Feeling a lot better, Flu symptoms back to a 4/10 so time to head off to visit Bandra Fort.
Took an Uber booked Tuk-Tuk from the Dorm to the fort for the princely sum of 38 rupee. Thefort wasn’t open yet, it didn’t open till 4pm. A quick check of Google and I found a very interesting church about 1km or so away, up one very steep hill. Should’ve guess it from the name “Basilica of our lady on the Mount”.
That acted as a nice fill in, then decided to try a late lunch at a cafe I’d spotted on the way there
Their Veg Manchow soup was just the ticket for someone fresh on Falsies. Very tasty
Bandra fort sounded like a great historic site but the truth was more that there were a few walls and a walkway or 2 left. The site however has been recently by the government to set up a really attractive park, complete with a small Botanical garden, a kids playground, a foreshore walk area and an Open Air auditorium. It turned out to be quite the pleasant surprise.
The Auditorium was exceedingly popular
One of the things that had me quite surprised was the number of young guys clearly working on their modelling or instagram shots. Yes, there wer a few girls doing similar but it would have easily been 10:1. They were taking it pretty seriously with hair, changes of glasses & smoe even with clothes. There realy seems to be a change from cricket to Bollywood or moddeling as their route to wealth. 3 guys in the dorm were heading down that road and seemed very determined, Working out, working on dance steps many hours per day.
Remember the 38 rupee ride there ion the Tuk-Tuk? As I exited the fort, there was a swarm of Tuk-Tuks all vying for your ride. Showed the first one where I was going, he wanted 550 rupees. I laughed at him and told him it cost 38 to get here so he offered me a discount, 500 rupee. Went to the next and the next for 4-5 and as sson as they see the Aussie face, they either assume you’re stupid or they think you have money falling out of your pockets. Walked about 300m down the road and another tried to grab me. When I told him why I was walking he agreed to use the meter. Ended up giving him 50.