Saturday, June 03, 2006

Bombay Bolly-Bashing Bouncers

I thought the way my first day in Bombay unfurled was worth a couple of lines while waiting for a train down to Goa. Where to start...

...Oh yes, arriving off a 30 hour train ride at first light after barely any sleep in 2 days in 40 degree temps. Having a deserved shower, walking out for breakfast, jumping in a car across the city to take part as an extra dancing in a Bollywood film, laughing my head off at the hilarity of the whole event, having to jump cars in a successful attempt to bail, rushing around the city being shopped for so to be allowed into clubs, hitting the beers with Dave and Sarah (American chica), going to one of the best restaurants in Bombay in a vest and thongs (not the underwear variety for you non-Aussies out there), and some interesting bottles of Indian wine and some spillage later going on to a good nightclub until close before the crowning event of the day at perhaps the top hotel in India - The Taj Mahal. On finding non-couples were double charged for entry at the incredibly snobby nightclub downstairs, Dave announced we were a "gay couple!" and therefore should not have to pay more. This joke escalated into a protest as many bouncers shoved, dragged and pushed us out of the building proclaiming no gay rights in India. The reaction to our non-violent protest was that we were thrown about and eventually Dave hit in the nose (only poncy shot no real damage). I have to say the crowd was generally as pretentious as they come but it gave some satisfaction when the people behind us agreed with the protest and said they were happy to wait.....etc...etc... had to console Sarah who was quite taken aback by the whole thing while Dave went into the main reception of the uber-posh hotel and with his hands behind his back announced to the guests that he had been assaulted by hotel staff for being gay. Some of these same staff then thought about going for him but were called off as the situation became clear.....sitting on the steps of the Gateway to India, brooding and thinking of what could have been and was as the bay lapped up against our feet... off home to bed..... wake up with a couple of bruises, scratches and a mission to denounce the name of an international hotel that is so homophobic (even if neither Dave nor I have such tendencies)... decide Bombay is a great city and plan to come back here for more time before leaving India. Maybe another night at the Taj...

Off to monsoon soaked Goa where I may extrapolate.
(P.s.Bollywood is really really funny!!!)

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