Trains and Rains. Rocks and Rivers. Lakes and Goats.

 

A weekend of firsts! This week we joined some friends and ventured out of Mumbai. We have been looking forward to a few days in nature and do experience some aspects of life in India that we have not experienced before. One of those was riding on a train! We have ridden trains all over the world, but we have not ridden a train in India. Watching movies like "Lion" and other shows, including documentaries, it shows the thousands of people that ride the rails in India every day. Complete with packed cars and people hanging out of the doors or off the sides of the trains as they ride--it was just like that!! AND WE LOVED IT. 

We started our trek early in the morning from the historical train station in old Mumbai. It is now called "CST" Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, but it has roots and architecture from Victorian British eras. I was glad that we were there first thing in the morning because it was not as crowded as I am sure that it gets later in the day. It also meant we were able to be the first people on the train and choose our seating before everyone else joined along the way. By the time we had finished a few stops, we were crowded in! We had been initiated. I am glad that I was by a window so I could feel the wind--otherwise my claustrophia may have triggered a bit. HAHA

The building is beautiful outside AND inside. The details are immaculate and there is so much to explore and experience. (Personally, I thought the Indian version of gargoyles that look like monkeys were WAY creepier than the demon gargoyles you see in Europe!) 

The dogs are not so bad...but wait until you see the monkeys...hahah

This is what I am talking about....aren't they creepy?!

The two Muggles loved the trip as much as we did. They liked seeing the different aspects of life and homes as we went along our way. I like that we can have conversations with them about how blessed we are and how we need to find ways to serve others that may need some help. 

As we ended our train ride we all piled into the back of some WWII styled jeeps--when I say "piled in" I literally mean just that. We jumped in nice and snug and watched the ride from the back. 

For the next 24 hours we just enjoyed the outdoors! We swam in the river and watched animals. The favorites for the Muggles were engineering a new direction for the river and feeding the baby goat. They could have spent hours doing both things. 

The Tom Turkey was not excited that we were around his haram. So I call to him and he would call back. It was funny until he decided to come after me growling. 

The food was amazing! And there was plenty of it. I feel like we were just done eating and it was time for food again--haha. 

There were little fish in the river that would come eat the dead skin on your feet. The first time they got me I jumped--anytime something you cannot see underwater starts nibbling at you, it is unnerving! 

I could not get these two to get out. They stayed in the water long after everyone else had left to shower for dinner. Which meant that they went to dinner in their swimming suits! HAHA

We took a trek in the rain. It was BEAUTIFUL! (And a bit slippery!) We explored, Lucky Dragon threw in all kinds of rocks, we took LOTS of photos, and we told stories as we walked. This was probably my favorite part of the whole trip. 

I think this guy was trying the throw in every rock in sight! I guess no matter how tall or grown up they seem, some things never change!

Sadly, it was time to go home again. But the best part is that we were able to ride the train again. It is so great to see the landscape as it goes by!

Koala Bear collected another dog on this trip...