India 2007 | George Filev

Elephanta Island.

18 Jan 2007 02:13 Filed in: India 2007
Things here at the Mumbai Festival have started off with a bang! Here I am being the media whore in The Sunday Times with Kyle during a rehearsal.

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We set up in front of the Gateway of India and performed the Spheres and The Field to a roaring crowd of onlookers. Everyone from the festival was very happy with the press coverage and the performances.

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So after the work is done there is time for some more sight seeing and what wonderful sights there are to see here in Mumbai.

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We even got to witness a Bollywood film being filmed. You might be able to make out the star in the centre of the picture in a white dressing gown. The cameraman is to the left in red under the umbrella.

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We are ferried around in a bus that is aptly named Destiny. We were often waiting for Destiny to arrive.

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I visited the Mumbai Natural History Museum and it was stunning.

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This one's called Chained Elephant trying to stride away, frankly I don't see it!

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I saw some of the Great Indian Hornbills. Hornbills are especially remarkable for their extraordinary nesting habits. The start of nesting by the birds is to hollow out a hole in a tree into which the female enters just before her eggs are laid and with the aid of the male the entrance to the hole is closed up with mud, mixed with resin from the trees and the birds droppings, and a narrow vertical slit is left as an opening.

Within this hole the mother bird remains imprisoned until her young are partially fledged, and throughout this period the male feeds her.

When the young Hornbills have sufficient covering of feathers, the mother bird with the aid of the male, break down the partition and rebuild it again. The young are fed and finally set free when they are able to fly. Here is a cut away that shows this in action.

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Then I turned the corner and nearly poo'ed my pants when I saw this.

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and this.

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but finally wet myself when I saw these owls. I think the curatorial and preparatory staff had a bit of trouble getting this road kill to appear real.

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We left the Gateway of India and headed for Elephanta Island. Here is what King George V would have seen as his boat entered the dock. You can see the Old Taj Mahal Hotel to the left.

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It was named Elephanta Island because the Portuguese, when invading this region, came across a giant stone carved Elephant and named it Elephanta. Unfortunately they ruined most of the beautifully carved Hindu temples on the island. You can see it in the background of this shot.

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We took a cute train from the Boat to the cave temple.

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The elephants have long gone but there are plenty of naughty monkeys that weren't afraid to take the food from your hands or mouth.

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We had to climb quite a few stairs to get there but some of our crew travelled in style with less effort, for them anyway.

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Our tour guide, Ramadand, was fantastic and he imparted great knowledge about the carvings in the cave and Indian Religious beliefs. We were taught about Brama, Shiva and Vishnu the three gods who represent birth, the journey of life and death. He told us many insightful stories of wisdom about the importance of balance for the health of our society and our ecology.

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It was amazing to think that all this was carved out of the side of a mountain.

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On leaving the island I was waved goodbye by a sweet little cow.

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Next stop New Delhi! I am hoping to get to visit the Taj Mahal while we are there. We are performing at the Festival hosted by the National Drama School.

Namaste,

George

xxxoo

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