After a full week in Mumbai I am feeling settled into a nice routine. No longer feeling ovrwhelmed by crowds. Have moved into a relatively quiet area in Juhu which is near the beach and the University where Im working. I can walk the beach to work in about 40 minutes, but mostly catch a bus or rickshaw. I have discovered that not all of Mumbai is jam packed with people, animals etc. There are some wealthy areas that have intact roads and footpaths and are less intensely crowded near where I am staying(no cows). I also discovered the central area of Colaba, which has lots of historic buildings, art galleries, parks and the Gateway to India a huge gate marking the arrival of brits in India. (see pic)

The Ganeesh festival is ongoing, with another 3 days to run. There will be a short break (15 days) and then a festival for Ganeesh's mother begins.. I wandered deep into some very tight and crowded back lanes last night and ended up very trapped by Ganeesh revellers carrying their offerings in large groups with incense and some kind of red chalk filling the air, groups of men drumming and women dancing. It was great except I started getting mobbed by young kids grabbing my hands and jumping round excitedly. When eventually I felt the need to get out of there it was a very slow process as there was no passing the processions which travel very slowly and filled the lanes.

Begging is a bit of a problem at times. Initially I was giving some small gift on occasion but ended up getting mobbed from all directions. I am now just offering a prayer which seems mostly to end the exchange. I was hasstled quite severly on the way back to my hotel Friday night by 3 young men who ended up trying to tackle me by the legs while one tried my pocket. Not a very nice experience as I ended up having to get quite forceful before they backed off.

Settling into the workspace. I have got internet sorted now and my host Veena is arriving back at the Uni tomorrow so will start introducing me around officially. Te University is interesting. Classrooms are set up like when I started school in the early 70s. Same wooden chairs and desks I think and just as hot as I remember, pre aircon. The staff in the Cenre for Rural Development are warmng to me I think. 3 of them were a bit worried about how I am getting around and decided to catch the bus with me on Thursday. I think they were worried as Id caught the wrong bus the day before(the only nubers I can read are on the back) and had to walk a bit. Very nice of them. I have been reading some interesting stuff in their library and like the way they position social extension (community development) as being one of the 3 functions of universities. (teaching, research and development) I think we may have once described the University role like that in Australia.

One highlight for me has been the lunch in the caf. Ive tried about quarter of the menu and haven't gone wrong yet. I have also become addicted to their sweet hot milk coffees. There are about 20 young people working in the caf cooking and serving tables. one big difference between countries is the number of people working in a job. There are lots of young people being pretty gently inducted into the workplace. Ive noticed lots of watching and being told how to do things. Even getting my hair cut there were two young boys wathcng on, being called to lean in and watch closely at particularly interesting points, then going back to sweeping or rearranging scissors. I think we could learn a bit in this space.