2015/2016 Three Continent Tour: November 17

This morning I went to yoga class with Natasha. More refinements. I need to be doing yoga twice daily to lessen sciatic pain, which I have had for months. A daily practice, twice a day will help she says. I start the double practice today!! From there to the trains. I tried to get onto the train, but there were three women only coaches. I eventually found the male one, but the train was going. No doors on the train, so you swing onto the entrance bar, but I hit my hip on the opposite door. Seems no damage done to door or me, but you never know. I'll see what the body says tomorrow. I took pics on the now familiar journey. This shop is a little hole in the wall. You really have to peer deep inside to see his products.

I think this attractive building is a hospital, with the train station right in front of it.

I started with the same kids today. They stopped when I took the pic. So far actions and words. We may or may not get as far as the singing for the November 29 concert. I leave on Monday 23, so I won't see it. Tania showed me videos of the kids doing concert practice on the playground outside!! She seemed impressed. The kids at the other school were taught by the teachers I inservice last week. That was fun. I will get Tania to send me a video of the concert when it happens. It will be a loud concert!!!!!!!!

One boy has his jazz hands still going!! They certainly give a good response, but I coax a lot. It was great this morning when I came in, there was a roar of joy!! This was does it for all teachers.

Focus is our goal!!!!!!!!!!!

Energy can get overwhelming at times!!!!!

I worked with a second group of kids today. They were quite responsive. Even more so when Tania appeared!!!

On the way home, a dad with his kid. I also saw a guy, with wife on the back of his scooter. On of her hands was around his waist, the other held a baby!!!!!! I still can't get used to the incredible journey on the auto rickshaw. They are so manoeuvrable , and weave in and out of cars, pedestrians. No rules here. You become part of the system. I will have to readjust on return.

In Khar, there are so many vegetable sales outlets.

OMG! The chickens look totally exhausted in their cages.

Everything imaginable is happening all at the same time. Ditches are being dug, and this was a reno job being done on the side of the small alley, used by us all.

Concert gets pasted over the brickwork. He agreed to the pic, but a guy from within told him to ask me for R100 for the pic!! I took a pic of a holy cow, wondering wherever she liked. She really needed milking it seems.This pic is at the end of all the pics below!!!! Then I got back on the train. Most of the guys nearly fall asleep on the train due to the heat. There was no huge body crush today. Yay!!!!! I went to draw money after, and I pass the sentry box. As I walk by the box, his gun is pointed right at the middle of my head. He refused a pic!! I can't figure out why he sits all day with his gun, pointed at the Central Telegraph Office!! I have got to know the staff at the hotel by name. They teach me Hindi. I also know all the staff at Shiv Sagar, where I eat nightly. They are all so friendly, and welcoming each time I come. I avoid the more expensive western places that are pricey!!

Had to take this. Two guys were sitting in the shovel of this earth mover, to take down a poster, which was attached to the pole!!!!!!!!! India means improvisation !! Life is vibrant: nothing boring!

Sunset over the sea wall. Cool. The locals love it..a gentle time of day.

This family were taking pics. They saw my phone, and invited me to take a shot!!

It was a 15 minute walk along Marine Drive to Tata theatre. I paid $10 to see this piano recital. World class I would say. Very much for enthusiasts of piano repertoire.( My bag!) I met a friendly guy on the train this morning. He is a geneticist, and Canadian too.... a professor at the local university. He came to the concert...a first time to observe a concert pianist in action. The train is a place where shoe shiners, garbage collectors, street cleaners, chartered accountants and geneticists mingle! We went for dinner afterwards to an authentic very local Rajustani restaurant. He assured me it was very clean. You would be shocked as Canadian interpretation of clean is in another realm. However, we ate with our hands. Little bowls of pickle, curries, papadums, chapati, yoghurt, red onion, cucumber , a gorgeous sweet, spicy dessert that I loved. Rice came towards the end of the meal. You mop up the liquids with chapati. The pic below was at the entrance to the restaurant.

A pic of the restaurant. No women....not many on the streets either. It is a male dominated society. The meal is all you can eat. My host translated. Not sure if I could communicate with the waiters but hand signs communicate well!!

Here is he beginning of the meal. Curried cabbage on the right. Lots more was loaded on. The whole meal was $1.20!! This is all there is on the menu....no choices here guys!