
Both Nix and I put our backs out during the journey by pulling luggage from under the seat which added another dimension of challenge, particularly since we were carrying more luggage than ever before with the addition of my Ramonium. Fortunately I met Fazal during one of several lengthy and apparently pointless stops during the night. We got chatting and when our journey came to an end he kindly helped us carry the Ramonium to the prepaid taxi booth at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
The booth is somewhat inconveniently located under a motorway bridge about 5 minutes walk from the station, which necessitates running the gauntlet of taxi touts who will rob you blind if you agree to go with them. The prepaid fare was Rs 390, which was a substantial improvement on the Rs 1500 the thieving taxi crew attempted to charge us last time we did the trip from LTT to Andheri. Fazal joined us as he needed to go to the airport which thereby reduced the fare further. As we sat in the chaotic Mumbai traffic I noticed Hindi script on the driver’s dashboard. I looked more closely and realized it said “Ram” – when I pointed this out to Nix we both laughed. Everything has been arranged.
We had momos at Mahindra’s stall last night. It was good to see him, and Laiq and Caroline again. We leave for Indonesia tonight.... On Malaysian Airlines....