Namaste
I made it!!! Finally I have found some much need time and Internet connection. It was an interesting first day here! I arrived in the morning around 2am and was feeling a little uncomfortable with the surroundings for sure. There was supposed to be someone from my hotel picking me up from the airport but I apparently didn't book it in time...what? Me? Really? So I ended up taking a taxi...I guess a short ride in Mumbai is min 1 hour...that is how far my hotel was from the airport.
The area that I am staying in is south Mumbai near the crawford market. On the surface it is not the nicest corner of the town, but I did find the "organized chaos" (as one of the fellow traveller had called it) to be quite beautiful! (Speaking of a fellow traveller...he was yet another super awesome Kiwi...oops sorry I mean New Zealander;)!)
When I got to the hotel everything was on lock down...not the most friendliest welcome for sure...and then I get into this 1940 style elevator (the one where there is a gate to close before going up...then I get lead down this tiny hall and I am the last room in the corner (however later I found out that the 3rd floor is the dungon floor...and it is sick).
I woke up 4 hours later to try and find a phone and/or internet...but apparently they are few and far between in these parts. It was about 7 am and when I walked outside there were people sleeping all over the sidewalks...in little holes in walls...everywhere really! and there were massive black crows flying around in packs. I was definitely over whelmed.
Later that day I went to meet the Wockhardt Foundation. I went to their offices and from the minute I walked in the door I was treated as an equal, an interest, and potential partner. They have been amazing with me while in Mumbai. From booking travel arrangements, to dinner meetings, to offering their executive suite to me for accommodations to offers to meet their families...they are making sure I am taken care of.
I was privileged to accompany them on a project site visit. In Mumbai alone there are 260 slum areas and I went to the smallest... and it was approximately 100-150 families all squatting in temporary housing...in temporary I mean...finding any garbage that is laying around and making use of it to shelter their family. the ironic thing is that one major issue that is related to health is no water...yet this area in particular was built over a huge water pipe.

At their sites they perform general check ups and administer necessary medications. I was there when they found out that a mom and dad are both infected with HIV but the youngest was safe:) I was also able to experience a little gathering of kids at school (these kids do not typically have the option to go to school) and sit down and do some ABC's with them. I asked if this was a stepping stone to get these children of the slums prepared to integrate into the 'regular' school system...and they said that perhaps 1-2 'brian kids' will get sponsored...the others will continue to have limited education and stay is a slum state.
There is a huge need for aid and development in these area...perhaps this is the project for LIB?
Hope this finds everyone well:)
हेअठेर (this is my Hindi name)