1 March 2016 Travel from Udaipur to Kerala and Kochi

We had a particularly early start because our day required air travel to Mumbai with a 5 hour stopover before we then joined another flight to Kerala in the South West of the Indian Continent. 

So we received a wake up call at 4.00am and departed  at 5.30am from the hotel for the 45 minute trip back to Udaipur Airport and then progressed through the mandatory 3-4 security checks before eventually boarding our flight back to Mumbai where we met our new guide.  Her name is Jeanette and she is beautifully dressed and speaks perfect English. Mumbai domestic terminal is a large modern bustling airport with people everywhere all talking loudly and seemingly just walking in any direction.

On reaching Mumbai we then depart the airport find our bus wth our driver and his assistant, vex change greetings and drive for nearly 70 minutes to see the Dholiwaller which is the communal laundry with the amazing hundreds of clothes lines and the washing which is done at a cost the 10 rupees per piece and no funds are charged and paid for until a total of 100 pieces are washed.  Whilst last year we walked into and then through the laundry complex, this year they are only allowing tour groups to observe from the railway bridge above.  It remains an amazing sight.

We were then accosted at the bottom of the bus and overlooking the laundry from the railway bridge, by about 50 hawkers all selling tourist junk.  But it is surprising what our group subsequently purchases.

Before departing the site we also watched local trains with people hanging from every doorway. Quite amazing being caught up in a sea of humanity.  We departed and then went to the Orchard Hotel for lunch before we returned to the airport for our floor get to Kochin. 

There is a more detailed discussion of our short stopover visit in Mumbai including some sightseeing, in the next post