Thursday, January 2, 2025

Day 1: The Eagle has landed

Sanghanath (SN) and I have landed in Mumbai after a satisfactory overnight flight from Heathrow. 
It took a while to clear immigration and for SN's bags to turn up (I just have carry on bags).
The weather contrast with the UK is stark. 32C and very humid. 
After changing our money & buying an Indian SIM card, we were met at the collosal Mumbai airport by Adityabodhi (AB). Great to see him. We have been doing India tours together & events for 22 years. We got a taxi to this downtown hotel which is basic but adequate. It actually had hot water! I think that's a first for me in 22 years here.
Tomorrow we fly south to the border with Goa - Kolhapur. Then our tour will start.
This evening we took a taxi with Nityashri (NS) and Nagamitra (NM) to the Mumbai coastline, visiting the Chaitya Boomi - Dr Ambedkar's death memorial stupa on the shoreline. There were many Buddhist pilgrims there. We chanted a puja there before heading back to the hotel for a scrumptious meal of masala dosa - Mumbai-style. 

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Day 22: Train to Gaya

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