Local train

I'd been warned that everything in Mumbai goes at double pace, and that local transport was packed. This train was fine (it was Sunday afterall), not so many folk on it, so I forgot all I had been told. As the train drew up to the station we were getting off at people started jumping on (no doors) and I was hurriedly pulled by my pals into the departing half of the doorway. Before it had stopped they were trying to get off through the crowd that were pushing their way on. I was last off and in danger of being pushed right across the carriage and out the other door so I dropped my shoulder and shoved my way off, then the wee guy in front of me started flying backwards and the crowd sort of opened up. Whew - whats that like during the rush hour. As I looked back from the exit the doors were completely clear. I could have walked on or off the train easily. Maybe its different on a Monday morning.

I forgot to mention yesterday how hot it was at the cricket. The fast bowlers must have really suffered. The dancing girls were also pretty sweaty by the end. One of the three in front of my section was definitely a wee bit plump for that sort of thing. I don't know why they need the dancers - that amount of flesh is not displayed in normal society here - even the girls in the club yesterday had sari's on from the glimpse I had. They don't appear to know when they are doing a short dance (a spinner is coming on to bowl) or a long one (someone got out), they just follow the music - so sometimes they troop off just as they have to restart. The crowd do seem to like them, and they seem to strike up a rapport - at least the girls think they do, I'm not so sure the crowd weren't just cheering the cricket or responding to the music - if you watch any IPL on the tv then you'll see how transfixed they are by being on camera.

So got back on the bus. More expensive than the train but better later in the day cos its air conditioned.