Take another little piece of my heart...

Streets of Mumbai Ganpati Festival

Good morning and I hope everyone is continuing to enjoy their Ganpati festivities! Last night we went out to meet the apartment owner again and though I have no idea why we were there it seemed to go well. The contract was not back from his legal team yet so we couldn't finalise- but we discussed the ins and outs of everything and everyone was in agreement...thank god! I think we might be able to move in mid next week!!!!!

Out of the Blue Restaurant Pali hill

Afterwards HRH and I went to have a little celebratory drink (or two okay you got me...) at "Out of the blue" next door to "Olive" since there was a private function on. It's a great little downbeat place tucked away. I had some rose sangria's...and it made me think of my home in France. The time when we made our neighbours Sangria recipe for the pool house warming party in 2009... it took days and was a real village affair. Everyone came down to have a taste and give their opinion. We made over 60 litres and it was gone in over 2 hours the day of the party!!! We had friends and family fly out from London, Paris and Southern France for the event. Aaah such a great weekend! Meanwhile out on the streets of Mumbai regardless of the rain- people were dancing and singing and having a right old time. The streets were lit up like christmas...it was just so exciting being out and about. The colours and sounds were mesmerizing! We were driven about in a huge black hummer by our property agent. Pretty fantastic night all in all. Feel very blessed.
I'm listening to this Janis Joplin song right now because it sends shivers down my spine...I heart Janis. Big time. Right I'm off for a champagne brekkie...why not?

My thoughts...uh oh.

Things rolling round in my head today:

1. Has Anna Hazare achieved what he needed?
2. Is it possible to ever get sick of taco's?
3. I love skype...seeing friends and family just makes me happy!

Party central N.Z Rugby World Cup 2011

4. Is 30 minutes on the treadmill really not enough?
5. Can't believe I'm actually hooked on that T.V show "The Voice".
6. The rugby world cup is nigh and I won't be able to go to any games...boohoo.
7. I love my friends...they just make me laugh.
8.Why won't Japan apologise to Sth Korea for their war crime atrocities and be done with it?

Save our sharks people

9. Who are those losers that eat shark fin soup??? Seriously!
10. Seeing little kids not at school on the streets really does break my heart...every day.
11. Do I deserve a cocktail this evening? If not...why the hell not?
12. Stuff deserving a drink I'm having one anyway.
13. My friends success brings me true joy.
14. When will we be able to get into our apartment?
15. Our next holiday will be to Oman as it's only 2 hours from Mumbai. Woohoo.

Those in Tulum know that I am jealous

16. In ten minutes in Mumbai you can experience every emotion possible from anger, hurt, love and joy.
17. The town Tulum in Mexico looks fricken amazing on google maps.
18. Why is it impossible to find my Oral B electric toothbrush heads in Mumbai?
19. Did I just write that?
20. I miss my cats and can't wait for them to arrive.
21. Looking forward to seeing "Bodyguard" Bollywood cheese at its best!
22. Why does the only type of Delhi Belly I seem to be experiencing the type where my belly actually gets bigger?
23. I want an Alexander McQueen Skull clutch.
24. I'm so selfish to even think about wanting an Alexander McQueen skull clutch.
25. Check out this videoclip- is that guy the Indian Austin Powers or what?
26. I should get my butt moving otherwise the day will be over and I won't have left the room.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi everyone! This is our first time celebrating the Ganpati festival in India and we are very excited about it. Tomorrow it all kicks off here in Mumbai being the shukla chaturthi  the first day of the 11 day festival. Lord Ganesh (our favourite hindu god ) is the son of Shiva and Parvati (gorgeous name huh?) and known as the god of good fortune, new beginnings and remover of obstacles. This festival celebrates his birthday and it is believed he bestows blessings on his devotees during this time. Months in advance people begin crafting huge statues that are intricately decorated which are then placed in temples or holy areas to be worshipped during the 11 days. At the end of the festival there are huge processions through the streets of Mumbai where the statues are paraded and carried to the waters edge. It could be a river, lake or the ocean. The Ganesha's are then immersed in water. The streets are filled with people dancing, singing and celebrating. Woohoo can't wait. We've also been invited to join in with some of our friends family pooja's and partake in the festivities. Can't wait to learn some hindu traditions. I just can not believe how welcoming everyone has been in India thus far. I am blown away to be honest. People here are so social and open, warm and giving. Rich or poor- everyone opens their home to you and invites you in to share a meal with them. There's something pretty special about sharing a meal with someone in their own home. It's rather french dare I say it!

Ganpati statues immersed in Mumbai

Today I joined several organisations here in Mumbai and met so many other lovely expats. There is so much to do here if you're interested. I'm going to start yoga, hindi and might even check out this hilarious new gym class called bollywood groove. Like a gym workout incorporating bollywood dance moves! Haha. Who knows? Why not...I spose. Be a good laugh if not anything else...
Also thinking about joining Waterstones club...it's stunning. But just worried it might be too much of drive in rush hour. Still haven't decided on that one yet. They have a great bar...which is a good starting point in my books. And three fabulous sunken infinity edge pools...spoilt. I hear the pool boys aren't half bad either! Hmmm surely the traffic won't be too mad? Who am I kidding tho??? Right, I'm off to shower after a long day out and about in Juhu. Had a really great day today. Feel like I'm walking on cloud nine just thinking that we could be moving into the apartment this weekend. Very very excited. C'est des super bonnes nouvelles...aah ca me tardes de demenager!
A big welcome to all you new readers from the Czech republic, Indonesia and the Ukraine... it still surprises me how many of you are reading. Merci beaucoup. Over three and a half thousand a week now!
So enjoy your Ganpati festivities all my hindu friends...and be nice to elephants this week if you don't have any Ganesh statues lying around the house. Might just bring you some good luck. I know I'll be wearing my Ganesh medallion around my neck all week. Just in case...

Queenie

Lovin' this right now...two

I just find this cute. Upbeat, simple- a little cliche but not entirely. What I like the most is that I just feel good when I listen to it. Sometimes people really over complicate music. And today this is how I feel...light and fluffy.
If I wanted to call it a drink it would be a sweet no fuss Vodka and Cranberry. Sounds good to me- I'm off.
Oh before I go, just thought I'd better update the status on the apartment...the bloody owner rescheduled till friday. Can you believe it? I mean how rude! I am just about ready to tear my hair out. If I have to eat at the hotel restaurant for another week I will honestly just lose it. Ok not literally. And I'll stop being a spoilt little so and so too. Promise. I'm just ready to have a home in Mumbai about now...well more like about yesterday to be honest. (She mutters angrily.) Make that a double shot Vodka cranberry please. And keep them coming- I've got till friday...

Let sleeping dogs lie...please

The gorgeous "Prive" Club in Colaba, Mumbai

On friday night I decided that I would really get glammed up for the first time in Mumbai. I wore a dress from "Maje" (french store I love) and some sky high black python Jimmy's. Desired effect was pleasing. We went into the Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba to meet our Australian and new Indian friends for some dinner and drinks. Had a good laugh. At about midnight we all headed on our (very) merry way to Prive nightclub. It was my first time and I was definetly impressed with the place. It is honestly quite gorgeous. We had a private table with our own bar and butler and the only access was over water with floating rose petals. You had to walk over stone circular pods to get to the private table which had the rest of the club surrounding it on one side. The whole place smelled like a spa instead of a sweaty club which was pretty insane. Good music, packed out and great drinks. Definetly have to go back...the sooner the better. Don't remember too much after that about the evening except when one of our friends evidently ended up in the water- at least it wasn't "HRH" or I- but it was pretty funny!

Stunning Khandala Hill Station

The next day apart from having lost my voice from screaming, singing and fagging it up (yes bizarrely you could smoke IN the club!!!!???) I received a phone call from some dear friends we had just met in Mumbai. They invited us up to their villa in the Khandala/Lona vala Hill station area. The kids were thrilled as was I... I had always wanted to go up into one of the hill stations. I mean we've all read a million and one books set in Mumbai? Don't they always head into the hills in summer? Well I can now see bloody why!

Our gorgeous friends sent a car to pick us up and we headed off out of Mumbai. Along the way we stopped off to take photos of the stunning view. Imagine the grand canyon (okay not as grand but with the same rock formation) but covered in lush tropical rainforests with waterfalls cascading down the hills. It was pretty breathtaking and at times you felt like you were stepping into the pages of "The jungle book"  the only difference being the odd convenience store dotted along the way!

Of course with the two princes on board the first time we saw monkeys on the roadside we HAD to stop. We saw the cutest baby monkeys and all gushed. Then we noticed people stopping and feeding them bananas so of course we also had to stop and feed them bananas. Luckily we scrounged a few bananas off the car ahead so the kids got their turn to feed them too. Thank God. The little monkeys were so adorable and came right up to you and jumped up to catch the bananas in the air. The day just seemed to get better and better for the boys when we managed to hand feed a really tiny little monkey. You had to be there I spose...but I really dig monkeys. They're pretty damn cute.

We had a fab day with our friends who taught us how to play a popular Indian card game called 21 that you gamble on...(says Queenie rubbing her hands together in glee) after a few drinkies I was pretty confident. "HRH" was mortified when he saw me lose over 3 games and quite a few thousand rupees!!! Lunch was of course divine with our hosts going all out with amazing home made dips and appetisers -to entrees and mains. Dessert was nearly impossible to contemplate but as I've learn't you never say no here- and you just keep on going. Crikey, all I could think of was the number of miles I'd have to run to begin to work it all off. Then I just lost count and gave up. Stuff it. So I went the whole hog...indulging in choc walnut fudge at the end!!!We even tried paan for the first time... it was surprisingly good. Although I could have sworn "HRH" was faking that smile. LOL.
While the kids were having a swim in the indoor pool I spotted a flock of Indian ring neck parrots that came and landed in the garden. Our hosts told me they all come in around sunset to roost. They came so close up and were very noisey. Like a pack of desperate housewives they gossiped between themselves- on the odd occasion pecking at each other and pushing others off the top branch. Could have sworn I was back in the suburbs!!!"QM" is quite obsessed with exotic birds and I knew that she would have been in "Queen Mother" heaven had she seen them all. They are quite gorgeous parrots.

The beautiful Indian ring neck parrots

On the way out that evening we walked past our friend's two german shepherd dogs. I proffered my hand for them to sniff and so did "HRH" just as he did one of their dogs snapped it's jaws down on his hand. Just nipping the edge of his palm. He actually let out a wee scream- it wasn't the most manly of sounds I must admit. But he must have been shi*tting himself. Both the dogs then started snarling and began to let rip with the barking. Oh frick. How embarrassing. Poor old "HRH" looked so sheepish and I could tell our friends didn't mind- but not the best look when your friend's much loved and prized possessions want to rip your husbands head off. They kept going until he was actually forced to get in the car and sit there with the door shut. I felt so sorry for him as he pretended to smile and wave at us out the window like everything was hunky dory. I knew he was mortified...Hmmmm. So we strike again. We're impossible aren't we?!

Our friends cute lil' pooch...hmmmm

On another note the apartment owner has called us back and would like to see us again tomorrow. I don't want to get too excited but I have a good feeling about this. This could be it...we might finally have a home in Mumbai. Just have to wait and see...roll on 10:30 am tuesday 30th august. And bloody hurry up.
A big hello to you from Nigeria, Singapore, Poland and Finland thanks for the support!!!

Stay tuned!

Wow, we have had such a busy and exciting weekend that I didn't even get a second to update you all but I will fill you in tomorrow on the latest! We went out to Prive night club, had a very late night with some Australians and a wonderful day out in Khandala at the huge holiday villa of our new friends!!! It's pretty late now- so I'm going to get some shut eye before the alarm goes off for the kid's school morning.
Bonne nuit a vous tous et a demain bien sur!
Queenie