Still at the Palace

(I have written this blog entry three times, each time taking about 40 mins and then it all disappears so sorry for the delay in finishing our visit.)After Christopher had finished galavanting around on elephants, we headed toward the museum which was housed in the older part of the palace. While we were waiting we were
entertained by this fella. He was sitting on the balastrading right above our heads. It was soon joined by a baby monkey that was very cute. Apparently there has been
monkeys in our apartment complex but we haven't seen nay yet. Other friends from baby group who live in houses say they have trouble with monkeys stealing fruit off the
trees and often see them running along the high wall fencing around their houses. We watched as this guy clambered down the drainpipe and headed toward us! Daisy was thrilled as I was back her away rather rapidly. All I could think of after a
particular nasty episode with a monkey in Indonesai years ago, was her getting biten and catching rabies and worms and mites and all sorts of unimaginable diseases!
(Actually I can imagine most diseases here and some that don't even exist!!) This monkey came quite close and then headed to the garbage bin where a juice container proved
to be far more interesting. So with screams and shouts form the locals he was chased off.
We headed into the museum. The first room we came to was like an interior
courtyard that was open to the sky. It wasn't very big and held lots of tropical plants in the cnetre. Around the edges were display cabinets filled with possessions from
the maharajah. Things like, combs and brushes and shoe horns and clothing, and shoes and turbans. In the centre near the plants were differing types of transport vehicles.
There were elaborate seats that wre carried by elephants all covered with faded brocade and small boxes that would have been carried by people, all heavily carved. There was
a little wagon that would hve been pulled either by a donkey or a goat. The 'piece de resistance' was a fabulous tin peddle car. It would have been a childrens toy.
Christopher was capivated! There were three of them and one looked as though it held a small motor. They were early 1920's and though faded, they were in perfect condition.
Next time we go I shall take a photo. We moved through the remaining rooms which held more 'things'. One room had at least 12 grammaphones and old record players. You
could imagine people draped around the room all listening to 'The charleston' and smoking cigars or cigarettes out of long holders. The place had a real roaring 20's feel to
it. This is one of the rooms that had been set up.
This one has more of an Indian influence than british. The pictures and photos on the wall reminded us that this is
relatively recent history, not even one hundred years ago. It feels quite strange after having lived in England for so long and even our house was older than this. We were
quite taken with the museum. We wandered aroudn and then headed back out into the sunshine. We made our way back to our shoes, which always surprises me that they are still
there. I must buy some really cheap shoes and wear to these places where I know we have to leave them outside. We walked around the edge of the palace to the front where
there was a massive parade ground hwere the processions of elephants all highly deocrated buse to be presented to the Maharajah that sat on his thorne inside the palace.