Showing posts with label Colaba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colaba. Show all posts

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Captain's blog April 2010

As you may have read we have been traveling for most of April and are now relocated from Thailand to India.
 
Gateway of India

It is purported that we will stay for the rainseason in India and work on our commercial yacht certification which eventually will not keep us busy until the end of this year. As to where we will stay this period is still not confirmed we are looking into Victoria Docks, Dhabol and Jaigarh.
 
In Mumbai unfortunately the Victoria docks are being filled up to make way for a container terminal and losing it's colonial heritage. This being the situation and the only safe place where to stay during the monsoon it leaves not much options but to look for berths outside of Mumbai (Dhabol & Jaigarh). I'm going to check out these ports in the near future.

As for crew changes I sent Saini for vacation but had to recall him for the transit and now he is back again enjoying his off time. Vivek signed off to pursue his tanker career and I wish him all the best in his endeavours. Kalpana joined us after her annual vacation in Mumbai, that must have been such a relief for her considering how seasick she gets.
 
Talking about seasickness, Asen found her sealegs, she was only sick for a day and then there was no more throwing up and lying about like a dead sardine.

Richard has started taking French lessons as it is anticipated that he will be transferred to France in the near future. C'est la vie...
 
We arrived Mumbai the 21st and arrangements started to setup the yacht for Owner's use. Satellite TV subscriptions had to be re activated, flower arrangements, stock up of refreshments and provisions, wash down, brass polishing.... the list went on and on as usual.

I went with Richard to Crawford and Colaba to find the things we needed for our guests.

Richard coming out from Crawford Market

Lintel at Crawford Market

Butcher shop in Colaba, prolly only place to get decent pork

Gokul restaurant - great veg & non veg wraps as take away

Then finally on the 24th midnight we got the Owner onboard after the Royal Challengers won 3rd place in the IPL. 

Next days went getting quotes for various jobs, annual safety inspections and certifications has to be renewed. Also the interior requires some more sprucing up. Same time we brainstormed a letter for the MCA regarding our commercial certification. Like they say, the job never ends on a boat.

Mumbai itself looks like it did a year ago, some buildings have been restored and other are under restoration. The black and yellow Premier taxis still roam the streets but definitely there is a reduction in numbers as the government is allowing other cars also being used as taxis now.

No doubt the Pinocchio of India

Mumbai roads & architecture

One evening I was out on town I saw a peculiar procession of guys with fish hooks through their back pulling four wheeled carts and with 2-3m metal rods stuck through their chins. I was later told it was a Chaitra Navratri (similar to Thaipusam) hindu celebration (ninth day after the hindu new year often the first new moon of the new year).

Chaitra Navrati believers

My annual is also coming up and I am waiting for Avnish to come and relieve me for a month of R & R. Until then...

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year

So it was 31/12, the last day of the year. The day started as any other day here in Mumbai. It is sunny here now in winter time and reasonably cool. Not cold though.

Morning went meeting Avnish, Ashish and Cmde Mongia at Colaba workshop inspecting a roll of carpet that we "found" to replace the dining and saloon area as well as the Owner's suite. Our old 100% wool carpets onboard has started molding and deteriorate from accumulated moisture and a few leaks we have had during the rainy season. Luckily there was this other roll that has been lying around for some time and we get good use of it and so we'll change also a few other areas from the good pieces that are left from the saloon and dining area. After having closed this meeting it was hurry back onboard together with Avnish for lunch.

In the afternoon we received onboard our RINA surveyor Mr. Chanchal and Naval Architect Mr. Mishra. We were meeting in order to conclude the pending issue of commercial class upgrade for Kalizma. Hot topics we're tonnage certificate, load line assignment, structural fire protection plan and stability booklet with inclining report. We concluded the meeting in high spirits. Then it was already 5pm and I had a refreshing can of Kingfisher with Avnish and Vivek.

Avnish left for his family and New Year celebrations and me and Vivek decided to paint the town red on our part. At 8pm we headed out for Colaba district and walked along the streets behind the Taj. We had a delicious dinner in the "Bagdadi" restaurant (opposite Gokul bar) and having satisfied our hunger we went to Leopold's and sat down with a pitcher of Kingfisher. It was still early and people started to drop in bit by bit.

Me & Vivek just after New Year...

Closer to midnight the place got quite packed and we finished another pitcher of Kingfisher to the countdown of the passing year 2008 and we ushered in new year 2009. After the countdown people started to disappear and so did we and we headed back to Victoria Docks with a detour to the Marina Drive to see the action at "Queen's Necklace". A lot of people and cars were around but hardly any fire works were seen, anyway we were a bit late for that. We arrived back onboard in one piece and went to sleep.

So, another year has passed by, so quickly, and what have I accomplished? Not much, 11mths has been spent onboard yachts and the rest is history...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody who reads this :)