Day 1: I made it to India!

I cannot believe I am here but it is true- I finally made it. This is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen in my life! From the enveloping trees, the fresh smelling rain, to the lively people, Mumbai is heaven on earth. As soon as I got off of the plane, I was greeted by a lovely man from the Novotel (hotel from Juhu Beach). He was so pleasant and could obviously tell that I was a little overwhelmed from the busy scene in Mumbai's densely populated location. By the time we got through the crowd and to the car, I then knew it was all real. I asked the driver to turn on some music and we jammed all the way to the hotel to some move-your-hips in India kind of tunes! On the drive there I wondered, "does this city every sleep?" The steering wheel was on the right side of the car so I was a little nervous in the midnight, chaotic trek. There were dogs, taxis, motorpads, taxis, 3 wheelers, and pedestrians on the road but everyone had a mission and was moving and shaking pretty quickly. I felt so alive! The city was booming with sound and movement. The billboards were endless. It was like being in Times Square for the first time, but rural. Every stretch of land was covered with billboards, placards, and advertisements. You could tell from all of the signage that Mumbai's climate was very much so politically charged and that the people were super involved!

It was about 12:30am when we reached my hotel and it seemed like half the city was still out and about. When we pulled up, I was floored! The hotel was nicer than I could have ever imagined. We were expected to put our bags through a mini security clearance and then enter into the gates of pure luxury! The staff was extremely nice and the scenery was fabulous!!! At one point, I thought for sure I was in the wrong hotel. But once I learned that the restaurant was opened 24/7, I knew I was in the right spot! I grabbed a bite to eat where I met a new friend called Dave! Looking forward to exploring tomorrow...