The first journey with the train: I was sitting with some old couples, men and women, an approx. 20 year old girl and some boys in a quater, after a while the girl started to speak with me and translated it to the other people, who didn't speak any english. As I experienced later, she started to ask me the usual questions:
"What is your goodname?" - Stefanie
"From where?" - Austria
"Australia or Austria" - Austria, Europe, Vienna
if she know Austria: "Austria, Vienna" otherwise "Atscha (O.K.)" (and still thinking of Australia)
"How long in India?" - "6 Months"
"Where" and if I like that places...
"Only one/single?" - Yes, only me.
"Why? No friends?" - I like, no friends.
"No dangerous/problem?" - No, people here are so nice and helpful. I never had any problem.
"Thank you. Married?" - No, too young.
"Age?" - 16, no joke, 28.
"Haha" if understandd or "Atscha"
"What is your profession?" - Student - or if understand better english - Finish university and now break (before job: sometimes) ... then some also ask about money from where, currency, and how much for all travel I need in India, parents name and job, political state, ... and they tell me something about India, the area ...
At every station, when the train stops, people come into the train and sell food, tea, cold drinks, pop corn, ice cream, little things (like stickers, nail cutter, necklaces, locks...), some beggers asking for money, or children tidy up the floor a bit for money, ... when I saw that the first time, I was very impressed - "wow that is India, how alive". Some people offered me to try from their food, fruits,... and when another curious person comes to sit near me to ask me some questions, the people who know it, answer before I even take a breath. "Stefanie, Stefanie, Stefanie", "Austria Vienna, not Australia"...
I often went with the train, and because I mostly decided spontaneously, I didn't buy a tourist ticket, so I experienced how many people can fit in a train very well, and always when I thought now its full, I saw - no, not yet, and also the tea seller or a begger has to pass here right now. Often I sat also on the floor, or next to the toilet, and my luggage was anywhere. The people always were very nice to me, looked good that I get out at the right station, sometimes remember me to watch my luggage because of thieves, sometimes told me something about their life, or just sat next to me and shared quietly the time with me. And when a women angel saw me, I got a seat or better standing place, one man has to move.
At 8 pm I reached Nasik, and after I denied the girls offer to come to her house and stay there overnight, because its dark outside now, I found the bus to the center and a nice hotel with even a TV in this rather non-touristic town. Nasik is one of the holiest Hindu cities with the holy river Godavari, where people come to bath, giving offerings to the river, and also wash their clothes. Its a nice place to hang out and watch the people, or walk around the (vegetable) market next to the ghats, or visit the temples and temple areas where sadhus (spiritual men) are hanging around. Of course, Nasik has also busy shopping streets and bazars. Some pictures:
A riksaw? normally the cheap taxi's of India, here used for political advertisment.
In Nasik, it was the first time in my travel, I really was alone (I counted not more than five other tourists there), and I had to get used to it, also to be the center of attraction and reason of some smiling faces, and waving hands. Nearly no one I met, knew english more than "five" words, so not even a small conversation was possible, but people, especially women often joined me sitting near the river and watching the people, and told me their stories, don't bother if I understood or not! Although I was never so a big talker, I had to get used to be more quiet, spending time without speaking and just by my own, also the trial one evening to get company - I chose a restaurant recommended in the Lonely Planet - led to the outcome that I really felt to be alone on this planet, being the only guest of this big touristic restaurant and served and watched from at least 4 waiters ;-).
Now a trial in English, notice: i am also not an english expert ;-)
Since my online booked flight from Cairo to Mumbai didn't appear at the check-in computer at the airport, i had luck that a white dressed angel of the Etihad Airways did everything that I get a seat in this plane and got on port per time passing quickly the long queue to the control points. Of course, I was happy that everything went all right, but I enjoyed this stay in Cairo so much, that I had no hurry to get out of there. A long stopover in Abu Dhabi, where I had a coffee with two nice and interesting guys from Istanbul, who just left to Australia to learn English and to start there a new life - one way flight of course - i was said to be a little bit crazy just going to Mumbai and don't know anything about the country and without having any plans. Who is more crazy? ;-) Indeed this flight I took as a ride in the freedom. 
In contrast to my further travels, I am now independent on time (or other) plans, it's just me and looking what will happen. Also the the time of the flight - the 7. to the 8. of September - has a special meaning to me. Since it is the birthday of my beloved angel Alex, both to the physical world and more or less also to the spiritual world, it should also indicate my rebirth in a new life. Abu Dhabi has a nice, little airport, free internet and 3 very clean toilets, and whilst running from one toilet to the next, the 5 hours waiting time quickly passed and I got ready for India, nothing worse could happen - the falafel yesterday made my body already to a liqueur machine - for what India normally is well known ;-). In Mumbai at the airport my taxi was already waiting and before I realized how easy it was, I was lying in the new looking and smelling dormitory of a very nice hotel, just me, thinking what kind of youth hostel is this. But when I woke up, the two irish girls, Ger and Fiona, have joined me there.
We three positive minded physicists made our way to the downtown of Mumbai, where it didn't take long until we were catched in the first tourist trap: an indian "friend" offers us his help, to arrange everything what we need for our travel through India. He will help us getting everything very cheap and beware us of the many thieves of India, who just see in us tourists the money... My inner feeling said I should not trust him, but there appeared his friend - this nice blond german angel - who always agreed what he said. 
So finding ourselves in a clothes boutique, I agreed also to buy one of the "indian women" outfits, because according to our friend, it is necessary/better to wear such things outside of the bigger towns, to get respect of India's people. No idea of what is a cheap price, 4000 Rupees ( 1 euro approx. 60 Rs) for this good quality outfit, I am happy not knowing at this time, that I could have bought 20 comfortable, good looking trousers for that money, instead of this unnecessary thing what i never wore and still not gave away, because maybe there will be a special occasion what never happened! I was not really angry about our friend, who also went out for drinking beer with us, just doing his job, but that a tourist "friend" help to cheat her "neighbors" was an interesting experience! But I made this decision by myself, knowing it might be to expensive, I am happy for this lesson without spending a real fortune. And I don't want to forget to mention the good help of her, finding the cheap youth hostel and for information. By the way it was the best trick ever - in my whole trip in India I never met on person who cheated me for more than a few euros or even tried it!
Since it is open on daytime, the mall is used in nighttime for making this Bollywood movie. A food for free and 500 Rs, it was a long night waiting for the 2h scene, a good, not-to-miss experience and exchange with others about traveling. And for people who think they abuse for such movies foreigners to get to see more skin - it was not in my case - I rather removed my two wool pullovers, which I had to wear, every free minute ;-).
But once is enough, it was the end of my artistic career and also the end of the idea of working in India: India is cheap, and a lot of people sleep in the streets, to do charity work is possible, but still you have to come up for your costs of living yourself - so from the money's and my ego's point of view, its better just to travel and see the country.
With Chris from the U.S. and Seth from the U.K., Fiona, Ger and me checked out some places in Mumbai,
and had one or two Kingfisher (beer)
what lead us rather out in the "inward coming" sea instead of Honkong or Singapore.
Time passed, people went, whilst I never thought about what to do in India, I was still tired of sightseeing of the last months, and still no idea of this country, no places where I really wanted to go ..., I found a good friend in Chris, who also stayed longer in Mumbai and had no plan what to do with his time in these days ;-)
So looking for good views on Mumbai's roofs, seaching for a real coffee and following the "Sons of Anarchy", we shared a nice time. There are a few pictures of Mumbai, the different suburb, the beach and the people:
Not only we tourists are interested in taking pictures of local people, also we seem to look very good on especially indian cell phones *g*
On the beach, everything is here to enjoy the time. Food, pop corn, ice cream, drinks, carousels - running per man's (hand) power not by electricity - first to get used, but later a really nice place to hang out between colours, sounds, kitsch and rubbish with begging people sitting hours quietly on your side.
Elephanta island:
After 4 weeks, I finally bought one Lonely planet guidebook and made my way out of Mumbai in direction to the "real" India, just out of the big town, to the little town Nasik.
A riksaw? normally the cheap taxi's of India, here used for political advertisment.
At the bathing tank, where pilgrims come to bath and wash away their sins.
I think, I need not to mention the company of the holy cows, who are everywhere. And often in the darkness they were my angels - protecting me of the loudly barking dogs, who are very good in recognizing tourists.
Trimbak has a very holy temple. When I was sitting inside, tried to feel the energy and prayed to my angels, I asked for opening my third eye so much as possible and my soul allows it - it's really time for more spirituality in my life! At this time, I was thinking that spiritual growth means to see something more than the "real" world. I wanted to see the aura, angels, the energy of thoughts, ghosts, everything - in my imagination that was the goal and the magic of life. I was not satisfied with that what I saw and surrounds me, and I wanted to become something: even I knew that everything is inside of me, there is nothing to reach, and nothing outside can make you happy - I knew everything on theoretical level, and my ego was proud of all my knowledge. 
One night is enough, I want my bed for myself - I took a bus to Aurangabad.