November 18

Early up as usual for a walk with Uday. Back to hotel for breakfast, and off to the studio. I had my last yoga class with Natasha, and we had pics below. She is headed for the US tomorrow. I will be doing her class for a while, to get my body into decent yogic balance.

 Desai has been very helpful. See pic below. He looked after me, bringing me water, and tea while I waited at times.It was great to meet him. He also has a son who is a chartered accountant.

 I stopped for coconut juice. This stand was different. The juice is so so good for you. Only 80 c. The vendor cut a piece off with his knife as a scoop, and scraped out the coconut cream. I have never eaten that ever. Not sweet, but I'm sure it was so good for me. Soft young green coconuts, not the brown variety we see in Canada. Fresh fresh!!

 Below, the soft coconut cream. Jelly like, on the scoop cut from the coconut.

 Back to the hotel. Kareem ( Muslim ) left and Muhavi ( Hindu) right. Both around hotel admin. Great help to me. Very friendly.

 Sandeep below brings me breakfast and tea in the morning.

 Uday said he would send a student to meet me at the station. I went. Swapnil is a Masters Student, living at the Bombay Veterinary College. We walked to the college, and I saw these boys playing a game on the street side.

 Arrival at the College

 Relic of English architecture as the College is very old!!

 Dogs being looked after

 Or put down: families come to grieve

 Pic below of the two Indians looking after the monkey, duck, and birds

Monkey rehab

 Obviously was being nursed back to health

 Shade trees in the enormous veterinary compound. The pic of the hotel staff : kitchen staff, posed for me....pic out of order!

 The cat was not very hungry....lots of cats looked after here...like SPCA

 See who stole the cats dinner!!

 Foot injury being dealt with ....the poor goat below!1

 Holy cows....big horn, and the horns are painted red!! Big bull!!

 In the huge veterinary compound these kids were playing cricket....takes me back to my colonial days!!

 Lots of horses, I took so many pics....horse rehab

 Stall for horses, goats, ponies, etc

 Huge respect for God's creatures!!

 Huge old colonial buildings, built to last centuries!! Above and below

 The guy above was a weight lifter in charge of 3 gyms. He was doing physiology at the vet hospital. Friend of my guide, Swapnil.

 Hostels for boys, I think

 Notice the fruit, and flowers in this tree.

 Uday, whom I met on the train, is professor of Genetics, cryogeneticist, I think. He is second from right. All this happened because of him. Theses are the faculty. I am honoured by the amazing reception I had from these lovely Indian people.

Above is Swapnil. He met me at the station, walked me to the College, took me around all the various places. I am in his debt! He is a masters student in genetics.

 The labs!!

 Fridge is full of vials, samples. They had  samples frozen etc etc...so interesting to me, the lay guy!! So lucky to see this....tourists don't do this!!

 Don't ask me what this equipment above is for

 More shots of the lab....microscopes

 OK...Molecular cryogenics lab

 My guide, Uday, is the top professor....google him and see all the awards, citations etc....omg!!

 After that, Uday and I caught a taxi. We had a small genuine Indian local snack ( nothing you have ever tasted before!!)...then off to the movie house above. Not remember, Uday loves music. He sings in Maharani, popular songs. I checked out his You Tube performances. He wanted to sing for me. So, close by to this movie house, we went into a night club!!!!! It was empty. There were ladies of the night there, parading in the night club, hoping for connection!! They were all in sari's and dolled up of course. Uday's goal was to sing for me. The band played his song, and he sang his song. Sounded really good to me. Then we left, to the chagrin of the ladies!!!! We did the movie, in Maharani, with English subtitles. He wanted me to see it, as it was a musical movie. All melodic embellishments, which are the hall mark of this kind of singing. I actually enjoyed the movie. Intermission too. Below is the poster for the movie. I would never have done anything like this on my own, so I am indebted to Uday. He came to my hotel this morning very early, and we walked for 45 minutes along Marine Drive before the day got going. Can't believe this all happened!!!!!