For those who like snakes...

[RicknTX]

I thought I'd go back in time to 1978 and post an image I took in Bombay (now Mumbai). My wife and I had a 13-hour layover flight so we stayed in a hotel and after a little rest we hired a taxi and driver to take us around and see some of the sites. One of the stops was the 'Gateway of India' arch, and near the arch were a number of street vendors and so-called 'entertainers'. One attracted my attention and invited me to take a picture (I was toting my Mamiya M645 so it did draw some stares when I walked around). As I watched he brought out a basket and a flute and started playing it as he removed the cover to the basket. There it was, a cobra, and as he played he drew its attention with his hand as the snake slowly rose out of the basket. I prepare my camera quickly for the shot...perhaps too quickly...because the next thing I know there was a blur of the snake striking forward towards me as I peered through the lens. My natural instinct was to move my body back as quickly as I could...my 'unnatural' instinct was to keep my hands and camera in position as I did so. When the cobra extended itself as far as it could, I remember feeling a quick tap on the lens right before the old snake charmer intervened to draw the snake's interest back to him and the basket. Once in the basket, he replaced the lid and apologized to me profusely. To make up for that incident, he brought out a mongoose and then quickly threw another snake towards it whereas the mongoose dispatched it quickly. BTW, I really don't care too much for snakes...

[Cajungaltx]

I like snakes.... cool picture, and good job, lol, I'd have freaked though in 1978... I was 5. *grin*

I used to HATE snakes though,my dad was scared of them, but then I got a room mate in college. He was a weird kind of guy... and our (me and another girl rented a 3 bedroom townhouse in Baton Rouge) biggest concern was that he would borrow our clothes if you get my drift. Wore lots of black clothes, and such. He liked snakes (ha ha)... and had a ball python. He thought it was 'great fun' to throw the snake on the redneck 'come to town' country girl.

The first time I screamed....like a little girl... EEEKKKK!!!!!

Then I got pissed off. I hit a pet store, talked to one of the guys there, and told him what had happened. He spent an hour with me helping me feel a bit more comfortable with the snake.

So, the second time my dumba$$ room mate decided to do that... when there were guests there btw, I let the snake coil around my arm, and sat there and just sort of stroked it.

I would have paid $1000 for the look of shock on his face, especially when I told him that he had 48 hours to get his crap and get out - in front of everyone. He thought it'd be 'great' fun to embarrass me, and got what he deserved for being mean.

So now, I respect them, but I'm not scared of them anymore.