of Malabar Hill and mosied into a Jain Temple, as well as Baganga Ghat, a local watering hole- sorta-hangout
-visited a famous archway known as the Gateway of India, across the street from one of the most expensive hotels in India (you may recall a terrorist attack at the hotel in 2008)
-checked out some Hindu cave temples on a nearby island called Elephanta Island
-chilled along the seawall of Chow Patty Beach
-rode in numerous autorickshaws and taxis
-connected with some great girls from the IJM community
-attended a church service in a house of no more than...30 people or so?

like any other major city in the world, Mumbai has its posh, and its poor. its fine dining, and local pizza joint. it's India's business hub, and home one of Asia's poorest slums, Dharavi. its a mix of people, languages, food, and culture...and we've managed to capture only a glimpse of what this electric city has to offer. i mentioned earlier that amidst all the things we did (and didn't have time to do), we managed to find time to dangle our feet...

let me ask you something...

when was the last time you dangled your feet? i came to a realization today when we were sitting along the seawall that as we, and many others, were enjoying the view of the sun bowing its head into the ocean as it was making its way over to your end of the world, that people were dangling their feet. it seems to me that people don't generally dangle their feet when they are angry, anxious or perhaps even frustrated. no, i tend to pace if im angry, tap my feet if im anxious, or combine both if im frustrated...but to dangle ones feet...this seems to be a more enjoyable motion. dangling suggests to me that one is perhaps content, contemplative or even joyful. i think of a child dangling their feet on a swing, or perhaps while seated on a dock overlooking a lake. i looked to me left and there was a couple in conversation...dangling their feet. i looked to my right and there was a man reading a book with his head slumped in his right hand reflecting on the text held by his left hand...while dangling his feet. i looked at Mel and i...and we were dangling our feet, smiling, and reflecting on our day, and time so far in India.

as overwhelming as life can be sometimes...whether you're backpacking, working a 9-5, or chipping away at what seems to be a never-ending project/thesis/paper/life...i'd encourage you to make the time to dangle your feet....whatever that looks like to you.. return to a place where the world is once again your playground, and you can embrace for a moment or two, a child-like view of the world...

we're off to Udaipur tomorrow morning, but not before a short visit to the IJM headquarters.

peace,
dL



[Temple Cave, Elephanta Island]



[3 heads of Shiva, Elephanta Island]




[temple caves on Elephanta Island, 9km east of Mumbai, 1 hour ferry ride]



[view of the Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower, and the Gateway of India]



[Mel and I en route to Elephanta Island]



[a boy jumping into the water off from our ferry ride to Elephanta Island...not the cleanest water, but him and his friends sure looked like they were having a great time cooling off!]



[Baganga Ghat, on Malabar Hill]


since a picture is worth a thousand words...

[view from Malabar Hill]