(Polka Dot) Apples and (Blue) Pears

Crawford Market, built in part by Rudyard Kipling's father (he of exceeding good cakes), was the destination for the travelers' first full day in Mumbai (the deep fried Bombay Duck in the fish restaurant the night before could have been a wonderful substitution for cod - haddock if you're Northern - in fish and chips but the kingfish curry left them in no doubt, this was Mumbai).

Near the market the travelers were shown the way by a kindly old man who quickly revealed himself to be a money grabbing bastard. Upon arrival he pointed at the 'No Spitting' sign and looked at us. Lindsey and Billy sucked in their dribble and agreed. Thieving bastard continued to point. What was he getting at? 'Visitors must be accompanied by a porter'. Upon reading this the old man magically revealed his 'Official Porter' badge. 'Ok' they said, 'but we only want a couple of lemons to flavour our chlorine water'. The porter wasn't going to stop there....

market porter by Billy Barrington

They saw many great things in Crawford Market, red bananas, piles of melons, onions, potatoes, spices in penny sweet jars (!).

Ok, it was kind of like other markets but it had the India smell, and people sleeping in any shade they could get, and animals everywhere. Several thousand caged birds....

Birds in the market by Billy Barrington

After being forced into a high end clothes shop the daring duo made good their escape. Diving into a taxi they did what any self respecting middle class brit abroad would do, 'Could you take us to the Anish Kapoor Exhibition please?'