Oudjaar

Celebrating the new year in Mumbai was quite strange. There were enormous amounts of people walking and driving around. There were also lots of policemen around since apparently there was some trouble last year.

We went to the promenade near the Gateway to India (a big gateway built for king George V and Queen Mary during colonial times) where lots of people were gathered. We decided standing on the street might not be the most entertaining (and perhaps safest) way to celebrate the new year. So when we spotted people on the roof of a hotel we decided to give that a try. When we got upstairs it turned out there were about 30 very bored looking people. Turned out they hadn't had dinner yet (it was 23.30), but dinner did not seem to lift their spirits either. Most people actually left by 00.30, but we made out own party until at 01.30 everything was removed and we had to leave.

All the people on the street actually did nothing and just stood around. Apparently there were lots of fireworks on the sea last year but they were canceled since there was talk off a suicide bomber. Luckily nothing actually happened.