Bicycle Touring South Asia: India, in Mumbai

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from Mumbai, India. I decided to take the bike out this morning, just to make sure that I’d put it together properly and a wheel wasn’t going to fall off!

The other reason for getting the bike out was to go and see the Dhobi Ghat, where nearly all the clothes from Mumbai come to get washed. Apparently, it’s all done by men and no women!
This was my first time back on the roads of India, and I’d forgotten just how busy and chaotic they were! I’ve found that the best way to deal with them is to cycle like an Indian and put the blinkers on. Don’t look left, right or behind. Just keep going. Ring the bell and let everybody else move out of the way! Which surprisingly works!

On Foot

After going to the Dhobi Ghat, I made my way back to the hotel to drop the bike off, as I was now off to see the Dabbawala’s if I could find them! I tried yesterday but got the wrong time and place! Today I got the right time but the wrong place. Luckily, I quickly worked out that I was in the wrong place and moved, catching the last few dabbawalas heading off to deliver their tiffin tins.

Fingers crossed, my phone seems to have settled down now, and I’ve been able to access the Internet. It’s also not deleted anything today!

Tomorrow, I hit the roads properly, heading in a north-easterly direction. Who knows where I’ll end up, but that’s one of the reasons I like travelling the way I do. I just never know where I’m going to spend the next night!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route across India & Nepal
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

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If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.