Traveling in Style!

I’m baaaack! I know, it’s been a tad bit of a long time, but I had a bit of a respite from work this summer, for which I thoroughly took advantage! Today, I am writing you from another land of Indians – this time, American Indians! And, of course, I’m much closer to home than previously!

I am in the land of the Plains Apaches, the Arapahos, Caddos, Comanches, Kiowas, Osage and Wichita Tribes. Yes, folks, I am in Oklahoma – Bartlesville to be exact. And, why you ask? I’m on another work project – gotta say, it’s great to be a consultant!! I get to visit some really cool places and see all kinds of interesting things.

I left off with my adventures in India sitting somewhere between an Indian wedding and finding real beef in Mumbai. But I do have one or two tales yet from that far off country. Just a couple of weeks before I left, my colleagues and I visited the famous Elephanta Island – an island with caves and sculptures carved from the stone of the island, dating back to the 7^th century,  off the coast of Mumbai, just a 45 minute ride by ferry from the Gateway to India. The cave temples are dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva Mahadeva.

Along with my co-workers, were two young men from the Indian Army, friends of my office mate and our driver, the young man responsible for getting us to and from the office each day safely and in one piece. He did his job admirably!

The fellas and I left our hotel early in the morning for the trip into Mumbai hoping to avoid the heavy traffic that occurs even on Sunday. However, we did have to slow down for a herd (about eight) of cattle that happened to be crossing the street (downtown) right in front of us. If there had been cowboys on horseback, it might have been considered a cattle drive. However, these cows were all alone, no one around to “herd” them as it were. Guess they were practicing the old question of why the chicken crossed the road!

We made it to the Gateway where we boarded a two-tiered ferry with plastic chairs on both decks for our ride to the island. The day was balmy yet heavily laden with smoke causing visibility to very limited. The ferry was fully loaded with weekend tourists off to see the island.

We arrived at high tide making it easy to jump off the ferry onto the island’s off-loading dock. The pier leading out to the ferry was teeming with vendors hawking their fruits and sweets. Indian ladies in their brightly colored saris beckoned to us to purchase the delicacies they offered – I passed  - I just wasn’t too sure about what I might be eating.

 We next saw where we were to board a small train / tram that would take us to the entrance of the island attraction. We all managed to grab a seat and the tram took off while cows, goats and monkeys lolled on the other side of the pier.

We hopped off the tram, bought our tickets to visit the caves and headed up. When I say up, I’m talking up I’m saying there were nearly 130 steps to the top of the island…. This young lady has a hard time going up the stairs in her house!

We stopped prior to the large stone steps going straight up and bought a soda to wet our whistles. I set my soda on a wooden fence railing to snap a photo of the monkeys that were just so cute running around the tree. One of those cute little miscreants was so fast, he ran to the fence grabbed my soda and ran back to the tree. He then proceeded to pour it out so they all could have a drink. Yeah, they’re cute all right!!

 Luckily for me, I didn’t have to walk up all those stairs!! No, there were no elevators or escalators… instead, I saw chairs and sat in one. Immediately, four strapping (and I do mean strapping – they had to be) young men lifted the poles extending from the chair and up in the air I went! I bet I squealed the whole way up to the top! I just knew the burly young men would drop me. 

Our driver was walking beside us and I grabbed his hand and held on, informing him that he would have to catch me should I tumble out of the chair – there was no seatbelt either!

Keep in mind, I am not a light weight…. I have gained a few pounds over the years and these poor guys were straining. The look on our driver’s face when I told him he would need to catch me should I fall was… well…. Wide-eyed!!

All the way up, people stared at this woman being carried like Cleopatra by her servants in a brightly colored, purple, green, pink and orange chair. My response – “it’s the only way to travel”!! people actually laughed and cheered as I gracefully (as graceful as one can be sitting precariously in a walking chair with her purse on her lap bouncing up and up narrow, step stairs) used my “princess” wave to all – you would’ve  thought I was the hit of the parade!

Finally, they reached the point of no return.  And summarily dropped me a few stair steps from the top saying it was time for me to hop off this lovely ride. I paid the young men more than I should, but it was well worth it! And, now I’m only a few steps from the top of the island and the beautiful stone temples and sculptures of Elphanta Island.

Pictures from my adventure can be viewed on FB at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3323652165480.152492.1093628880&type=3&l=2fc9500a3a