The morning was filled with errands surrounding items that grandma purchased for me. I visited Season’s to try on and then collect my purple palazzo outfit and then the Hill shopping center to pick up my green gown. My Season’s outfit needed its third round of alterations so we went there twice but my green gown fit perfectly!
On the way back my grandma took me to her goldsmith! I didn’t entirely know what she was up to but I may have suggested I really like gold. I wanted a pair of gold Jhumkas so she bought them for me! The best part of it all was that the goldsmith knew my grandma so he told me to take and wear them for Christmas and then pay him later. So I took my earrings, grinning from ear to ear, happier than ever. My grandma is the best Santa.
Nisha and Vernon own a flat in Goregaon which is a suburb of Mumbai. It was about an hour drive away. Their flat was situated in these new high skyscrapers that are 51 stories tall compared to my grandma’s flat which is only 7 stories high. Each of the three skyscrapers is owned by one developer and has a nice garden below with a pool, tennis courts, gym, and other amenities. It felt like a resort to me!
I was dying to go on a walk or hike and just get out and explore. Rachel suggested we could hike in Array colony which was right next to us. I looked up some hiking trails on Google and found a place called BNHS Natural Reserve. Rachel and I decided to take a rickshaw to get there. I was initially a little hesitant since neither of us spoke Hindi but she lived here for a couple years so I thought why not. Plus, she can understand a little better than I can.
The nature reserve was about 20 minutes away and I had to direct the rickshaw driver by pointing which way to turn. I know exactly 3 words - straight, right, and left. On the way there, we had to go through two police checkpoints. I had no idea why there were so many police checkpoints but they mentioned something about film city. They let us through each of the checkpoints solely given the fact that they did not speak English and could not understand us. The nature reserve was situated in what is called film city where some Bollywood films are shot. The rickshaw really struggled to get up the hill to the gate. The driver mentioned something about the gate but we could not understand him so we paid him and told him to go which he did hesitantly. There was no one else around except a guard at the gate and if we asked if we could walk but he said no and pointed to a sign about leopards. I don't know if that road then was meant strictly for cars or authorized vehicles but according to the Google reviews there were trails there. Without any cell service or wifi I looked at Rachel and said our walk would be back to the main road where we could find an auto. We walked back down the hill to find the same rickshaw driver waiting for us. I guess he knew we were really lost but it was very nice of him to wait as it definitely wasn't safe for us to be alone walking on the roads like that. Rachel had initially said we should try to not get fleeced but we definitely did get fleeced because the first ride was 90 rupees and he did not give me back the right change. The second ride he didn't even start the meter but claimed it was 150 rupees and kept the change. So overall he made a good 400 rupees but honestly he kept us safe so we didn't mind.
Following our excursion, Rachel and I decided to go swimming. Although here they are very strict about what you wear. I didn't have a swim cap so they would not let me in the water. Therefore, us being the clowns we are, took turns swimming laps with the swimming cap. The guards honestly monitor a little too much.
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