Hindu Temples and the Matunga Market

On Friday we had planned to go to the Elephanta caves, but due to the rough monsoon weather we were not able to take the ferry to the island. Instead we went exploring around an area of Mumbai called Matunga. Here, there are many temples, and there is the Matunga Market. The Matunga Market is an outdoors and indoors market that includes a flower market, fruit and vegetable stands, typical South Indian snack stands and also small restaurants in the area. This was a lovely area to walk around and see more of South India in. 

After our tour, we went to a small, very local restaurant. For 160 rupees (less than $3), we got an all-you-can-eat meal! Definitely beats anything in the US, hahaha. The food was by far the best food that I have eaten in India yet. The fact that we were eating with our hands on banana leaves also made it feel a lot more authentic. Some of the people in the group struggled with this experience (many ended up getting seriously sick) but I thought it was absolutely amazing! Following that, we went to a really nice mall where we watched a Bollywood. It was more of a casual day, but I'm sincerely enjoying getting to know India. 

Emalisa xo

The first temple that we came across. It was quite small, but very beautiful.

This was the second temple we visited. It was much larger in size, with many more shrines. 

Temples with pyramid-like structures on the top are typically South Indian.

Such as this temple as well. So gorgeous.

The temples have beautiful shrines covered with flowers, dedicated to different gods (I think).

This is so different from anything you would find in Mozambique or the US. All of the colors and lights just make it so beautiful.

Walking through the flower market, you see all of these hanging around. They are used to hang in your home, on your card, in your house, or anywhere else of your choosing.

They had all sorts of flowers in different colors. Smelled lovely!

Many houses and stores in India hang chili peppers on their door step to ward off all evil spirits. 

These are Challs: apartment buildings with communal bathrooms. They were made by a community of people a while ago and no one ever renovated them to include bathrooms in the apartments.

This is the epitome of entrepreneurship in India. This man rides his bike to different locations selling blocks of ice to people.

Our very local lunch. Every two minutes wala's came by adding more curry, chapati's or water on our banana leaf. The ultimate treatment.

Posing in front of a cow because #India.