While you are visiting Mumbai, the largest city in India, one of the essential travel experiences that you can enjoy is the taste of a warm and spicy traditional Indian meal served by a local street vendor.

Although there are many fine restaurants in Mumbai where you can enjoy an upscale dining experience, the real flavor of the city can be found within the abundance of cheap food served by vendors on the streets. If you have never eaten street food before, you might have some questions about this type of cuisine:

Is it Expensive?

Absolutely not! In fact, food from a street vendor is likely to be one of the cheapest meals you will eat in India if not ever. You can fill your belly with scrumptious and flavorful cuisine for around 20 rupees which is approximately 25p.
 
Is it Hygenic?

Not necessarily. If you are one of those people who are squeamish about germs, you might feel uncomfortable eating at a street vendor in Mumbai. The water that the food stalls use is almost certainly not fit to drink, and many food vendors don’t seem to understand the concepts of hand-washing and food safety standards. The risk of disease is even higher during the monsoon season.

Take cues from the locals and frequent the food stalls that they trust, and make sure that the stall clearly states that it is using mineral water or Aquaguard and that the stall is clean overall. Try to avoid eating meat if you have a sensitive stomach, and choose hot snacks that come straight from the griddle or the deep fryer. Avoid sauces or chutneys that might have been sitting out for hours.

Where Can I Find It?

Khao Galli - The name of this street translates to “eat street”, and this should give you a clue as to how much wonderful variety of (mostly vegetarian) street food you can find here. Both sides of this street are lined with delicious food stalls. This street is found next to the Churchgate railway station.
Juhu Beach – This beautiful beach is home to many food stalls and snack carts, featuring many traditional Indian treats.

Mohammed Ali Road – This is a Muslim area in south Mumbai which has excellent meat dishes and sweets.
Another good idea is to head to any of the colleges in the city. Wherever the young students hang out you will find a good collection of food stalls.
 
What Should I Try?

This depends on what you like! There are many delicious dishes that you can sample while you are in Mumbai, including kebab rolls, Indian Chinese food, pattis, Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji, and much more. Perhaps you might like some Vada pav, which is fried potato stuffed inside yeasty bread, or Chaat which is a mixture of potatoes, onions, chickpeas, yogurt and chutney. There are so many different varieties that you can try a different street food on every day of your travels!

Enjoy sampling the diverse flavors of Mumbai’s street food!

If you are taking a long haul flight between Europe or North America and Africa or Asia, there is a good chance that you will have a stopover in Abu Dhabi somewhere in the middle. Located in the heart of the United Arab Emirates, this city is a gateway between the east and the west and a popular stopover location. If you are going to be travelling through on your next big flight, why not schedule your stopover so that you stay a night or two in Abu Dhabi and check out this exciting city? There is a lot to see here even if you are only visiting for a short time.

Here are a few ideas for getting a taste of Abu Dhabi culture in between flights:

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque

This is a popular tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi. It is the 6^th largest mosque in the world and the largest in the United Arab Emirates. It is the final resting place of Sheikh Zayad bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whoc is thought to be the father of the United Arab Emirates. Visiting the Sheikh Zayad Mosque is a great way to get a firsthand glance at the religious traditions of the local people here. The library contains a fascinating collection of artworks, rare coins, and books dating back over 200 years. Remember to dress modestly and cover your ankles and shoulders so that you will meet the religiously conservative dress code required to enter.

The Corniche

Take a stroll along the spectacular waterfront of Abu Dhabi, which stretches all the way from the Breakwater to the Mina Zayed port. It is a scenic waterfront promenade walkway, alongside sandy beaches and beautiful parks, and is a great place to stretch your legs between your long flights. There are many things to do along the Corniche, including go-karts, live music, and playgrounds. There is also an impressive view of the towering modern skyscrapers of the Abu Dhabi skyline.

The Mall

Shopping is a much loved pastime in Abu Dhabi, and to get a sense of the culture here you can take a trip to one of the many excellent malls here. If you want to pick up a few bargains during your stopover you can visit many popular chain stores as well as designer boutiques. Check out the three-story Abu Dhabi Mall, or the Marina Mall with its musical fountain.

These are just a few of the attractions that you can visit during a short stay in Abu Dhabi. While you are on a stopover in Abu Dhabi, it is a good idea to rent a car so that you can get around quickly to all of the attractions that you want to see. It will also help you get back to the airport as efficiently as possible so that you can catch your connecting flight.

Also, if you are staying on a short stopover in Abu Dhabi it is most convenient to book a hotel located right next to the airport, such as the Park Inn by Radisson Abu Dhabi Yas Island. It has a health club, a pool and tennis courts and it located right next to the airport so that travelling on will be easy and convenient. Alternatively there is also the Radisson Blu Hotel in Yas Island that is owned by the same group and offers 4 star accomodation and access to some of Abu Dhabi's best golf courses.

With so much to see and do, you will enjoy your stopover in Abu Dhabi so much that you will want to stay for longer next time!