An ode to Mumbai's local trains

I have to say, the penis seems unnaturally hirsute.

Bombay darshan!

Welcome to Mumbai! Care for a stroll along the dock?

Good to get away from Dilli for a long weekend; we stayed in Juhu, took the local trains tons, meandered along Colaba Causeway, explored Kala Ghoda, ate Iranian food, had a pitcher of beer for lunch, went to Elephanta Caves, marvelled at the St. Thomas Cathedral, visited the Tea Centre, had cocktails at the Saltwater Grill, marched down Marine Drive, took lots of pictures, ate copious amounts of chaat at Chowpatty, took in some cricket on Juhu Beach, drank coffee at the Prithvi Theatre, and ran into a miraculous number of people we (O.K., S) knew.

I could make some bland assertions comparing the two cities, but it would be a bit trite as I spent nary 72 hours in Mumbai. Your thoughts?

Don't go(a) there!

First, props to Atreyee Dev Roy and Rouhan Sharma for crafting one of my favorite leads of the year, published today in The Indian Express ("New year Goa flights on a high"): "Fly Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai on low-cost carrier Air Deccan this weekend for Rs 19,500 or Delhi-London-Delhi on British Airways for Rs 16,330."

Second, hah! Perhaps I can't really speak, because I've never been to Goa, much less the assured bacchanalia of trance parties and free love on one of the world's greatest beaches, but this strikes me as absolutely fucking absurd. And you can't blame the airlines -- they're only charging these fares because they can ("In the run-up to the year end, domestic air fares this season are literally sky high, reflecting an unprecedented shortage in supply in select sectors.").

No, aspiring socialites and social climbers, I'm laughing at you. It may offer prestige to say you spent the naya saal in Goa, and you may get to see and be seen. But I'm guessing that Goa, particularly at this high tourism juncture, is pretty robbed of any of its charm and appeal, because there are so goddamn many morons running around, scantily clad, with oversized Chanel (or Channel, eh?) sunglasses perched on an adorable coif.

I'll take Dharamsala, thankyouverymuch.