Thursday - Today we started out to the Kanheri Caves. It is one of Amin's favorite places and it took us about 2 minutes into the park to figure out why! It is impossible to believe this full jungle exist in Mumbai!!!! As we drive through the little tiny one lane path to the foot of the mountain we see people and Amin explains that these are indiginous people. They have always lived in the jungle and when they did the preserve they simply built it around the people and they live as they always have for the most part. If they leave tho, they cannot come back. They marry mostly among the seperate villages so that things stay the same. It gets complicated from there.
Up the mountian we go....the peace and beauty is unmistakeable and one of the most stunning natural wonders we've seen. The peace is broken up a bit by the fact that we have stumbled upon a Bollywood shoot. A school children scene. But after passing thier filming point, it becomes a series of scary steep steps, green jungle, peace, nature and the monks daily living and praying quarters hiding in crevices, and seeming to pop out of nowhere! Turn a corner and BOOM! A stunning hand carved buddha gazes serenely back at you. It almost seems surreal half the time. And then the Bollywood shoot makes it seem even more bizarre! I had some trouble with some steps. I think monks may have been the missing link between mountain goat and man. The place where they did much of thier chanting was a wonder of engeneering! The sound reverberated for miles apparently and even your whispers seemed to echo so loud in there so I believe that their meditation carried into the mountains forever.
Back down we went. Not much easer for me, but a bit faster. Amin found us back a nice path that was a bit less intimidating for me. It was worth every scarry moment! It was really a place we won't be forgetting anytime soon! I think it may have been my favorite place. Just before we left we took a seat near a little monkey toupe. The lead male was examining a mirror that was yet to be picked up by the BW crew after takes. We were close enough to touch them but that would be foolish. They were obviously very used to people, but unlike the monkeys on Elephanta that were pretty hungry and agressive, these had plenty to eat and merely saw us as barely interesting scenery or perhaps even a petty nuicence to thier day. We got some great video of them just hanging out and even a little scrap between the lead male and a younger male. Back to the car and off to lunch! Went to a place called Gondola's and had a 'sizzler' plate that was smokin' both in flavor and like a normal hot plate, also still cooking and steaming. Tasty! And then we went for Mumbai's best lassi in Bandra. Now....when Amin first said it was the best lassie, we knew it would be good, but after having lassi in SO many places now, we're pretty sure it may just actually be the best ever!!! *sigh* Yet another thing to miss when we go home. AND lo and behold, ANOTHER bollywood shoot! No one famous that we could tell at this one either, but we missed the 'Bollywood everywhere today' memo. Amin said "I was telling you, Mumbai is one big set....it's where you least expect all the time." He's right YET again! LOL
And then off to yet another memorable and heartwarming event...to meet the incredible man that saw the special and unique soul that is Amin and help him achieve all that his large heart and sharp wit can accomplish! "Sir" is Eustace....a man involved in saving children and charity for well over 40 of his 72 years. He is a generous, talented and open man with a twinkle in his eye that makes you feel immediately welcome. It was like coming home, even though you've never been there before! We can see why Amin loves him so deeply. Maria-Teresa, a family friend staying with them has a quick and easy laugh and giggle that seems so very very young, but we know as she has retired that she is ... shall we say past 50 a bit. (Never tell a ladies age!! LOL) I am blown away by thier youthful light and looks! Eustace's friend who happened to also be there when we were was smart funny and great fun to chat to as well! The ginger tea was awsome and the visit was far too short. But I think a week would have been too short! I won't go into many of Eustace's many accomlishments but one that hit home for us was he is the creator of the Amul mascot which is the longest running ad campain and will be in Guiness book of records. This made us giggle as JUST this week Doug had noticed his character on butter we had used!!!
Life is an odd and wonderful thing! Off to do a last minute gift shop and back home. Saying goodbye to Amin was sooo hard knowing we probably won't see him again for a very long time it was very hard not to cry. We will miss him alot. Hopefully he isn't sore today from the hug Doug gave him!! LOL He is truly the 'Prince of Mumbai'!!!!
Up the mountian we go....the peace and beauty is unmistakeable and one of the most stunning natural wonders we've seen. The peace is broken up a bit by the fact that we have stumbled upon a Bollywood shoot. A school children scene. But after passing thier filming point, it becomes a series of scary steep steps, green jungle, peace, nature and the monks daily living and praying quarters hiding in crevices, and seeming to pop out of nowhere! Turn a corner and BOOM! A stunning hand carved buddha gazes serenely back at you. It almost seems surreal half the time. And then the Bollywood shoot makes it seem even more bizarre! I had some trouble with some steps. I think monks may have been the missing link between mountain goat and man. The place where they did much of thier chanting was a wonder of engeneering! The sound reverberated for miles apparently and even your whispers seemed to echo so loud in there so I believe that their meditation carried into the mountains forever.
Back down we went. Not much easer for me, but a bit faster. Amin found us back a nice path that was a bit less intimidating for me. It was worth every scarry moment! It was really a place we won't be forgetting anytime soon! I think it may have been my favorite place. Just before we left we took a seat near a little monkey toupe. The lead male was examining a mirror that was yet to be picked up by the BW crew after takes. We were close enough to touch them but that would be foolish. They were obviously very used to people, but unlike the monkeys on Elephanta that were pretty hungry and agressive, these had plenty to eat and merely saw us as barely interesting scenery or perhaps even a petty nuicence to thier day. We got some great video of them just hanging out and even a little scrap between the lead male and a younger male. Back to the car and off to lunch! Went to a place called Gondola's and had a 'sizzler' plate that was smokin' both in flavor and like a normal hot plate, also still cooking and steaming. Tasty! And then we went for Mumbai's best lassi in Bandra. Now....when Amin first said it was the best lassie, we knew it would be good, but after having lassi in SO many places now, we're pretty sure it may just actually be the best ever!!! *sigh* Yet another thing to miss when we go home. AND lo and behold, ANOTHER bollywood shoot! No one famous that we could tell at this one either, but we missed the 'Bollywood everywhere today' memo. Amin said "I was telling you, Mumbai is one big set....it's where you least expect all the time." He's right YET again! LOLAnd then off to yet another memorable and heartwarming event...to meet the incredible man that saw the special and unique soul that is Amin and help him achieve all that his large heart and sharp wit can accomplish! "Sir" is Eustace....a man involved in saving children and charity for well over 40 of his 72 years. He is a generous, talented and open man with a twinkle in his eye that makes you feel immediately welcome. It was like coming home, even though you've never been there before! We can see why Amin loves him so deeply. Maria-Teresa, a family friend staying with them has a quick and easy laugh and giggle that seems so very very young, but we know as she has retired that she is ... shall we say past 50 a bit. (Never tell a ladies age!! LOL) I am blown away by thier youthful light and looks! Eustace's friend who happened to also be there when we were was smart funny and great fun to chat to as well! The ginger tea was awsome and the visit was far too short. But I think a week would have been too short! I won't go into many of Eustace's many accomlishments but one that hit home for us was he is the creator of the Amul mascot which is the longest running ad campain and will be in Guiness book of records. This made us giggle as JUST this week Doug had noticed his character on butter we had used!!!
Life is an odd and wonderful thing! Off to do a last minute gift shop and back home. Saying goodbye to Amin was sooo hard knowing we probably won't see him again for a very long time it was very hard not to cry. We will miss him alot. Hopefully he isn't sore today from the hug Doug gave him!! LOL He is truly the 'Prince of Mumbai'!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment