I posted too soon...
The monsoons have gotten worse. On Sunday two of my friends and I, Yoni and Janie, decided last minute that we wanted to get out of Mumbai and have a one-day adventure. We decided to get on a bus to Lonavala, a town that is supposed to be about two hours away from Mumbai, and decide the rest once we got there. We had been told that Lonavala was a beautiful town to visit during Monsoon season because it is surrounded by lush green hills, and just a fun place to kick back with a cup of tea and enjoy the nature.
Unfortunately Sunday was one of the worst monsoon days so far, and just getting out of Mumbai took over two hours. The roads were majorly flooded and many were blocked.
Once we finally got out of Mumbai and made it to Lonavala four hours later, the bus dropped us off on the side of the highway and continued on to Pune... literally under the highway sign that said "Lonavala"... in the pouring rain. We looked like the child above as the bus pulled away. ٨٨٨٨
We hiked along the highway for a little bit until we came to a gas station, and they directed us to the nearest bus station. Thankfully it was very close, a few kilometers away, and we proceeded to hike some more. It would have been impossible to catch a cab, since we were not in any city, and way to expensive to call for one.
Demotivated and discouraged, we booked tickets for the latest bus back to Mumbai, the 6:30pm bus. Determined to not let this day go to waste we found a rickshaw driver hanging around outside the station and with some translation help from some kind passengers, we organized a two hour trip into the mountains to the waterfalls and back in time for our bus. We only had two-and-half hours before our bus back to Mumbai and we could not miss it.
Now Tuesday is already almost over and I only have till Friday morning when I leave for a week in Delhi... :'( Tonight I am seeing one of my comedian friends I met here perform, Wednesday I'm having dinner one last time with the Malpanis who took care of me at the beginning of my trip, and then Thursday night I have a farewell dinner with colleagues and friends! Its going to be a busy week, and I can't image leaving Mumbai yet... I have only started settling in and still have so much of India to explore! I'd better make Delhi count... if its anything like Mumbai, the time is going to fly by!
The monsoons have gotten worse. On Sunday two of my friends and I, Yoni and Janie, decided last minute that we wanted to get out of Mumbai and have a one-day adventure. We decided to get on a bus to Lonavala, a town that is supposed to be about two hours away from Mumbai, and decide the rest once we got there. We had been told that Lonavala was a beautiful town to visit during Monsoon season because it is surrounded by lush green hills, and just a fun place to kick back with a cup of tea and enjoy the nature.
Unfortunately Sunday was one of the worst monsoon days so far, and just getting out of Mumbai took over two hours. The roads were majorly flooded and many were blocked.
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| In the bus stuck on the highway... we were driving right into this flooding. |
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| Thank goodness we were in a big bus... |
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| At least the kids were having fun! |
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| Between the streams of water racing down my window pane. Gives a good idea about how hard the rain was coming down. |
Once we finally got out of Mumbai and made it to Lonavala four hours later, the bus dropped us off on the side of the highway and continued on to Pune... literally under the highway sign that said "Lonavala"... in the pouring rain. We looked like the child above as the bus pulled away. ٨٨٨٨
We hiked along the highway for a little bit until we came to a gas station, and they directed us to the nearest bus station. Thankfully it was very close, a few kilometers away, and we proceeded to hike some more. It would have been impossible to catch a cab, since we were not in any city, and way to expensive to call for one.
Demotivated and discouraged, we booked tickets for the latest bus back to Mumbai, the 6:30pm bus. Determined to not let this day go to waste we found a rickshaw driver hanging around outside the station and with some translation help from some kind passengers, we organized a two hour trip into the mountains to the waterfalls and back in time for our bus. We only had two-and-half hours before our bus back to Mumbai and we could not miss it.
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| Rural India, so beautiful... even in the rains |
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| Stopping at a waterfall! |
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| On the way down once the rains had subsided a little. |
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| Our driver stopped for us to take pictures with the Peacocks! |
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| Another little waterfall... not sure why we are even trying with the umbrellas. |
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| Don't ask. |
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| A beautiful ride down the mountain! |
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| some shots I took from the Rickshaw... |
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| Dinner in the bus station was delicious, especially after such a busy day! |
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| Finally on the bus back to Mumbai! |
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| Finally back in Mumbai, I took the train back home... I couldn't decide if it was safer to sit in the co-ed compartment mostly filled with men staring at me, or sit in the women's compartment where I was the only one... I chose the women's compartment and it was only a short ride. I met my roommate at Churchgate and we took a cab home together. |
Now Tuesday is already almost over and I only have till Friday morning when I leave for a week in Delhi... :'( Tonight I am seeing one of my comedian friends I met here perform, Wednesday I'm having dinner one last time with the Malpanis who took care of me at the beginning of my trip, and then Thursday night I have a farewell dinner with colleagues and friends! Its going to be a busy week, and I can't image leaving Mumbai yet... I have only started settling in and still have so much of India to explore! I'd better make Delhi count... if its anything like Mumbai, the time is going to fly by!
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