So Day 9. Sunday. After a restful night in the bar (cough). We had an early-ish start and went to Elephanta Caves which paradoxically has no elephants but has lots of monkeys.
On the way to the boat we had to go past the Gateway of India, A triumphal arch built when Britain was still in charge of India:
Unfortunately it was mostly hidden by scaffolding when we arrived.
Right next door the Taj hotel and tower, innit pwetty!
The ferries were plentiful, and for 120 rupees for a return trip, cheap too!
N doing his jolly sailor pose.
GP and GW.
Got a great view of the taj and the gateway from the back of the boat after leaving dock.
Serious Ryan is serious (G and L in the background)
The journey to the island where the caves are located takes about 45 mins to an hour, the journey was pleasant as the sun stayed out for the majority of it.
Approaching the island.
Coming in to dock (with A muscling in on the pic :p)
Walking up the pier, there's a little train which tuns along it, but we couldn't be bothered to wait...
View from the pier
Our first view of the main touristy village.
Still getting used to cows walking about everywhere.
He wasnt too happy when I took the close up pic either
Statue to the side of the first village.
Goats seem to have impunity with roaming and loafing about too.
After one of the slipiest set of steps i've come across full of shacks selling trinkets for eager tourists ( I bought nowt) we neared the top...
.. and saw our first glimpse of the islands simian inhabitants.
Entry to see the caves was another 250 rupees! (only 10 for locals!). The wad took a hammering this day.
Playful little fellows, always giving each other backrubs...
Wonder what he's pondering.
"Can you get that flea for me? Ahhh"
Our guide thought they looked a little thirsty.
We left the bottle standing up, they knocked it over to make it easier. thirsty buggers.
Mom and baby came for a drink too however it was all gone, aww!
The apes were everywhere.
View from halfway up the hill.
We finally reached the caves themselves I took a pick of the sign so you can all have a good read:
Too much text!
Steps up to the first cave.
Which was quite HUGE.
View from the entrance.
The wall carvings were quite intricate, this is of Shiva (dont know any of the others sorry!)
Me and A.
Side view from one side to the other.
No idea what the little hole is for, we assume it's for someone L's size.
N grabbing a quick rest, it was a hot day, I went through about 5 litres of water.
View of one of the shrines, a strict no shoe policy in there.
That's it for the first main cave, onwards and upwards!
Caught a stray having a nap with her puppies. The girls were all "aww!".
More monkeys on the way to the second cave.
Except for the main pathway it was proper jungle out there.
View of where we got off the boat, and we weren't even halfway up!
Apparently the side parting is de-rigeur fashion for monkee's. this one bought back horrible memories of the last Indiana Jones film, god that was awful!
This cheeky chappy stole GW's (empty) can of sprite.
Just letting it all hang...
GW gave the monkee's her (then quite pungent) cheese sarnie. Apparently 9/10 monkeys reccomend it.
Mmmm red leicester.
The second cave.
Like my new house?
This is where the Rajah used to have his throne.
And his bedroom. A was a bit starled by the power of my camera's flash.
More proof monkeys eat anything.
The third cave had mainly collapsed but there was another shrine further in.
Second view of the pier, getting higher!
On the way to the second fort a local old lady pressurised L into taking a photo of some of the guys with a pot on her head. Then she demanded money for the privelidge. the guide told us not to pay and the next few minutes of the journey was fiolled with curses, I'm too polite to write. It was going to make the journey back down more fun. I refrained from taking a picture, lest she come after me too.
Ater that eventful interlude we reached the first portugese gun:
On the way to the second fort a local old lady pressurised L into taking a photo of some of the guys with a pot on her head. Then she demanded money for the privelidge. the guide told us not to pay and the next few minutes of the journey was fiolled with curses, I'm too polite to write. It was going to make the journey back down more fun. I refrained from taking a picture, lest she come after me too.
Ater that eventful interlude we reached the first portugese gun:
My that's a big barrel...
View of the pier again and still not at the top. By now we were all shambling wrecks due to the heat nad the climb.
View of the Maersk shipping yard on the other side of the island.
Spotted this little beggar on the way up. Prize to who can correctly identify it!
We finally rached the top of the hill, hair askew and with red faces and skited this very, very deep hole with no safety rails around it, H&S would have a field day here!
Well i'm not going down there...
I can assure you the black blob in the centre-right of the picture is an eagle one of the scot's guys who had joined us for the day spotted.
More remnants of the Portugese Fort.
After that we went back down the hill the quick way. The crazy old lady was now armed with a stick and still shouting. Unsurpisingly our pace quickened down the hill and past all the trinket sellers. After a quick stop off for refreshments we caught the ferry back. Not much to note except it rained, HARD, and we got quite soaked, not a good look with light trousers I can assure you. We stopped off for some shopping on the way back but didnt buy anything with the prices they were charging. The Louis Vitton shop were charging 30,000 rupees for one pair of shoes! This girls liked the bags though. After that back to the hotel for a long and restful sleep.
Tune in again soon!
Tune in again soon!
