Hello all, sorry I haven't posted recently, Internet has been down in the D'souza house and hasn't been set up yet in the office. (which are nearly finished now, just need a few more homely touches, pics will be posted when complete)
So much to tell you all. Went to Blue Frog on Friday to see Jalebee Cartel, a very cool electronic music act. The club had a really nice soundsystem, not sure by who but it certainly did justice to the music. Visuals were cool too, they vj was actually quite inventive and had some nice videos. The coolest thing was that while the visuals were not central there were no less that 8 projectors lined up 4 in a row in two rows. Very cool, but not my style; the visuals here were background to the music, I prefer to blend the two and create a more in-synched experience. But that's just me.
The club itself was really nicely built too, it was a loungey place so it had lots of booths which were joined up by this webwork of low walls, which changed colour in tune with the music (controlled by the vj or light engineer I suppose). Here's a pic of blue frog from the dancefloor with the stage behind. Cool, nah?
But a more interesting story is that on our way to the club, we went a bit further on and had to pass a police roadblock. In India it's the law that no male cop can stop a female driver, I presume to prevent molestation that must have occurred beforehand. So as we drove past a policewoman spotted us in out party clothes and decided that we were obvious targets for them. In recent times India has become incredibly strict on drink driving after a drunk man killed a few people sleeping on the roads while drunk, and when I say strict as in if your caught drink driving it can mean a few years in jail, no problem. Plus this is for some reason the few things that the cops can't be bribed when caught.
Anyway, the cops pulled us over and turns out Gayle does NOT have her licence with her, oh dear. Luckily the cops smelled her breath and smelt no alcohol (she hadn't been drinking anyway) and fortunately we seem to have met the soundest cops in Mumbai and all they did was ask for a 300rupee(probably twice the normal rate, this IS India after all) on the spot fine, which we gladly paid and even gave us a receipt in case we met any more roadblocks on the way. Drove off feeling a little shattered but decided not to ruin the night and went to the club, which we knew had no roadblocks between it and Gayle's house. Poor old Gayle, her first time being pulled over and she can't find her licence; still can't so she's got to go and apply again.
Just woken up and Gayle is sick in bed unfortunately. She's been unwell all weekend poor girl. I must say I've acclimatised very quickly here. Haven't gotten sick yet! The heat is bad but I'm managing no better or worse than the Bombayites. Had a meal with Gayle's dad (Giles) and his parents, which we call affectionately Danma and Danpa. They are so sweet. Giles is off to Mauritius now for a week then he's off to Dubai to see business partners. It's a hard life, huh?
Still no word on the apartment, Gayle says we should wait and see if we can get a cheaper and nicer apartment.
Okay, I'm gonna sign off now, must go check on Gayle
Namaste,
Paul
