Haji

Sunday the 2nd of October 2005

Woke up late

Mad rush to leave the home, cuz just as we were leaving, visitors had come and bhen had to do her duty as daughter in law. Helped out by making drink.

Finally left, past the 7 road junction and the first stop was the Dhobi Gauts. This is a mass washing machine where Bombay’s clothes are washed. Have to see it to believe it. People in little stalls hammering the clothes onto a stone. Wonder how they know who’s clothes is whose.

Then went to the race course. Its large and more impressive than the Nuwea Eliya course, but I’ll still vote for the later. You just can’t beat the climate and location. There was a large club and restaurant there as well.

Then came to the Haji Ali. It’s a long causeway to the sea (which is closed during high tide). This is lined by beggars lying on the causeway in a square chanting continuously with all their money collected in the centre. The mosque is actually a tomb of a saint, and is not that impressive now., though people throng there. There are men who you pay to care for your slippers and signs telling people to report them, if they over charge. On the other side are rocks, where you can catch the Arabian Sea breezes and get wet. A man was scraping a mollusc off the rocks with a spoon to feed raw to his 5 year old kid. Apparently it cures him if having a fit. Maybe he means Epileptic. Leaving the place, we got caught to the rain. So while sheltering outside under the tikka restaurant, we had a meal. It was Yum to the Max. Marinated so well, that even though eaten raw, was tasty. Falcons were hovering close by. It was crowded and in typical Muslim fashion had people screaming at the top of their lungs. Even though he was screaming, a man complained that non-one was listening to him.

Then left to the Planetarium. This was really nice with the experience much better than our local one (obviously) the seats rocked. Wish they could give a chart that could map out the night sky and name the stars. Almost went to sleep though during the session.

Opposite the planetarium is the Nehru Centre. There was an amazing exhibition on India and its History, Great Leaders, Religions etc. It was all a walk through with real life looking models. It began all the way from the Indus Valley till present time. The best part was that you could see how it must have actually been, because of the costumes, stages and décor made like real. I am sure Sri Lanka too could have an equally amazing story to tell.

Finally came home by 5.30. Had to get ready for prayers at the rooftop! The way it was done you don’t even realise that you’re on the top…open air would have been nicer though. Dinner was downstairs in the carpark. Damn yum with yummier home made ice cream.