Fish, Veg & Flowers, the drumbeat of Bombay

We woke at 5am for a Bombay 'day in the life' city tour. We started with the newspaper delivery people, still sorted and bundled by hand, and still delivered by bicycle and read in print. We then went to the flower and fruit and vegetable markets. A huge veg population, nearly 60%, drives so much demand that the variety and freshness was amazing. Our last stop was the fish markets. I still have fish on my sneakers. I'm not sure it ever leaves you but I also would not have missed it. Women sorting and devaining shrimp on the sidewalks (no plates/no trays/muddy feet), massive fish from stingrays and barracuda to sharks and pomfret. The market was a jaw dropping spectical to us, as we were to the market. The sun was rising when we arrived and the market was nearly done for the day. 4-9 am is the window. It was fascinating but given the filfth of the water and the process of sorting and prepping, it definetly kept me from fish for the duration of our stay in India. On the topic of food, we've been committed to Bisleri water at the recommendation of some US friends with Indian roots. There are two other brands, Himalayan and Kinlay that seem safe as well. We havent strayed here. The water generally smells very bad (like dirty socks, urine and trash to be honest) and the towels are all very grungy looking even in the nicest hotels before you use them. South America was similar in this way. Suffice it to say if there is one thing I have a new appreciation for its our access to drinkable water. I can also count our shower minutes combined within my two hands. Its just a very fast soap and rinse, no breathing. Sounds extreme but the risk of getting sick is just toi great. And if you have a child who loves long showers, there is nothing like a trip abroad to almost anywhere to squealch that habit, but particularly to India or South America. But back to the markets, because if these images don't evoke the sights and smells and sounds of India than nothing will. This was an absolutely amazing experience.