Enormous snake, rats and photos for my mother

Ok. Since last time I wrote something on this blog we’ve had different adventures with the Indian wildlife. Two weeks ago we went for a walk near the hotel hoping to visit the Vihar Lake. First we met several aggressive cows blocking our way running in all direction, after some hesitation when the cows settled close to a trash bin we had the courage to continue. We were following an older Indian woman, after some time the lady returned. We asked ourselves why? 2 minutes later we got the answer; a three meter long snake was lying on sidewalk. In a distance of 10 meters we followed every movement of the snake, petrified, we did not even take one photo. 10 minutes later the snake decided to return to the forest and we continued our Sunday walk, in the middle of the route.

Monday we had another experience, less exotic, we got a third guest in our apartment at the Residency hotel; a little rat. I called room-service and they placed an Indian rat trap under the bed. I had no confidence in the sugar based rat trap, so we started searching for our rat ourselves. But we had give it up after one hour of a tiring chase.

Me hitting for the rat with my belt:

The rat under our bed:

Indian sugar rat trap:

Finally the Indian rat trap was more efficient than our own rat hunt:

Last I would like to congratulate my mother with her anniversary, I don’t really remember her age. I know it’s something between 40 and 50, but she looks more like 40 than 50 for sure.

Our present (it’s really the effort of Frankie); 200 photos from Mumbai, that can be found under her Flickr account. Most of the photos are taken from the car, so the quality is maybe not the best but I think it gives a good image of Mumbai life: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36581257@N06/sets/72157615598473277/

Monkeys on the Elphant island and other photos

It’s been a long time since the last update and my mother tells me she’s going depressive as she don’t get enough photos from Mumbai. So to make her happy on the international women’s day I’ve uploaded a bunch of images. (Hope you’re happy mum)

So here we go, in a somewhat chaotic way;

The little train on Elephant island:

Garbage at Elephant island:

The goat from hell found on Elephant island:
Tourist shopping Elephant island:

Tender lawn moving at the hotel:
India's no. 1 miracle - natural hair tratment with convincing before and after results:

Fruit boat:

Posing at the Elephant island boat:

Shot cat or short cut?

Feets of statues:

Monkey family at the elephant island:

Colorfull house with goat:

Floating boat?

Yes!
Arrival at elephant island:

Famous buildings seen from the sea:

Indian house moving:

Cow on the highway:

Indian familytrip (1):

Happy security guard:

The guy sleeping outside our hotelroom window:

A palm in the Powai lake:

Walking in the Powai trafic:

Powai residence:

Floating fishermen huts:

Rickoloop - the one man band performint at Blue Frog:

Man in cage on a three wheel truck:

I agree:

Minitaure farm with miniature cows:

Bamboo for life:

Girls doing mehendi on Frankie:

Amit and Frankie on Marine Drive:

Amit and me in the hanging gardens:

Indian Familytrip (2):

Rikshaw trip in Powai:

Don't touch the Rikshaw:

Inside my drivers car, big fan of Ganesh:

Handy use of bicycle:

Muslims gone mad outside the hotel

Short update. Last weekend we got to see lots of stuff in Mumbai and we took many photos. But I'll only make a short update for now. Actually the most fascinating thing happend just outside the hotel Sunday night. Apparently there is some Muslim party going on, and Muslims know how to party! I made a short video using my phone; Muslims dancing, Muslims playing drums, all followed by cows of course.

Muslims gone mad:

We try to take some beautiful self portraits here as well, but it can be quite difficult, especially when your girlfriend doesn't know the difference between a video and a photo.

Me trying to smile:

Frankie is getting mehendi

From the kala ghoda art festival

Shove comes to Push

Yesterdays front-page of Mumbai Times was memorable. Last week there was some problems at the Borivli train station, people were protesting as they meant people from the Virar (earlier station) blocked the doors when arriving at the Borivli station.

The problem the Railway police came up with; 15 "pusher" policemen will now push travellers into to the train at the Borivli station.

Railway police seems to think that Mumbai trains are not crowded enough:

I made another driving video today. But the light was dim, so the quality is not great. The video is on a "short-cut" over this hilltop that the driver takes every evening. I'm still not sure if it's really a short-cut. Anyway we drive by some interesting areas, where you can literally look into people's houses and shops:

Mumbai life early evening:

Loco-Motion

Today I had to ask for permission to go home early. I had been kept awake almost all night by this air-conditioner in my bedroom. So by lunchtime I could not longer keep my eyes open. After a long siesta at the hotel I felt much better. Anyway on my way home I tried out the telephones camera, while cruising home with my driver which seems to like Little Eva on other old American pop heros

Holding still is quite difficult on the bumpy roads of Mumbai. But here you go; Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion:

New apartment

Today I changed my room at the hotel, into the newly renovated executive suite. I cost 2000 rupees more per night. But the room holds much higher standards, now I got my own kitchen, dining table, living room, massage shower, etc.

Before moving into the new room I had to pay my bill for my first weeks at the hotel, this was a bill of 153 000 rupees. The highest bill I've ever paid I think. Anyway I quite satisfied by the room and I've taken some pictures of it:

Fancy lightning:

The view from the living room:A shower with alot of buttons:

A cheer in the bedroome:

A bed in the bedroom:

The desk:

The livingroom:

The kitchen:

The dining table: