4am
Take a pre paid taxi from Mumbai International Airport to Colaba and check yourself in at the Apollo Guesthouse. This low budget hotel in the heart of the Mumbai tourist centre has Euro showers and toilets and even has air-conditioning which works but is fairly noisy and irritating. You can find the Apollo Guesthouse upstairs and in behind a leather shoe and sandal store which makes it quite unique and a little hard to find. Rates here range from about 800 to 1000 rupees.
Tip: Don't worry if you think that arriving this early will keep you out of a bed. Almost all of the hotel porters at budget places live in house and so will gladly check you in at whatever hour. Just give him a generous tip and don't scare the hell of him when you open the door!
6am
If you're in Mumbai during the Northern Hemisphere winter months, make sure you catch the entertaining and spiritually cleansing Laughing Club which operates in the gardens across from the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and in front of the famous Gateway of India before the working day starts. The Laughing Club is a get together of people from all walks of life who believe that starting your day by laughing is good for the soul. They do a range of laughs from different countries, including a New Zealand laugh which is very interesting to say the least. So whether you're looking to be cleansed or just entertained, get up early and take a look. It's well worth while.
8am
Get yourself down to the famous Leopold's Café and Bar, a short walk down the Colaba Causeway from the Apollo Guesthouse, where you will have a massive array of dishes to choose from for breakfast. Unlike some places in India, the Leopold chefs cook European style food reasonably well if you're looking for bacon and eggs, otherwise their Indian and Chinese dishes are excellent.
9am
Head on foot back to the famous Gateway of India monument for your pics and monument viewing fix. The Gateway Monument was built as a symbol for approaching ships to be the first thing they saw upon entering the city. While in the monument vicinity, book your ticket for a trip to Elephanta Island to view the famous temples and sculptures that date back thousands of years.
Tip: Con artists are very prevalent in this area. One great scam is a "lucky charm bracelet" being attached to your wrist seemingly out of good will. But don't be fooled, these men and children working for them, will follow you until you pay them grandly for it and they also leave a nasty red dye stain on your wrist.
10am
Board your boat to Elephanta Island. The trip should take around 40mins but this can change depending on the weather, and if it's bumpy be prepared for a harrowing and nauseating experience. Once on Elephanta Island you can view the temples and carvings of Hindu Gods by taking a small train (kind of like the Kiwi version of the Noddy Train) from the pier and then walking up what seems like hundreds of steps. Be prepared to pay for the viewings more than once. A "tourist" fee is charged at the pier and then again when you reach the temples. The fees are not cheap either; 500 rupees at the temple entrance. You can eat at a number of places on the island and the one right at the top of the island near the temples will provide you with a great view back towards Mumbai, but some fairly average food.
Tip: The monkeys all over this island will steal anything that is not tied down, especially your food, so keep an eye out.
2pm
Book a guided tour of Mumbai either through your hotel or from touts at the Gateway of India who will always be offering their services. The tour, depending on who you go with, will include a taxi ride of the city to numerous tourist attractions including The Jain Temple, The Hanging Gardens (where the Jain religion brings their dead for the crows to feast on), The Washing Ghats (where clothing is washed for millions by hand), The Mahatma Ghandi Museum, and an outpost overlooking the entire city of Mumbai. This tour is well worthwhile and for around 1500 rupees plus a tip, is pretty affordable.
5pm
After being dropped back at the Gateway of India, head back up the Causeway on foot for your cheap shopping experience. Everything you could think of is being offered for sale right on there on the street including DVDs, books, belts, Indian Cricket memorabilia, clothing and jewellery.
Tip: Don't get caught out of cash on a Sunday. All the money exchange places including the Travelex in Colaba will be closed and so you will be forced to exchange money on the black market. Not advised, but as a last resort they do offer rates very close to what the exchange rate actually is and as a plus, they are not be hard to find!
7pm
Café Mondegar, just up from Leopold's, is a great place for dinner and a tourist mecca. The food is pretty good especially the Indian Curries, and the jukebox, young crowd and plenty of Kingfisher Beer make for an entertaining evening. You can also purchase Café Mondegar remembrance t-shirts for the ultimate experience.
9pm
Head back down to Leopold's Café and Bar for clubbing Indian style, upstairs from the restaurant. Hard to spot if you didn't know about it, they provide mostly American pop music and serve top shelf spirits and a range of beers for a reasonable price. A great place to meet other backpackers and tourists.
11pm
Board the overnight Konkan Express from Victoria Station to the gorgeous state of Goa. The trip will take you around 10 hours overnight depending on stops along the way. Book the second class sleeper carriage which will give you fold down bed in an 8 person compartment. This is not as cheap as taking a bus from Mumbai, but it shaves off a few hours. Don't worry about going hungry or not being able to shine your shoes either, as at every stop, sellers will get on offering all types of services. A Chai or two and an Indian Samosa would be recommended which should fill a hole.
Tip: You can book the Konkan Express online and you need to do it well before your trip as seats fill up extremely fast as everyone tries to get to the sun, sand and surf.
