Welcome to Mumbai..!

Guest Post by Arif Who Has Made Mumbai His New Home

2012-02-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

First ofall thank you for considering me for a guest post. Honored. I've written mypost based on the questions asked.

I work at an IT Company in Digital Marketing and my parents liveat Gandhinagar. I have been living in Mumbai since 2006 when I first came tothis city for my higher education. Apart from my profession, I like thefollowing activities: Blogging, Numismatics, Cycling and Nature Trekking. Mylatest interest is to help and guide young students in their educationalendeavors.

Always wanted tocapture an iconic night light pic of #Mumbai. Perfect setting:Bandra Flyover - all red from top!

Mumbai happened for me in summer 2006 when I got selected at NMIMSUniversity for MBA program. I stayed at Juhu along with a roomie and those weretwo glorious years. Later, I moved to Powai. There have been many good momentsduring my stay at Mumbai. As they say, this is the city of dreams - I trulyhave felt that in some way or the other. As a city, Mumbai is vibrant and fullof energy. You don't find any reason to be lazy here unless of course you'vestuffed yourself with a heavy meal. Whether you're working at SouthBombay, shopping at Lower Parel, eating bhutta atBandstand or passing your time at Inorbit, Malad - you never get bored. When myparents or guests come I take them to Marine Drive, Juhu Beach, Sea Link orsome good restaurant at Hiranandani, Powai. Here, there's always a place forevery occasion unlike other cities where if you've been 2 or 3 times, you don'ttake the same guests there again and again.

Gandhinagar on the other hand is a peaceful city full of trees. Ithas its own charm and it wouldn't be right to compare both the cities head totoe.

Haji Ali, at this hourfrom #Mumbai. :)

I recently went to Gandhinagar by a Sleeper Bus. I chose to board it atGrant Road as it's near my office and I also wanted to see Mumbai in adifferent way. A bus can always give you a full beam view and if it's ridingsmooth you can click some cool pics too. This is exactly what happened. My buswent from Grant Road to Worli Sea Face and took the Sea Link to touch Bandra.Through all this while, I was seeing the contrasting colors of Mumbai. Whetherit Haji Ali among the calm Arabian Sea, the up and down flyovers from Parel toDadar, or the Sea Link where I looked back to see Worli SeaFace during thesunset evening - it was a fabulous feeling. I always wanted to capture aniconic night light picture of Mumbai and when we were crossing Bandra Flyover,I saw am amazing moment - all the cars heading towards North on SV Road were atthe signal and their bright red tail lights mesmerized me. I wasted no time andclicked the photo. I knew I got that iconic photo. Whoever saw that photo,liked it a lot. After Bandra, night had fallen on us and our Bus traveledsmoothly making its way out of Mumbai. I reached Gandhinagar the next morning.I am sharing three photos from my journey below, let me know what do you thinkof it and does it tell you any story?

Worli Seaface at this hour #Mumbai - The lightsare the jewels of the crown!

Mumbai fascinates me and I would like to sum up my experience intwo words 'Aamchi Mumbai!' :)

I would like you to visti my blog http://www.maktion.com/ andconverse with me on twitter at https://twitter.com/arifkhan7

Thank you Pushpa, really enjoyed writing this guest post on yourwonderful Mumbai blog! :)

When NRI Visit Mumbai City

2012-01-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

I, like million others, watchedthe interview of Oprah Winfrey (at Jaipur Literature Festival) on TV and satenthralled by her frankness and her open minded views on India.

Amongst many things thatshe spoke I was most amused when she spoke about the chaotic lifestyle ofMumbai

"It's like being in a video game.” She said,“I don't know which way to look, why do you have a red light signal? Is it there for your entertainment? what? Nobody ever stops at red light.”

These are the common problemswhich even my NRI cousins, who visit me regularly want to know. They can neverunderstand how the people in Mumbai can actually drive in the city that followsno norms.

My cousin who was here lastweek, came with his 19-year-old daughter, who was visiting Mumbai after 11years. He wanted his daughter to experience the city he had grown up in andthey were all day out, exploring the city. He said he didn’t want tohighlight the negative side of Mumbai and wanted to concentrate on morepositive aspect of Mumbai.

But they were equallyfascinated with traffic of Mumbai which has grown from bad to worse. His daughter said that driving in Mumbaicity was too chaotic and the traffic moved so close to each other that if youstretched your hand out of window, you could easily touch the bonnet of thenext car.

This was observed at alltimes of the day in spite of the message 'Keep Distance' displayed behind every auto-rickshaw.

Well! They had fun clickingall sorts of pictures but this one takes the cake. Where in the world would yousee cows waiting outside a beauty parlor?

It happens only in India.

Cousin splurged on food

Pani Puri- always the favorite, to pamper the NRI clients, hawkers now wear gloves and use cold bottled water

Puri Bhaji: the pregnant puris are always a delight

And of course Paan, I warned him not to spit on the walls, we don't need any more modern art on our streets, he wouldn't spit, but then, you never know.....

He did lots of shopping, they love shopping on the road and bargaining till the hawkers bleed, and yeah, he also went shopping for pirated movies at corner shop, he was shocked to seethat there were 6 different variations of Board Games on Don 2

well! that's called BIG range of entertainment and that's what makes Mumbai so interesting to visit, isn't it?

Gaysi Family Dirty Talk

2012-01-16T02:43:00.000-08:00

For those interested in activities of GaysiFamily, come listen to their 'Dirty Talk 2012 (Open Mike) at Bandra

The Community will celebrate Mumbai Pride week

The Year That It Was in Mumbai-(2011)

2011-12-31T00:28:00.000-08:00

Mumbai is thecity that is unpredictable. It attracts, it distracts and sometimes itdisappoints.

The year 2011 has been good except for itstail……

Sadly very disappointing to Anna Hazare atthe end of the year, although there was lots of activity at BKC complexbut the attendance was sparse. Ah well, people in Mumbai are busy, (work first,unless unemployed). Normally, when they have no time to stop and say hello totheir next door neighbor, how would you expect them to wait in hot sun for a rally,shouting slogan? Nah, they cannot even if you offered them free Biryanis.

But theawareness of this movement has spread, they do support anti-corruption bill andwill only be too happy if the Lokpal bill is passed, only please don’t expectthem to skip their work/commitments and join the rally.

Not that theydon’t skip their work, they do….to watch cricket match.

Remember theday (April 2011) when India won the world cup?

Throughout the day we sat, watching the live telecast with family andfriends, nail-biting, although there was lots of food in the house, a specialmeal to suit everybody’s taste but still, nails were tastier in the times ofstress. There was one big street party at the end of the day, on winningthe world cup and this was day they didn't complain of beingstuck in a traffic jam

Mumbaites are passionate about everything, they will support a socialcause if it is on non-working day..

Remember the day (February 2011) when350 women from Mumbai took out the rally to Lavasa to spread the breast cancerawareness? The message was loud and clear that day ‘Cancer is curable ifdetected early’. It was an event to help promote women empowerment. I made seven new friends who share the equalpassion for blogging and we explored the city of Lavasa, enjoying two fulldays.

Mumbai, the Bollywood nerve of India had its celebrity mourning moments.

There were thirteen celebrity deaths that included veteran Bollywoodactors like Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Navin Nischol and Goga Kapoor andfilmmakers like Surinder Kapoor, Shamin Desai, Jagmohan Mundhra, Mani Kaul and painterMF Hussain as well as singers like Jagjit Singh, Bhimsen Joshi, Suchitra Mitra,Bhupen Hazarika.

The death of all these has created irreplaceable viod in various fieldsof filmmaking.

Not everybody is safe in Mumbai city, some innocent civilians also losttheir lives.

Remember the bomb blast at Zaveri Bhazar in July 2011?

Helpless Mumbaikars stranded on the roads, with no clue of what they hadwronged. The news spoke of the bomb blasts at the crowded areas, about injuredpeople being rushed off to hospitals, some limbs chopped into pieces flown intodifferent directions, and angry people on the streets. The whole stretch ofroad was bloody. The bomb blast was triggered by a timer and nobody had seen itimplanted there? On crowded streets of Mumbai, nobody had noticed the bomb beingimplanted on a scooter at Javeri Bazar, on the top of the bus-stop at Operahouse or under the tiles on the road at Dadar. People went on with theirbusiness unaware of the danger being built up and terrorist were successful intheir destructive and inhuman act.

Hoping the New Year brings some memorable and peaceful moments,thank you for visiting my blog regularly and….

Wishing you a happy new year 2012

Christmas at Bandra in Mumbai

2011-12-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

Twinkling lights reflect from every windshield ofthe passing car. Rows and rows of car juggle, swirling between auto rickshawsand the big red buses. I walk on the side of the road, lost in the sea ofpeople around me, all in the festive mood.. The loud sound of traffic distractsme from my reverie. Going to the otherside of the road takes too much time.

The footpath is occupied by hawkers on eitherside of the road by hawkers who are happy of the booming sale; even a loose,crumbled garment fetches a price. A sign displays the message as ‘No HawkingZone’ but hawkers don’t seem to care. They scream to catch the attention of thepassing crowd. The signal turns red and I am happy to cross over to other sideof the road.

A street urchin crosses my path and offers me sometrinkets for the Christmas tree; I refuse and pause to see the woman dressed inred sari behind him. She dons red hair band that have long spikes resemblingthe horn of a reindeer. In their hands are bunch of red caps with white furryborders. A group of young girls surround her, snatching the caps from her handand trying on their head. One girl pays for three caps and walks away contentedwith her purchase.

Its Christmas time in Mumbai and Hill road in Bandrais full of shoppers. People shop for Christmas decoration and sweets. The roadis lighted up and a perfect place to go for shopping and feel the Christmasmood.

NCPA in Mumbai is in news again…..

2011-12-10T02:37:00.001-08:00

I am so glad to know that we will see an affordable, sea-facing café at NCPA. hope to see something like this .....

During my visits to Europe, I have always loved that café facing the sea front; it’s the place so inspiring, while you watch the sunset across the sea, you sip your coffee and the poetry dancing around your lips.

Mumbai has water on all three sides, I wish there were many more café like these, I would love to just sit under the colored umbrellas and enjoy the breeze, I wouldn’t mind pani-puri or pav bhaji stalls too.

“The NCPA Café will be an informal space,” explains Khushroo N. Suntook, the centre’s chairman and a founder of its associated Symphony Orchestra of India. “Audiences, families, arts aficionados, youngsters, students, artistes can come to the NCPA and have a pleasant day—performance or no performance.”

Few months ago when I had attended ‘Crossword and Vodaphone Award’ I had complained about unavailability of food during late hours and this café is the welcome change.

Economics dictates change. But more importantly, the NCPA’s energy may work to usher in a new stage of the centre’s relationship with its native city.

“We are moving away from the beige in our walls and our work,” Suntook says, “and moving towards more colour and vibrancy.”

Supriya Nair discusses NCPA in Live Mint Lounge in her article ‘Moving away from the Beige’

This is a good news for artists and other people who come to this theater or by the sea shore at this end of Mumbai and I hope they will offer food at reasonable rates. Finger-friendly food like kababs, frankies and pastries are always all time favorites and the younger crowd prefer dim sum and Chinese starters .

So, watch out on January 22, the date slated to open, a place to go on Sundays and other relaxing days thereafter...

Thespo 13 - An Event not to be missed.

2011-12-04T13:03:00.001-08:00

If you are in Mumbai and love theatre, Thespo 13 is something you might not want to miss.

There are various events lined up during the second week of December at Pritvis theatre, Juhu and at NCPA, South Mumbai, the details of the event can be found at QTP The Script

QTP was created in 1999 and its’ activities include Plays, Live Events, Casting, Workshops, etc.

"Last year, when the festival was facing extinction, the community came together to 'save' the festival. Friends of Thespo was born, and in honour of the crowds that supported us, we have dedicated this year to them... therefore it is Thespo 13 - Theatre Tera Mera.

Thespo 13 will be held from 13 to 16 December at the Prithvi Theatre and 17 & 18 December 2011 at the NCPA Experimental Theatre. The days are packed with exciting workshops, live band performances, platform performances and the much anticipated Full Length Plays!"

For everything you need and want to know about the 13th edition of India's Premier Youth Theatre Festival, just click onto: http://thespo13.blogspot.com/

have fun!!!

Linking the East with the West of Mumbai

2011-10-31T05:17:00.000-07:00

Travelling from West to East of Mumbai by Metro rail seemed like a good idea considering the comfort it would afford and the time one would save and when it was announced some 3 years ago, the residents of Versova were only too happy with this proposition. Maybe they were not aware of the discomfort it would bring them during the construction of such project that would include dust, traffic and the relocation of the present facilities.

My friend lives closer to this construction site and I give her the credit for living in so much noise pollution, There are times when it is impossible to hold conversations/discussions, even though her windows and doors are shut at all time of the day. There is no fresh air, no sun and dust sweeps in through every small aperture.

I went to visit her this week-end after the gap of nearly six months and was very surprised to see the changes. The last station, Versova ends near her home covering the footpath and the street below her house and extended towards her building, almost kissing her window. She has already said goodbye to fresh air and sun forever and hopes that re-development of the building might bring relief.

Its November 2011 already and construction is still just steel and concrete……

Various components of the project are in progress simultaneously - including construction of stations, depots, track work, overhead electrification and signaling.

And there are more promises to complete by August 2012

Auto Rickshaws Services in Mumbai City

2011-10-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

Sometime back, I had visitors from US. I took my 9-year-old American guest for ride in an auto-rickshaw. When she returned she was thrilled at having traveled in a vehicle that had no doors and you didn’t even have the restrictions of wearing a seat belt.

How cool is that?

Children who live abroad are always amused by these dangerous (and adventurous) rides of travelling in an auto at a break-neck speed, jumping over the potholes with a hard bump, ignoring the traffic lights and squeezing through the heavy traffic. These are called the 'fun rides' by our visitors, the stories that they would take back home

But….

There are some areas in Mumbai, where it is difficult to find an auto-rickshaw. Sometimes I have wasted more than 20 minutes, waiting, and then decided to walk or take a bus because of unavailability of getting an auto. Taxis in suburbs will not ply short distance travelers and this creates lots of inconvenience for commuters. There are times when the drivers refuse to go to certain areas. I have observed many times that many auto rickshaws refuse to go to the eastern suburbs/ on hilly locations/or in the areas where they are not likely to find any client on their return journey.

And then, there are times when the auto-rickshaw driver is just not in mood.

Therefore I was relieved when I read about this auto-rickshaw service in DNA that yelled “Dial-an-auto service kicks off today in Mumbai”

I called city’s first dial-a-rickshaw service at 022-25747474 to get more information.

Me: Can I book the auto for the whole day?

PR: Yes of course. All you have to do is to call me one hour before your journey and book an auto.

Me: Is there a lump sum amount I have to pay for the whole day?

PR: No! You pay by meter; we will charge you only Rs20 for the booking service.

Me: Will the driver wait as long as I want him to, till I finish my work, say about 15 minutes?

PR: Yes of course, his meter is running and you can make him wait any where, as long as you want, if you wish to finish your work.

Now this is good news, because many-a-times I have to leave the auto because the driver refuses to wait for 5 minutes and later, I get stranded in lonely lanes, looking for another auto.

The auto service has just begun with only 300 autos registered under its wing. The drivers are provided with an identity card. The nearest driver in the area is informed by SMS and the first driver to respond is given the confirmation email with passenger’s phone number, address and travel details. The commuter is the given the details of the drivers, his telephone number and license plate.

This service is similar to Meru service, although I cannot vouch for Meru’s taxi service.

I am hoping that this auto-rickshaw service will deliver the comfort that it promises to…we shall wait and watch…..

Maharashtrian Women of Mumbai

2011-10-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Day out at BandStand in Bandra

2011-09-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

A warm and sunny afternoon at Bandstand in Bandra. The gentle breeze ruffles the palm trees, swinging on its branches..............

The sea is wild, jumps with joy under every wave, foaming breathlessly under the serene sky......

People at the shore walk closer to the waves, soaking their feet and shout with glee.....

The sea so inviting that more people are tempted to walk towards the cool breeze.....

But Ganesha waits enjoying the breeze..........

Till it is time to say goodbye and walk back into the sea......

Mumbai's broken roads and Potholes

2011-08-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

I am scared to walk on Mumbai roads, are you?

On normal days too, its not safe. The interlocking tiles that have been placed in the by-lanes and on streets always have tiles missing. Where do they go? People remove these tiles and put them in their homes. No, I am not joking, I have actually seen these tiles in some people’s bathroom to clean the feet. Some of these tiles are stolen by hawkers to display their wares. Twenty tiles, placed one on the top of other in two rows make a nice stand for displaying their wares. More over the work done by different municipal departments and telephone companies add to the mess who are too lazy to put the interlocking tiles back in a neat way and so we have many streets with pebbles and sand on which I break my bones.

Rainy season is worse, too many potholes everywhere. Some of them are big enough to reflect the scenery of nature.

"Some of them so huge that faced with anger and criticism from Mumbaikars over potholes in the roads, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come up with a master plan to name the potholes after famous personalities, so that the demand to remove them goes down drastically."

You wait at the bus-stop and don’t be surprised to be splashed with dirty water from the moving traffic.

This is the state of Mumbai, which is supposed to be the metropolis city.

Every year, like every other year it’s the same story, these potholes cause unnecessary delays in commuting from one place to another. The traffic is slow and completely jammed, back to back, and with those continuous bumps on the road, it is no surprised that there are back aches and spinal injuries.

The horror stories are everywhere:

"A cornered Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) promises quick remedies and jumps into patchwork exercises, which, as a rule, get drained off. Some road contractors are fined for shoddy work and some engineers in the municipal corporation are pulled up too. The government steps in at some point and takes stock of the situation, holds meetings, some high-level ones, and finally ends mouthing something wishy-washy."

Normally speaking, the roads should be repaired at night when there is less traffic, but here in Mumbai, they are repaired during daytime, in mid-afternoon causing further delays and re-routing of the traffic.

Yesterday, on my way to CBD from Bandra, my bus took a re-route via Palm road which caused 30 minutes extra time on the road, luckily I had my reading material and was busy and occupied, but I pity those who are in pain due to some health problems and they have no choice but to tolerate and wait…….

Travelling from South to North Mumbai

2011-07-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest discomforts that one can experience in Mumbai is travelling by road. I rarely go to South Mumbai if I can help it but on those days when it is impossible to avoid, I normally take a train, unless I am too tired……

Then I am forced to take a Taxi.

The taxi fellow must be fed up too of driving through this crazy city, therefore when I tell him to take me to Bandra, he suggests sea-link. That will cost Rs50 extra for the toll. I must decide if I wish to go through one hour traffic jam or pay Rs50 and cover the same distance in ten minutes. The normal routes are crowded with buses, taxi, cars in great numbers and also the jay-walking pedestrians, who cross the streets randomly. Mumbai has lots of sky-walk, but hardly anybody uses it, because it’s too tiring to walk up two stories to walk comfortable. Had they installed lifts/escalators at each skywalk, it could have helped. Anyways, sea-link road was the ride I chose and was grateful for my wise decision.

When it rains in Mumbai, it pours, and it pours, and it pours till the city gets paralysed

2011-07-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Getaway from Mumbai for the week-end - Lonavala

2011-07-05T01:23:00.000-07:00

Its rainy season and those in Mumbai might be frustrated with the clogged streets and open manholes but those who love nature will drive for two hours, through the winding Ghats, cross the Khapoli-Khandala Ghat, and within the short distance you are high up there, breathing in the crisp, fresh air, watching the waterfall from the surrounding hills of Lonavala and enjoying the nature in its pure form.

To read about the places of interest in Lonavala valley, click here

Street Shopping in Mumbai

2011-06-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

This Friday when I went to Crawford market, I roamed the streets and bye-lanes opposite the market for over two hours. This is an amazing street where you can find everything at reasonable prices. There are lanes assigned for every article, be it gadgets, clothes, stationary or artificial jewelry. There are rows and rows of shops selling the same items at competitative prices. Even the side walks are full of hawkers selling knick-knacks. If you were lucky to be able to find a parking space in this lane (which is mostly impossible) then don’t be surprised if your car is being used by hawkers to spread their wares.

This is a very crowded street where you dodge the traffic, hand carts, people and hawkers. I have walked into these streets many times, sometimes non-stop for more than five hours. It never stops to amuse me. Many times I have lost my way into the bye-lanes and discover newer lanes with even more interesting stuff and sometimes rare things which I would not find anywhere else.

In good ole days, I used to stop every half hour and try the road-side cuisine. There are hundreds of food stalls on these roads, and I had no problem eating those unhygienic food and drinks. But gradually I became food-conscious and started looking for more decent place to sit and eat. That was the time when I had discovered ‘Rajdhani’ on Sheikh Memon Street. I used to enjoy the Gujarati and Rajasthani delicacies there.

“Recently, the outlet has been revamped to make way for Revival Indian Thali - a healthier, variety-filled thali. With food cooked in trans-fat-free oil and using organic and healthy ingredients, Revival aims to please the new wave of foodies. In my head, a thali can never be healthy and always stands for the occasional over-indulgence.” Says Shakti Salgoakar during her recent visit to this place

Read Ms Shakti's food review here “De Thali: A healthier thali featuring cuisine from all over India”

At the end of the day, my feet ached and I desperately looked for a place to sit. Envied the man resting in his basket, or the person sitting on the road, but me? Couldn’t do that, could I?

I just stood there at the corner of the street, balancing on one foot, munching on fresh Litchis until my driver drove the red car from the parking lot and stopped in front of me.

Driving around the City of Mumbai

2011-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Want to drive with me around the Mumbai city? You drive, I click pictures, you look where I look and then you tell me where I am.....I will publish ur comment only if it relates to my picture, just spam won't do..uh uh!!Nah! no Ads please! I don't wish to buy flowers online, nor toys nor books on websites..so sorry!! So, here we go....

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Godrej Nature Basket in Mumbai

2011-06-21T02:21:00.000-07:00

It is always difficult to shop for men; I mean what do you shop for men? Shirts? Napkins? Lungi? Topi? Or, for more metro sexual men some deodorant or hairspray? Pens? Cigars? Can’t encourage smoking, Nah! Very difficult shopping for men....gifts were made for women and there is no thinking, no real hard thinking when you are shopping for women, look around and you will see the great range of gifts available: flowers, perfumes, diamonds, dresses, shoes, souvenirs, house-articles, kitchen gadgets, you name it, it is there for women's pleasures, in fact, most businesses survive because there are women who enjoy the gifts and they will never complain even if you buy gifts for them hundred times. It’s the men species who never appreciate any gifts unless their gift has something to do with eating/drinking.

No wonder, this cliché is repeated over and over again. “The route to reach the man’s heart is via his stomach”

And, ‘Godrej Nature’s Basket’, a retail chain of fine food and gourmet stores is cashing on this idea because this is the perfect venue to look for gifts for a man on his special day... It’s my BIL’s birthday and look, here I am shopping at Godrej Nature Basket.

This chain of super store is the best store where I like to buy my grocery. What I like best about this store is the variety of each foodstuff. The Gourmet retail store has a stock of the best international and domestic wines, cold cuts, meats, cheese, organic foods and a large variety of pastas, noodles, beverages, exotic and rare ingredients, meals, sauces, preserves and packaged food from around the world. And I love it.

Initially, I used to do all my international grocery shopping whenever I made my trip abroad. I would pick up chocolates, sauces, pastas, and many interesting stuff and unfortunatetly, most of it would reach the expiry date before I could finish it. Not to mention about the excess weight of these food items that deprived me of shopping for other things.

Nature Basket has solved my problems.

Now I shop regularly here, in my own city of Mumbai, picking just enough to last me for a week and then go back for more. The section that interests me the most is the organic section where I can find processed foods such as low sugar biscuits, baked finger food, whole wheat pastas, fat free pasta sauces, hi-fiber breakfast cereals, and also great variety of brown unpolished rice, multi grain flour and breads etc.

Then they have also regular cookery demonstrations at the store which guide us through the correct usage of the international authentic ingredients that are displayed on the racks. The one that I attended recently on 'EAT..European Art of Taste ' was good and I did pick up few tips on Italian cooking and Italian products.

I spoke to the men behind the cash register to inquire about the store and he informed me that it was started as fresh food store way back in 2005 and has morphed into chain of 8 stores in Mumbai, they have recently added 2 new stores in Delhi and are now also looking to set its footprint in a few other metro cities like Pune, Bangaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai..

I was complaining about the excessive high price of food at this store and how the money from my purse just vanishes as soon as I enter this store and my friend tells me to stop eating exotic vegetables like mushrooms, Pak Soi and broccoli, asks me to eat dhal and regular fruits/vegetables that are available at Bandra market. Well……dunno if I should take her advice because the kind of food that I prefer are normally stir fries or roasted.

Although I still do visit the grocery store at the end of my lane.

Friendly young man at this old fashioned grocery store never complains if I encourage foreign products and don't visit him as regularly like I used to.

So, coming back to my BIL’s birthday gift, er.. I picked up marinated chicken (which I will bake it for dinner) some chocolate packets and 2 bottles of wine. (pssssss..I picked up one bottle of red wine for me too, for health reasons of course). The helpers at the store were very gracious, they helped me choose the wine (the Indian variety made in Nasik) and gift-wrapped it for me to make it look presentable.

The only thing that I am unhappy about this store, besides its’ highly prices items, is the placement of the cash register. I cannot see what he is punching on the screen hence I am suspicious that he might be erring during billing.

Can you turn the cash-register-screen by 180 degrees at your Bandra, Hill road outlet please?

‘Must visit restuarant’ - Global Fusion in Mumbai

2011-05-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

There are more than 600 restaurants in Bandra/Khar area and most of them are good. It just depends upon each person’s preference.

One place that I love to take my guest is at 'Global Fusion'. This place is neatly tucked on 3rd floor of Link Square Mall, off Linking road just opposite KFC at Khar(west)

“Wowie” is the first expression you use as you take in the ambience. This is the dimly-lit restaurant with lighted food stations, each serving different kind of food, it has a oriental feel with the pond running between tables. Some of the tables are quite low while some on a higher level and some in those cute gazebos. There is enough space between the tables which gives you enough privacy, probably because you are required to move around from one food counter to another.

This is one restaurant where you cannot order ‘a la carte’. You order what you see. There is unlimited selection of Sushi’s, salads, fritters, assortments of veggie and meat dishes and deserts. There are numbered clips at each table that you clip them on the bowls adjacent to the prepared dish. The portions are small and the variety is huge. I like it for its variety of culinary dishes that are on display. It is always advisable to take a survey of the all the food on display and make a mental note of what you would like to eat.

There is live-cooking station where you can choose from variety of dimsims, sauteed chicken, spring rolls, roasted shrimps, soups and many more things that are so attractive that you are tempted to order all that are on display. There is no beef and pork (thank God)

But because of your limited appetite you just select few by dropping the numbered clips into the bowl next to the display-dish and the waiter gets them to your tables, freshly cooked in small portions.

You sit relaxed, munching on your food, savoring each dish, starting with cold cuts, sushi and salads and moving on to more exotic dishes and before you realize, its been over two hours that you have been masticating. Ouch!!! You loosen your belt and look around to see if you can still squeeze something, a wee- bit more and so again you drag your feet and head on to Baskin Robbins ice cream counter and then to those neatly sliced cakes station, where you help yourself to just one more tiny piece of cake and maybe 2 scoop ful of ice-cream.

Its a sin, and you know it, to overeat is a sin, but you just burb!!! its okay, you can skip dinner, no issues!!

The service is good and prompt and the waiters are cheerful. When you ask for the bill, you are in for a surprise. So much food you have consumed (lunch and dinner, remember you overate?) and you pay so little..well, well, well! Compared to other places, this place is very, very reasonable.

The Prices:

Rs. 570 (Monday – Friday Lunch Buffet)

Rs. 720 (Monday – Friday Dinner Buffet)

Rs. 850 (Weekend Brunch & Buffet)

From My lens at Sewri

2011-05-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Birds of pink feathers at Sewri..most welcome guests of Mumbai during summer- Flamingos

Blowing Away NRI’s Blues

2011-05-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

After the warm hug and a glass of cold water, when my NRI guest sits down to relax I am eager to start a conversation, I quickly finish off the chores and get ready to begin a healthy chat expecting some spicy gossip and some latest family news. But wait a minute; before even a monosyllables are uttered, there comes a pause. As soon as my NRI guest starts the conversation, it begins with “I need India SIM card”

Oh Gosh!

Yeah of course, everybody needs a chip to communicate, first things first, there will be lots of time later for casual chat but not before the basic necessities are dealt with and now with mobile and laptop,a most important hand-luggage, they need a internet toggle too, then they need to change some dollar/Euro to Indian rupees, need to rent a car to drive comfortably around the city. Oh! There are so many important things to attend to before you can really sit down to chat. Living in Mumbai, it is important to know these basics, such as what is available on which corner of the street or else lots of time is wasted in just discovering the right tone.

I know one thing for sure, that getting a SIM card in Mumbai is a big hassle. There are too many formalities to complete before you can get one. Just passport and photographs are not enough, you need pan-card, electricity bill, photographs and proper paperwork to complete. I asked my guest to try getting one from a tiny kiosk on linking road near my house. She walked up/down the street searching for the shop but each one directed her to yet another shop till she reached a ceramic corner.

Now who would think that an ordinary ceramic shop will have answers to all the NRI queries?

After making enquiries she came back disappointed and announced that she could not get SIM card without my approval. Only I, as a resident of Mumbai was entitled for such luxury and that my autograph was required to get her phone connection. So, when I got free, I accompanied her to the store at Linking road that had promised to get the required goodies.

I have seen this store hundred times, but have never stopped there. The shop owner was busy with another client who was shopping for ceramic crockery. I stood there outside the kiosk, in a small bye lane off linking road, where the auto-rickshaws with its usual unnecessary toot-toots added to the noise pollution. While I waited, I discovered that this was no ordinary shop. The side board on the kiosk offered many more services such as car rentals, air and train tickets, Holiday packages (India and abroad). There was even a computer inside the store that could do all the online services such as getting toggle for internet connection, SIM card and would even help you with money exchange.

This is what I would call efficiency.

In India, you need the right people to help you get your work done, one who knows all the tricks of the trade and is able to pull all the right strings. For a small fee, my guest was able to solve all her problems in just few hours, which would otherwise have soaked off all her time and energy, had she ventured out to do it on her own through a proper channel.

I have been through that rough patch and have often tripped over the pot-holes. Its better to pay and smile.

Mumbai Medical Care Centre

2011-05-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

Okay this is not a beauty parlour, if that is what you were thinking when you saw this picture, the lady sitting on a big comfortable, soft chair is waiting for her blood test.

That is what I like about NM Medical, a preventive diagnostic care centre where I go for my regular check ups once a year and come back with a great feeling.

The staff is very friendly here, so are the technicians. I take my blood and urine samples and then normally go for lipid profile. I always include the breakfast during my each visit. Love their breakfast which has variety of things, this time I had pohas, khakhras and coffee, there were also cornflakes and milk , tea and of course fruits.

The clinic is very clean and there is a separate waiting enclosure for women which have comfortable couches where you can read comfortably or watch TV while you wait for your turn.

Walking distance from my house, I go via linking road and turn into the lane of KFC-Croma and walk towards this lab at Bandra. When the person is ill, all that he needs is bit of pampering. And this is the place where I feel pampered whenever my sugar shoots up or the BP rises so high that I am afraid it has gone beyond its acceptable mark.

Just visiting NM Medical makes me feel just fine.

BEST Bus Service in Mumbai

2011-04-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

My granny would often talk about the tram service in Mumbai that ran between Colaba to Sion and the ticket fare was just one anna, 16 annas to one rupee – 1 anna equal to 6.25pai

Original Source of pictures

Then came the BEST buses, tourist and others too

Original source of thes pictures

Do you remember this trailor bus? Ah! that was long time ago......

source of this picture

Such pain it used to be to travel by BEST bus in Mumbai in the 80’s. For example, those who worked in Byculla had two choices to reach there from Bandra, either to hop on two trains, changing at Dadar and crossing over to the eastern side to take another train or taking a direct bus. There was only one route 4LTD, which had no proper timings. The frequency of the bus depended on traffic, sometimes there would be row to 3-4 buses within five minutes and then no sign of a bus for next one hour. It was frustrating to wait for so long and then walk into a crowded bus, where everybody who is seated is too tired to offer their seat to old people or ladies. The journey from Bandra to Byculla was thirty-five minutes and many times a commuter had to stand for full journey, leaving them too tired to cope with the hard working day ahead. Hence there was poor performance at work-place too.

Source of this picture

Life was tough when there was red bus
It was full to capacity
In double line they stood their ground
With every jerk they broke their knee
The bus would move at snails pace
At every stop there was calamity
Fittest people hopped into the bus
While weakest stood for eternity
Expecting for an empty bus ride
Was a myth and that was tragedy

But things have changed. Travelling is such a pleasure now with the introduction of Volvo type AC buses called as BRTS King long AC buses.

The Bus ride in Mumbai town now

Cradles the passengers to melody sleep
There is soft cold air from knob above
And the humming of FM stream
Life is good while travelling now
No haste though horns do shrill scream
People busy, surfing the net
Some are chatting on blackberry
There is a socket too in the bus
To get gadgets work on electricity

The best part is that there is a good frequency of buses and there are many buses following the same route because of this waiting time is reduced. Commuters now reach their destination, fresh as ever. No dust and no wind, no messing of hair and no stink seeps through those air-tight windows, passengers sit in groups, have stories to share.

Life has changed for better now and What a joy to enjoy such luxury!!

Travel by AC or by Non-AC bus, you can easily find their routes wherever you wish to go, just check the bus routes before you travel in the city of Mumbai

Sky line of Powai

2011-03-27T01:20:00.000-07:00

It takes me 50 minutes to reach Powai from Bandra on my lucky days, and on those days when there is too much traffic, it has taken me more than 2 hours too.

We have direct bus service 422 but I prefer an auto ride.

There are various routes to go to Powai, If you go independently you could choose the route through eastern express highway, through Ghatkopar, through Bandra-Kurla complex, through Goregoan-Powai express highway, through Sahar Airport, and through Andheri-Chakala, I have travelled all the routes and I find the route through Chakala the best route, it passes through Speez and joins the Goregoan-Powai express highway road.

The beauty of the Powai is the lake that runs parallel to motor way and walking by the promenade is a real treat.

Hiranandani Complex is the city by itself just opposite the Powai lake, cleaner and greener than rest of the Mumbai city.

Waiting at Peddar Road

2011-03-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

I was waiting at the bus stop at Pedder road and I could not avoid looking at this great structure that looks like a match boxes, aligned one on the top of another....

If you see the height of the entire building, on regular building it could be up to 60 floors, but since the height of each floor is higher than the regular, the building has only 27 floors and it can be seen from a great distance.

Soon the sky line of pedder road is likely to change. So many buildings clustered togather and new building redeveloped each year, the biggest problem in this area is the traffic jam.

Mumbai carried out a study on traffic in the area which found that 94,000 vehicles used the route everyday at that time. The same study also found that the average number of cars owned by a family living in Pedder Road is 2.3

Mumbai’s roads are choking really fast. Datar thinks he has the solution. “Traffic Demand Management (TDM) is an idea whose time has come,” he says.

I wouldn’t drive on this route during peak hours, it drives me crazy……wish there was some alternate route…….

Lavasa Women's Drive..350 cars participated from Mumbai...

2011-03-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

on 27th February 2011, when I reached the venue, I discovered that there was very large crowd of women who, like me, cared for a special cause to spread the cancer awareness and all were to ready to drive for 5 hours to reach a new planned city of Lavasa..

I woke up early (which is quite rare) to be at Bandra reclamation grounds that was bustling with positive energies. There were 350 cars participating in the Rally. Every car had a message to share. It was all about saving the girl child and promoting women empowerment.

Read more about this event on my other blog......when I whisper behind a canvased veil.

Women's Drive will resonate from Mumbai to Lavasa

2011-02-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

When I go for a drive with a man, family will say ‘Enjoy the ride’, but when I go for a drive with women, they will say ‘Be careful’

Why? huh?

I have heard many rude comments on woman drivers made by sulky men who cannot accept the fact that women are equally good and talented

And there is another breed of community who believes in women’s abilities and has been organizing ‘Lavasa Women’s drive’.

Every year, about 350 cars start from Mumbai and culminate at Lavasa. This is the third year and each year it seems to get bigger and bigger event.

image source

This year, fun filled event will be held on 27th February 2011. The Women’s drive will flag off from Bandra at 7am and end in Lavasa, where the participants will enjoy music, games and celebrity performance.

And now comes the exciting part, that although I cannot drive a car, nor know any participant with whom I can tag along…but lucky that I am.........guess what?...er... I am invited as a guest and I will be happy to blog about it

So…watch this space……..wink* wink*

Women in Mumbai travel dangerously

2011-02-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

Talk of equality between woman and man? Well …both travel dangerously in Mumbai

What does it matter if its ladies first class or ladies second class?

Mumbai women are brave; they go to work travelling dangerously, with their bodies protruding out of the train and unfortunatedly unlucky one crash against the pole or lose their grip.

Thats life in Mumbai for you!!

Will our Mumbai trains ever have doors that shut when the train is in motion?

IdliSambar on a bicycle

2011-02-10T00:38:00.000-08:00

During my last trip in Spain, I met one Spanish lady who said, “People of Mumbai are very contented, and I know the secret of their happiness, I saw people eating all the time, everywhere there is food...so if their tummy is full, they have tolerance to accept all the other discomfort.”

She was so very right.

The beauty of Mumbai is that the food in affordable and suits every palate. You only pay for ambience.

When you are in Mumbai, you will find street food everywhere and you might not miss this steaming hot Idli, Vada Samber being sold on a bicycle.

This hawker comes into my lane at 10am to 3pm everyday getting the limited supply of batter for making idlis, one container contains cooked lentil curry, and other container contains coconut chutney which is balanced on either side of his seat. There is steamer with the stove, bound to his cycle on the rear seat.

On the days, when I am too lazy to cook, I go downstairs and order a plate of this idli sambar. He serves four idlis, and four vadas, (all the size of tiny bangles that would fit an infant) covered with spoonful of lentil Sambar and a spoonful of coconut chutney. The hot idlis melts in the mouth immediately as soon as I roll my tongue and the pungent taste of sambar and chutney explodes with the fiery flavor which makes me want one more spoonful. With each plate costing just INR10, this is the cheapest breakfast I can have. Sometimes, I cook Chinese vegetables and just buy steamed idlis and they make a perfect combination.

Chinese vegetables with steamed idlis. Howzat?.

Yum??

Street Art cheers the crowd at Kalaghoda

2011-02-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

Hello, I saw you at Kalaghoda festival, you were clicking picture of street art down the Rampart row, I was doing the same...

for those of you who have not yet experienced this ...do go, its 9 days event and there are many more interesting things happening there, all the details of the events can be found on Mumbai ready reckoner. go with bacchas and elders too..there is something for everybody.....

KalaGhoda Festival in Mumbai....Ready???

2011-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

Yeah I plead guilty!

I have been too busy lately and have found not much time to update my blog. So sorry, but hey thanks for visiting, although I don’t know who is visiting me but just happy that you are there reading my rant….

leave your foot prints sometimes on my post na…. I only recieve spam comments and am forced to delete it. :((

But a great event is lined up in the month of February and I felt I must update…our favorite Kalaghoda festival is round the corner,..keep your walking shoes polished cause you will be needing them from febraury 5th to February 13th, a nine days event of thrills and drills.

Although the festival is more than 10 years old, in the initial years it was more by visual art crowd, but it became more popular when focus of festival changed and literature, theatre, culture and different types of art were added to this festival.

I attended my first festival in 2008 and had zimbly loved it. There were lots of workshops, film shows, art. culture, exhibitions, NGO art n craft stalls and ofcourse lots of food. I had enjoyed every moment and had blogged almost everyday during the month of February 2008 on my blog, my diaries can be found here at my blog on Ranting and Raving

Last year, I attended the Kala Ghoda festival and blogged about my day attending different stalls and later in the evening attending the panel discussion on food. It was quite enlightening and had collected lots of ideas.

This year too I wish to attend it but might not be able to attend all the days because of my other commitment..But, you don’t miss it….have fun….

The programs for the events will soon appear on their site…watch out for the programs….

And if you still don't know the venue have a look at this map,

Image Source

So what you doing on New Years' Eve in Mumbai?

2010-12-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

What can possibly happen during next seven days? A lot I would say if you are in Mumbai.

But, you should only be able to brave the traffic jam (like they say 'goslow' in Nigeria)

At every signal, your vehicle is likely to wait in a long queue which can be sometime extend to ten minutes or more.

The streets are lighted with hundreds and thousands of tiny, tiny light bulbs, There is talk of party and entertainment at every street and what more, new year is round the corner.

And hey, what’s this I read in papers today?

Some of the big stars will earn millions in just one day by performing on the new year’s eve!! Might see most of them dancing to the tunes of ‘Sheela ki jawani’ and ‘Munni Badnam hui’……and many more!! zara sa jhatka!!!

On a quiet day, you might want to go to Film city and visit the film studio of Masterchefindia?

Yeah!! exact replica of the original 'Masterchefaustralia'

But before you enter the film city, be ready to pass this

yeah, thats the reality, dirt is every where!

but nevermind!! Its a part of living in Mumbai, that is not likely to change in thousand years, we have learnt to live with it. hahaah!!

Nevertheless, Mumbai has lot of offer

Street food

Sweet and sour Dabeli and paan for digestion

Road side shopping

Where else would you squat on the ground to shop?

What ever your choice, Mumbai is the place to be

Happy New Year!!

Literati Festival in Mumbai

2010-11-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

image source

In 2007, I had attended Lit Festival in Jaipur and had enjoyed every moment, listening to different writers about their experience in the lit world, sitting in the sun on cold winter morning sharing coffee with our favorite authors and attending workshops to collect some dust of grey cells that was floating in the air, I never went back because I can’t take the cold but now I am glad that finally Mumbai has its own literature festival.

So very glad

This was something that was missing in Mumbai. We do have literature sessions during Kalaghoda festival in February, every year, but that is another story, more about that some other time.

The lit festival starts (debut) on 12th November 2010 for three days in Mumbai at NCPA and the fourth day, make a guess where it is? Yep! if you guessed Lavasa, you are right.

I am planning to attend 'E-literature' on Saturday, the 13th which is at 11am, and ah! that means I must wake up early (aw! What a pain! No late nights on Friday then)

I would have liked to attend all the sessions for three full days and would even have loved to go to that beautiful city of Lavasa but unfortunately, I have other commitments.

This one promises to be vibrant with fiction, nonfiction, plays and poems

See you there!! *Wink**Wink*

Arties festival in Mumbai

2010-11-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

If you are in Mumbai during the next week from November 8th to November11 and enjoy Chamber Music Concert then you may hop over to NCPA for Arties festival, the November 2010 edition. This is the music festival which takes place every March and November at NCPA where young musicians are invited to play their masterpieces.

The musicians of the current Arties Festival include violinist Pierre Fouchenneret , who has taken part in many sonata recitals, chamber music concerts, in addition to being a soloist with many orchestras.

A fun filled three day festival is a real treat for music lovers, I am sure. You may book your tickets online or at the venue.

Arty Changing Times in Mumbai

2010-10-31T12:09:00.001-07:00

The Making of Sunday Mid-day Preview Mumbai

Ladies Local

2010-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Many years ago there used to be just one ladies compartment in Mumbai Local trains, but times changed when number of women increased ten fold so much so that we had ladies local at certain time of the day.

It was fun watching only women board the only-for-ladies train while men do the bird watching.....

Just gaping hahaaha

Now--a better progress, Mumbai local has its first woman driver.

Like lakhs of Mumbaikars, 34-year-old Priti Kumari rode a local train on Tuesday. The only difference was that she piloted it, becoming the first motorwoman of Western Railway (WR) to do so. Kumari, who hails from Bihar, drove the 2:29 pm local between Churchgate and Borivli and was guided by a chief loco inspector.

Kumari, mother of 10-year-old girl, is the history graduate, who also has a diploma in electronics, she joined the railways in August 2009. On October 11 she and two other motormen were asked to give tests and go through final training in front of senior WR officials. Her husband works for the Indian Air Force, and she will play the crucial role of running more than 1,200 services every day.

“We have to remain alert constantly, especially with the signalling system and at crossovers,” said Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman train driver who has been running engines on Central Railway’s long distance trains since 2000. “I am hopeful more women will join the fleet.”

Shades and Hues of Navratri Festival in Mumbai

2010-10-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last year, when I had travelled by a local train in the Ladies compartment during the Navratri festival, I noticed that all the women in the ladies compartment were dressed in blue.

The next day when I had travelled again I saw that they were all dressed in yellow.

Seeing two women dressed in the same colour is normal but seeing more than twenty ladies sitting next to each other in similar colours in a public place is rare, especially if they don’t know each other.

So how did they decide on same color?

Good question!

I was naturally amused and I had approached one woman to ask her about this dress code and that’s when I learnt that women who celebrate Navrati festival observe a dress color code which is similar to the color of sari worn by Goddess Mahalaxmi idol at Mahalaxmi temple in Mumbai during the festival.

Legend has it, that Goddess Durga wore a different coloured saree for each of the nine days of Navratri.

Quite a fashion statement, I must say!!

I am told that the colours to sport during this period are :

Pratipada – October 8, Friday- Green
Dwitiya – October 9, Saturday - Grey
Tritiya – October 10, Sunday - Pink
Chaturthi - October 11, Monday- White
Panchami – October 12, Tuesday- Red
Shasti – October 13, Wednesday- Blue
Saptami – October 14, Thursday - Yellow
Ashtami – October 15, Friday - Violet
Navami - October 16 , Saturday- Peacock

So don’t be surprised if you see women in same color outfits OR maybe you could join in too by wearing the right colour.

Will you??

Oberoi Mall in Mumbai

2010-10-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

Everybody has been raving about Oberoi mall since a long time. I was not very keen to visit this mall since this one is quite far away from my house in Bandra.

One question, please, if you don't mind....er..

Don’t all the malls look-alike? Some are twins, exactly the same - (if made by the same builder) and some blood brothers,(if made by copy-cat builders). Its like- 'If you have seen one, then you have seen them all'. All the malls have same things, same brands, with only slight change in styles that suits the demography of that place and the people.

But my friends calls - visiting a mall- ‘an outing’…ah well - so for the sake of one another 'outing' to a faraway suburb, here I am - visiting one more mall, on a Saturday afternoon – a mall that I have never visited before… Yes! It’s Oberoi mall at Goregoan.

But wait a minute- what is this?

Just opposite the mall is this ‘chalta firta’ book stall that sells the latest books at 1/3 the original book (store) price. Guess why?? Yes.. you guessed it right - they are photocopies of the original books - but since there are buyers who are willing to buy cheap books and some are actually seen bargaining with these guys to cut the price still further, so its worth doing this kind of business, isn’t it..?? (I would cringe if I saw my book on sale in that pile- ooooh!shudder*) bitchnish..hehee

And then there are more guys selling fresh flowers in case you are in a romantic mood and want to buy flowers for some one (new?).

Well this is Mumbai - like - it is rightly said that this is the city of opportunities and there is job for everyone, (good reason for exodus) you just have to be innovative and hardworking. In Mumbai, people are very fond of shopping, it is the second best thing they do it well (first choice is eating of course, if you were wondering)

So we head towards Oberoi mall, a big poster outside the mall announces ‘Women’s Wednesday…wondering what that is?? Well, the management of this mall wants to make a gambler out of bored women. Every Wednesday, they organize Bingo games for idle, desperate housewives who have nothing better to do…hahahaa!!

Oh yes! One more thing- remember you have to be brave enough to face heavy traffic, yeah - dodge the bus, the car, the auto to cross over to reach this mall.

And if you were expecting something different other than these escalators and the row of shops all around, then let me remind you that there is nothing extraordinary inside the mall, well – don’t be disappointed, I don’t mean to scare you, Why not just go up to the third floor, gliding up the escalators and plop in the food mall to enjoy some thing to eat, eh? I mean ‘pet pooja’….or maybe a cup of coffee? or better still, just come out of the mall and sit outside to enjoy the water fountain or the polluted breeze…

That’s what an average Mumbaikar does in Mumbai…

What else can one do??

Its either keeping cool inside the AC mall or go outside on the crowded streets and sit on the steps, no there are no benches, this is India, here they have a phobia of beggars using the public seats.

But there is a better option too, of walking over to the nearest joggers park….

Wink, wink*

Fully Time Pass in Mumbai

2010-09-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

It’s been long time since I have discussed what is happening in Mumbai…I have been occupied with so many things that I have not found much time to socialize. Oh! Nevermind! But you can have a good time while in Mumbai. Hey, have u watched the play ‘The Blue mug’? It sounds quite interesting play in Hindi. It’s about a man who mistook his wife for

hat. A hat? Geez!

"The Blue Mug is a devised piece of theatre in which actors Rajat Kapoor, Sheeba Chadha, Munish Bhardwaj and Vinay Pathak go down the path of their personal memories - their childhood, adolescence and youth, and also immediate past in their middle age. The play depicts the larger canvas of Indian memory through monologues and improvised scenes between the actors. "
I am tempted to watch it. Let’s drive over to Prithvis and watch some great stage artist at work.

If you are gaming buff then there is good news for you.

Picture source

There is a new store Game4u, located at Andheri that houses some of the meanest and the wildest games. If you are one of those die hard gamers that love to keep him self on top of the latest range of titles, move over to Game 4U – This seems the only store in Mumbai for gamers everywhere. I believe that there is also a girls section for those women who love to get their hands on a remote. Thats a good news..er..not very sure....I don't like these crazy dishum dishum games. Bah!

If you are the type to enjoy the western music concert, then head on for delightful music at NCPA which is hosting the Ninth Celebrity season.

Picture source

Perhaps you would be interested in listening to Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is the most successful composer of musicals of all time.
"He started composing at the age of six and today his music is known by billions all over the world. He has composed 13 musicals during his career, which have played all over the world, especially in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway. Many of his musicals have run continuously for decades with audiences never tiring of them."
So hop on to Jamshed Tata theatre for a nice pleasant evening.

Mumbai always has some or the other time-pass-activities, for those who would like to just while away their time doing nothing then there is always linking road for shopping and eating Bhel Puri.

Anything is better than being a couch potato. Isn't it?

Celebration is Everywhere in Mumbai

2010-09-11T02:49:00.000-07:00

decorated palki for Lord Ganesha

Today is the beautiful day in Mumbai…everywhere I can hear the fire-crackers, people are happy and the vibrations are good. Lord Ganesha is getting a big warm welcome. There is a big parade of colorfully dressed people in traditional Maharastrian attire, dancing to the music of Lazims.

women in different coloured clothes dancing in a group

Men playing Lazims...lovely!!

Even the children are dressed in traditional clothes and they seem to enjoy it

TV crew has been visiting different nodes of Mumbai and interviewing people, everywhere you see people singing hymns, waiting in long queue to get the glimpse of the idol.

Women blowing the counch after every hymn

Everybody is having fun as they parade in Hindu Carnival

Ganesha festival is the mood of celebrations and it is here to stay for next eleven days

Pass the fish, please...

2010-08-31T03:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ate fish after a very long time and really relished it, my friend tells me that they eat fish everyday at every meal and they have been miserable since that oil spill.

Ecologists said the picture is grim. "The oil spill will affect fish species; many of them breed in mangroves. The chemicals sprayed to disperse the oil too would affect the marine ecology," said B F Chhapgar, a marine biologist. "The chemical dispersants break the oil into small droplets which then settle at the bottom of the sea and affect marine life," he explained. Chhapgar also expressed concern over the threat posed by the chemical containers still afloat in the sea. If the pesticides leak, marine animals would be severely impacted, he said.

image source

With 400 containers containing oil and hazardous chemicals that have slipped into sea and 800 tons of oil that have leaked into the sea, the fishermen are deprived of their daily wages and just await for better and safer options for fishing.

Somebody should be held responsible and be punished so that it never occurs again.

Peddling In the Eco-Friendly World

2010-08-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

I think, with the auto/taxi drivers being arrogant, buses and trains - too crowded, cycling is the best option. For one, it’s a substitute for those fancy expensive gyms where you cycle not reaching anywhere; moreover you save on petrol, since your car is sitting silently in your garage.

I have a close friend who cycles regularly with her friends around Bandra area. She talks about her cycling group that meet during early hours, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, outside Otter’s club, their favorite meeting place. I had even seen her group parade in the most innovative cycling aerobics during Bandra festival.

image source

This Sunday, the August 15th, while some patriotic groups will hoist the national Tiraga, Singing the National Anthem, there will be various other cyclist groups racing in the city, from differeent parts of Mumbai with all roads leading towards Prabhadevi.

It is the event to watch out for to spend a purr-fect Sunday morning…isn’t it?

More details call : 8898051999/9820030868

Kindly note: If you nothing to comment on my post, you are free to remain silent, it is fine by me, but please don’t spam my comment box with your ads, Mumbai has lotsa of slots for such purpose where you can place your ads for a small fee. Thank you.

Say NO to taxi and autos

2010-08-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

Because they do too much DADAGIRI!!!!!.

I want to know whether they are running a public transport or a private car? They behave as if they are doing us a favor by taking us to our destination.

We go across the road to stand on that RIGHTSIDE of the road so that they don't have to take an U-Turn.

They prefer to take long distance passengers..why???

They demand a return fare whenever they feel like it.

Why must we ask ten-twenty auto/taxi drivers before we find the suitable one who will agree to our terms?? They show no sympathy even in heavy rain..here we are soaking in the rain but these guys are adamant.

Some of them are very mean and wicked

Since the rise in auto fares, they are taking advantage of unsuspecting commuters and overcharging them. I have to keep checking my tariff card(yes, I have bought one) to get back my change.

It is time we made our stand. Are you ready to skip a ride???

Re-Visiting Powai Lake

2010-07-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

CAMPAIGN AGAINST HONOUR KILLINGS IN INDIA

2010-07-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Mumbaites

A petition has been made to Prime Minister of India to stop the honor killing that has been quite regular and with higher frequency due which young couples are being killed accross the country for honour.

A petition has been made to bring a new law against the honour killing. I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself

CAMPAIGN AGAINST HONOUR KILLINGS IN INDIA

I request you to read the details of this petition and support it.

The undersigned

Click here to sign this petition.

Thank you!

Wet, Wet Mumbai

2010-07-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

This year, Rain has been kind...it pours heavily at night and during day it drizzles. If it rains for two full days, then the third day will be clear and sunny. Till now, it has not yet rained to parlayse the city but still there is fear whenever it rains...Mumbaites are reminded of 26/11 whenever it pours heavily.

Things have not changed much in these four years...people still use plastic bags, water logging problem has not yet been solved and streets are full of potholes and open manholes

and the life goes on....

Eating out in Mumbai

2010-07-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Any time after 10pm, you can have your fill....thats Mumbai for you!!!

Any body on holiday to strange places always wishes to try the local cuisine and every place has its own favorites. During my recent visit to Darjeeling, my friend had told me to try Shushi, a local delicacy. I was standing by the Mirik lake and there he was selling Sushi in the cart..a big round modak-like-thingy with a curry and spicy sauce, but I was afraid to eat from the road side, always afraid of unhygienic stuff that it is sold on the roads with dust and pollution mixing in the plate, but now I repent that I should have taken the risk and tried just a morsel

Well that’s another story, but here in Mumbai, hygienic or not, we still are brave to try out at every cart on the road and they, the hawkers are everywhere, at every street corner, dodging the police, or probably bribing them too, to sell from their unlicensed spot, and we, always patronizing them.. and relishing it, a Batawada with bread will cost just Rs5, and it can make a hearty meal in just Rs20, so why not…especially if you are on a tight budget….

While surfing the various blogs I came across an article by Sanjiv Khamgaonkar about 40 Mumbai Foods you cannot leave without trying where he lists the special Mumbai food and the best places to try them for their true flavor.

The most delicious street food that I like is always my all time favorite Batatawada, Pani Puri, Sev puri and Pav Bajji.. When my NRI relatives visit me, they go crazy over Frankie and Bademiya’s Baida roti.

By the way…have you tried sing-channa from roadside hawkers?? It is my great time-pass activity during bus journey, while my vehicle is stuck in a traffic jam, munching away on peanuts keeps my mind busy and patience is restored.

Is it same for you too???

Bandra- the cream of the suburbs

2010-07-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to be living in Bandra. There are still some cute homes in smaller lanes of Bandra. An auto ride through these narrow lanes is a treat.

Barring the glitzy Bollywood crowd -- many of whom live overlooking Bandra's sea front -- the neighborhood culture here feels creative, cosmopolitan and casual. Almost like what Brooklyn is to Manhattan. That means shorts and flip flops for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even townies come here to kick back.

And those who have the whole list of services available for a comfort stay in Bandra are the happiest lot.

There is a thirty one list of places that include places like

Turqoise, (a home store)
Anokhi, (souvenir)
Pali Market,(marketting)
Mela,(clothes)
Gear: The Bike Shop,(bike assessories)
OMO,(clothes)
Paws N Furs, (assessories for pets)
Maharashtra Stationary and Xerox, (stationary)
Oleander,(fashion garments)
Curbside Florist, (flowers)
Gloria Jeans Coffee, (coffee shop)
Gostana,(burger joint)
Bagel Shop,(fresh bagels)
Santé,(baked foods)
Candies,(food joint)
Just Around the Corner,(salads and sandwitches)
Nature’s Basket,(organic supermarket)
American Express Bakery,(fresh cakes)
Yellow Tree Cafe,(european and labenese treats)
Soul Fry, (fiery coastal food)
Janata Lunch Home Restaurant & Bar, (cheap lunch place)
Toto’s Garage Pub, (a bar)
Zenzi, (a trendy hang-out)
Bamboo Tree,(fish pedicure)
Aura Thai Spa, (fancy spa)
Glory, (french manicure)
Reboot Shoe and Bag Laundry,(bags and shoe laundry)
Twinkle Gents Hairdressers, (Gents' hairsaloon)
Mad O Wot?, (trendy hairstylist)
Al’s Tattoo Studio(tattoo joint)

Too lazy to write the details (specially if somebody else has already done their homework, but yes, these sure are interesting places where Bandraites while away their time.

Bharat Bhand July 2010-Mumbai streets.

2010-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

Bharat Band!! Silly move by BJP to bring down the prices!!!

Since morning I am watching TV

They keep showing all the parts of India and how goons are terrorizing a common man. I work from home so this Bhand makes no difference to me…my computer is not protesting, nor facebook nor twitter...there are updates every second on twitter...
Bhand is the top trending topic on Twitter today, and everybody has something to tweet and retweet.

"Crying about hike in prices for oil n using the same oil to put buses on fire.. These morons carrying out #bandh only can explain the logic"

"Smriti Irani is on IBN live supporting #Bandh as a BJP leader, she seems to have lost weight......in her head!!"

"#RamGopalVerma is writing another horror story based on the #bandh. and is expected to open to a grand release this friday"

"Buses become aeroplanes during bandhs. They get stoned, and then they get high"

And here, my TV window, the impact is seen on the road, with buses being targeted, stone pelting, and discomfort to a common man. Different people are being interviewed to talk about their discomfort. But, Media is not on strike, in fact they are working with great passion trying to find some breaking news. Tyres burning, lathi charge, rail roko, people lying on the tracks, students who cannot go to give exams, poor people who are not able to reach the hospital on time, every channel is quite busy reporting the latest BREAKING news.

The images on the screen are not pleasant at all. I get fed up of watching TV and I decide to go down for a walk…to see whether it is really that bad out here.

I live in suburbs where it is normally quite peaceful in the narrow lanes.

The shops were all closed, true….All the shutters were down..non-shopping day....

Ooooh this is Linking road….do you remember it to be so lonely? On normal days, this is so jam-packed that I have to wait sometimes for more than fifteen minutes to go across the street unless I am brave enough to walk between moving traffic.

And this is Waterfield road in Bandra. Signal is red but since there is no traffic today, I decided to stop here for a minute to click this picture.

And children were playing cricket out on the streets. On normal days, there is too much traffic on this road…since there are group of restaurants in this area and the hungry clients flock this street and wait on the foot-paths till late nights

Well ....the urban town wears a rural look on this day and it is a pleasant walk for me, without those noisy autos and buses and the people too.

I walked freely, no worries at all, happy to have Mumbai road just for me……till the time I come home and hear the BREAKING NEWS again

“Bandh hits businesses, losses up to Rs13,000crore…”

What stories would interest a Mumbaite??

2010-06-24T05:38:00.001-07:00

Mumbai, being the nerve centre for Bollywood films, it makes an interesting subject. Migrant workers, rich businessmen, smugglers, terriorists, sadhus, common men, the list is endless and every unit has a different angle and a new story to tell.

"Cities are built from concrete but held together by the mortar of desire - the nature of that desire determines how they will hold. Over them we throw the cloak of our stories. Then, even though we sweat in the local train, in our heads we tread fabulous dreams. Along with its economy and infrastructure, every nagri is also a maya nagri, city of illusions, temptations and myths, the stuff of possibility and hope. So we can walk on streets made unimaginably filthy by the monsoon, yet live in the imagined romance of Marine Drive mist. Both things are real in their way."

Paromita Vohra, an award-winning Mumbai-based filmmaker, juggles with the stories, what story could really interest a Mumbaite.....

Picture of the day

2010-06-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, so tell me where in Mumbai did I see this???

One more evening at Jogger’s Park in Bandra.

2010-05-18T01:19:00.000-07:00

A cool sea breeze, a thirty minute brisk walk and relaxing to watch the sunset is the perfect way to while away the hours on hot summer days.

Summer Bonanza for kids at NCPA

2010-05-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

Summer holidays in Mumbai, all the children are downstairs in the compound playing outdoor games, some are roller skating, some playing Dabba hide-n-seek and some have brought out their bats and ball and are playing cricket. But these children live in suburbs and would not like to go far in the city in this heat.

But those in South Mumbai are having different kind of fun. They have been enjoying film festival for children at Pedder road and those who missed out at Pedder road can now see it at NCPA too.

NCPA brings together an exciting series of festivals that promises fun and learning for kids and this includes a week of exciting children’s films followed by fun-filled workshops. Conceived to be an annual cultural event, the activities are aimed at inspiring creativity, encourage learning skills as well as provide entertainment at the same time. Summer Fiesta as a mini festival is meant to target kids during vacations and will occur on a seasonal basis through the year. The event encourages parents to come with their kids in tow and participate on this fun filled interactive platform.

THE PLAYS:

May 22, Saturday and 23th Sunday:
Time: 4 pm & 6:30 pm
Chitronki Kamal Machi Dhamal is a one-act play set in a classroom. The play emphasises the importance of giving art as much attention as other subjects. Because of his monotonous style of teaching, one day all the students decide to draw something from their own imagination. Watch this comedy to find out what happens on those canvases.

Time: 7 pm
Badmash Kahin Ka is the story of a naughty village boy who does not like to study. He is always getting into trouble with the villagers. There he meets a scarecrow that decides to help him out. Watch this fun-filled drama to find out next.

Film Screenings:
May 24, Monday
Halo (1996/92 mins/Kannada-Tamil/Director: Santosh Sivan)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
This is a story of the zany quest of a seven year old girl Sasha for her lost puppy named “Halo” through the terrifying streets of Bombay.

THE WORKSHOPS:
May 24, Monday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Let The Imagination Soar: With Manisha Lakhe
Travel to imaginary places with fantastical friends and let words take you on a super adventure...stringing words, making up fabulous stories creating room in your lives for creativity.

Film Screenings:
May 25, Tuesday
Chutkan Ki Mahabharat (2006/87 mins/Hindi/Director: Sankalp Meshram)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
A nautanki team (a Musical folk theatre) sets up camp in a village and the whole village is abuzz with excitement. Ten year old Chutkan after watching the nautanki, dreams of the evil Shakuni Mama and Duryodhan confessing to their villainy and relinquishing all claims to the kingdom.

Workshop:
May 25, Tuesday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Clowning and Improvisation with Puja Sarup
Unleash your imagination and your creative powers by finding the hidden stories and characters in everyday objects around us, in a fun-filled workshop of theatre games, clowning and improvisations.

Film Screenings:
May 26, Wednesday
Lilkee (2007/69 mins/Hindi/Director: Batul Mukhtiar)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
Lilkee is a 10 year old domestic help from Nainital brought to Mumbai by a young architect Bela. Lilkee finds it difficult to adjust to the city life.

Workshop:
May 26, Wednesday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Theatre Madness with Sunil Shanbag
Introducing young people to the basic art and craft of theatre and makes connections for them between their selves and theatre. In a session packed with games that help "self-discovery" young people get a glimpse of how theatre is an integral part of life itself.

Film Screenings:
May 27, Thursday
Krish, Trish and Baltiboy2 (Animation/ 2009/ 60 mins/ Hindi/Director: Munjal Shroff)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
Krish a monkey, Trish a cat and Baltiboy a donkey are 3 minstrels who take you on an exotic journey of Indian folk tales and music through three different regions of India - Rajasthan, Kerala and Punjab.

Workshop:
May 27, Thursday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Bhasha Ka Tamasha with Kumud Mishra & Gopal Datt
Language is a vibrant tool of dramatic expression. Through simple and fun exercises with diction, projection and enunciation through prose and poetry, we will explore how the spoken word energises theatre.

Film Screenings:
May 28, Friday
Mahek Mirza (2007/75 mins/Hindi/ Director: Kranti Kanade)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
11-yr old Mahek wants to be the best in everything, but she doesn't know what she's best at.

Workshop:
May 28, Friday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Open Up Creative Channels: With Tarun Singh Negi
Theatre is a therapeutic experience for children and helps develop confidence, overcome stage fear, develops leadership and team skills and opens up creative channels, using theatre as a tool for personal growth.

Film Screenings:
May 29, Saturday
Foto (2007/91 mins/Hindi/Director: Virendra Saini)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
This is the journey of an eleven-year-old boy called Foto who lives in a quaint little town set in the hills. Join him on a journey from his shell of isolation to his flight on the wings of imagination, across the multi-hued sky of 'Cinema'.

Workshop:
May 29, Saturday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Gadbad Ghotala: With Shaili Sathyu
Explore the world of Hindi poetry for the young-- a wonderful mix of traditional rhymes, folk songs, contemporary translated and original works, poetry by youngsters themselves and even nonsense rhymes. The text shall be explored through improvisations and, games.

Plays:
May 29, Saturday
Time: 11 am
Bhim and Hanuman
This puppet show is based on a story about the Pandavs from the Mahabharata.
This play premiered at the Festival of India in France in March 2010.

Film Screenings:
May 30, Sunday
Sunday (1993/60 mins/Hindi/Director: Pankaj Advani)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
Junior is a fun loving, carefree and highly imaginative little boy and a seeker of adventure.
In collaboration with Children Film Society, India (CFSI)

Workshop:
May 30, Sunday
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30 pm
Leap Into A Story: With Chatura Rao
Examine those stubby growths on your shoulders. Could they be Wings? Dust them off and leap from real life, straight into Story.

Workshop Details:
Admission on Registration. Children in the age category of 7- 12 years are eligible for participation. Registration Fees: Rs. 500/-
Contact: 66223749/ 66223802 to register.
On the spot registration available at the venue.
All plays are ticketed.
Source: http://www.ncpamumbai.com/

Shop for Change

2010-05-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

Look for Shop for Change Fair Trade label on Tribe Mother Earth

Mumbai’s climate is such that we can be comfortable only if we wear cotton. We are lucky that cotton and other such products that we use everyday come from farmers in our own backyard. But it is pity that the people who produce these products cannot access market directly and they have to sell at lower price which is hardly sufficient to meet their ends. Behind the products they produce there is often a trial of missed opportunity, economic hardship and environmental mismanagement. In bleak circumstances like these, the fair trade initiative by the NGO Shop for Change Fair Trade comes as a blessing.

Some of the well-known designers and businessmen are making an effort to bring their product directly into the mainstream with the maximum profit to the farmers themselves. More than 2,400 farmers from Maha-Gujarat have signed up for fair trade certification.

We also have weekly Sunday Market in Bandra, where the farmers are invited to sell their products direct to the consumers.

Look for Shop for Change Fair Trade label on Tribe Mother Earth

Shop for Change Fair Trade certified cotton tops and dresses are available at AND outlets and selected Central, Pantaloons, Lifestyle and Shoppers Stop stores.

By supporting farmers we are indirectly discouraging from mass suicides. We lead a comfortable life in urban areas, let us help make their life a comfort too....lets all go eco-friendly.

View from a Bus Window

2010-05-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Bus ride is never boring in Mumbai, nah, not even when there is traffic jam.

With the cool air and Bollywood music, you can enjoy a ride in the AC bus in Mumbai, just looking out of window to watch the Mumbai streets

Shivaji Park declared as the Silence zone

2010-05-06T04:17:00.000-07:00

The residents living in that area are happy, because they will now enjoy the peace and tranquility of Shivaji park that will not be used for rallies and public gatherings.

Shivaji Park in Dadar is the park where Sachin Tendulkar and many other famous crickers practiced cricket in their childhood. The park was created in 1925 by the Bombay Municipal Corporation, during the days of British India.

This move has upset many political parties because now they worry about the future venue for their rallies in Mumbai. What they don’t understand is that besides making noise pollution these rallies holds the city at ransom, firstly, there is so much traffic jam in Mumbai city and these rallies add to our frustrations.

It is an important landmark of Mumbai, so glad that it is finally given back to the residents who can now enjoy their peace.

Children’s Film Festival In Mumbai

2010-04-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Summer holidays have begun and most of the children have either gone off for a vacation to far off places or they are busy watching TV or are on the net. There are some of them who have come to Mumbai to spend their holidays, I see them enjoying, playing outdoor games in the building compound and I am sure most of them would be interested in watching films, especially children’s films.

Now who doesn’t like watching children’s films, especially if the actors are children themselves?

Specially if they are films like Santosh Sivan's 'Halo' and 'Malli', Sai Paranjpye's 'Bhago Bhoot', Pankaj Advani's 'Sunday', Sankalp Meshram's 'Chutkan ki Mahabharat' or Batul Mukhtiar’s 'Lilkee'

Picture source

Surely they will like to see ‘Halo’, a story of seven-year-old Sasha's search for her pup who's got lost on the streets of Mumbai.

Picture source

Or maybe 'Lilkee', a story of an11-year-old village girl, brought to the city by a working couple to take care of their baby.

Yeah! The Children's Film Society, India is organizing a summer bonanza of its films to be shown from 3 May 2010 to 31 May 2010. The films are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every week of the month of May, 2 shows, one at 11 am, and one at 4 pm.

For details of screening of films and the show timings, film synopsis and other information, please click here

The films will be screened at the Films Division Preview Theater. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. Admission is free, but it would be best to book your passes in advance.

Passes are available at
Children’s Film Society, 8th Floor,
Films Division Complex, 24, Pedder Road, Mumbai -26.
Phone: 2352 2870/ 2351 6127
Email: creative@cfsindia.org/ marketing@cfsindia.org

All the children, whom I used to take for children’s film are grown ups now and are in their naughty age, but what the heck…. I still enjoy children’s film and I might as well go with my friends who share my taste.

What say you??

Mudra Dance Week

2010-04-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

Mudra Dance

When I lived abroad, what I missed most were Indian dances which are so graceful and expressive, and with those costumes and make-up, the rhythm and grace, it gives a different kind of experience which cannot be matched with any Bollywood dances. During Indian festival, I would always suggest to the Indian community to organize an Indian cultural show with traditional dances and when there were visiting dancers from India, the show would be houseful.

But here in Mumbai, we are lucky. We have NCPA, where we can watch regular cultural shows and this week there is Mudra Dance week from 26th to 30th April 2010, which offers fascinating glimpse into the world of Indian Dances today.

The theme this year is ‘Stree’ (meaning Woman) in various styles from Manipuri to Nagiar Koothu, from Bharata Natyam to Kathak, reflecting the moods of woman in various ways. The performances range from seasoned to classical to contemporary.

April 26: Matrika (and other compositions) by Bimbavati Devi and Troupe. A leading Manipuri dance troupe presents the classical, folk and martial aspects of its art, including a significant paean in praise of the mother goddess, Matrika.

April 27: Sita Parityagam (The Abandoning of Sita) — Nangiar Koothu Recital by Kapila Nagavallikkunnel. An acclaimed Nangiar Koothu exponent interprets the moving story of Sita’s fire ordeal.

April 28: Amrutam — Bharata Natyam Recital by Lata Surendra. A sprightly Bharata Natyam dance group celebrates the verses of two great Indian women mystics: Andal and Meerabai.

April 29: Amrapali — Mohini Attam Recital by Neena Prasad. A well-known Mohini Attam dancer, committed to exploring the contemporary within the classical framework, focuses on Amrapali, the great courtesan and follower of the Buddha.

And finally, April 30: Devi — Kathak Dance Theatre Presentation by Purva Naresh and others. A dynamic young Kathak dancer-choreographer-actor and her team celebrate the Devi and her manifestations in the modern world.

Stop by NCPA and enjoy the bliss

Literacy in Mumbai city

2010-04-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Everybody in Mumbai knows to read and write. Er.. Well.. Almost everybody.

Yeah! I have reason to think that everybody in Mumbai knows to read and I would include street children too. It matters not that some of them have no time to go to school, working on the street is a hard job and these kids do a great job begging and earning for their parents, and yet they are smart, well that is for another day, here I am thinking that they can read and write, maybe not word by word, or alphabet by alphabet but they are expert in sight reading and this is all thanks to the big, huge hoarding that you see at every street.

Mumbai is the commercial city and every corner of the Mumbai is used up by hoardings or knowledge pads if you might call that.

Be it at the bus stop,

or on the top of the building

At road dividers

Or at middle of the road

the education aids are there…everywhere....and you always wondered whether children in Mumbai know to read and write…

There! Now you know it.

For artist who can read between lines

2010-04-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

If you were there for Kala Ghoda Festival 2010 in Mumbai, you might have noticed the art installation at main square under the title ‘Mera Desh Mahaan’ A thought-provoking installation represents a dialogue with society about its values and disposition as a role model for today’s younger generation. That was work of artist Revati Sharma Singh, who believes, “Art is subjective. There can be nothing objective about it, either for the artist or the person looking at the artwork. The process mirrors life.”

"Revati is a sensitive artist who expresses her art through her conscience, A painter and installation artist, Revati’s simultaneously complex and detailed creations reflect sensitivity to urban alienation and cultural displacement.

Revati Sharma Singh can easily be described as one of India’s thinking artists. Her works provoke deep thought and make for a visual journey that inspires the mind’s eye. It’s in her atelier that she finds herself at peace and one with the issues that deeply concern her – they maybe the disintegration of our value systems or even the lines that divide us.

Her art lends itself to wholesome sentiments – sentiments that lighten or beset our daily life. This unique exhibition offers the viewer a sublime experience through works on canvas."

Between the Lines

"Lines form a basis of who we are.

When we think of lines, we probably think of lines that divide.

They may be borders which divide one country from another. They may be religion, dividing one home from another. They may be monetary distinction bringing the barrier between rich and poor.

There are a few lines, though not visible to the naked eye, are always present. It may include the lines in our relationships, the lines of caste and creed of colour and also the lines between truth and deceit.

Despite these divisions, there are lines that unite.

That may be an umbilical cord uniting a mother with her child. The heritage passes down to the next generation, uniting two generations. Though there are borders, there are also lines which connect one country to another. The lines on our palms define and create our destiny. Our bones fuse together to make the most complex forms – our bodies.

The most important lines may be that of communication, forming the basis of all different languages and dialects where love, peace and war mean the same thing in different languages to all the people."

Source

Twit-Festival in Mumbai

2010-03-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

People who talk with their fingers, blogging, tweeting and networking have amazing powers to reach the world. They tweet and they meet spreading awareness and collecting funds.This you shall know if you attend a twitfestival in Mumbai on 25th March 2010.
image source

At Crystal Paradise, off Linking Road, the twitters will meet for a common cause of concern bringing education to the world’s poorest children. The funds that are raised during these festivals are used to furnish classrooms for under priviledged, provide meals and clean water, provide health facilities and education to the girls.

With the entrance of Rs100 (more if you wish) you can enjoy food and have the evening of fun and entertainment plus meet other twitters beyond your virtual screens.

Be there

When? On 25th of March 2010

What time? 7pm - 10pm

Where? The Coast
Fifth Floor, Crystal Paradise, Off Linking Road, Bandra West Mumbai, India

Looks like fun?? Why don't you twine them even if you are not active on twitter, there will always be another day to twitterise, till then twitreach, eat and be merry till you tweet

Sunday Market

2010-03-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

If you drive down the Linking Road in Bandra, you may not even notice it, if you are a nature lover, you may be attracted with the tall trees emitting the fresh fragrance from Nilgiri trees, but walk over and look closely, you will see a small patch of enclosed park which can bring peace and tranquility. That is the Nilgiri Park, just opposite Amarsons, where you could relax some evenings.

And this Sunday, this park was bustling with health-conscious veterans who have adopted the organic mode of living.

Entering the park through a narrow gate, I was transported into a different world, where there were stalls of all kinds, screaming 'Healthy Eating, Urban Living' all of them focussed on being organic.

"First time in my life that I am enjoying shopping" I heard one man say to his companion, as he walked from stall to stall, checking for freshness in vegetables and fruits and wanting to grab all. There was sale of seeds, oils, cereals, nuts, cookies.etc

People were interested in buying greens although, mumbai heat and the transport of these farm vegetables from rural to urban stalls had decayed much of it. For example, a bunch of coriander leaves had half of the bunch with rotten leaves. Maybe, if an extra care is taken while packing, we might see the better quality and freshness in the vegetables next time.

One shopper tells me that she was happy with organic potatoes and it made difference of taste in her cooking (next time I will buy those perhaps) and there were brinjals too (not BT mind you :))

There were other things too, like T-shirts, wall paints, baskets, furniture, medicines, etc

There was a canteen at the back of the stalls that sold mediterranean health food like salads with crackers with the option of dressing, pate or pesto. I wanted to buy salad dressing, and even requested for it, but canteen was short of hands and I could not wait longer. But there was something for everyone.

There were many writers too, like Dipti Dutt and Chhavi Sachdev, who besides shopping and visiting stalls, were also interviewing people and they went back home with memorable moments to share with their friends.

Next Sunday, I plan to go back there with my own cloth bag and do one week of shopping for cooking oils, seeds, cookies, spices and some fresh organic vegetables.

more info

South Mumbai Sky line

2010-03-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

The Other day I went up the roof top of Ambassador hotel to catch the bird's eye of Mumbai skyline. In good ole days, there used to be revolving restuarant up there, but now it just an observatory tower (or so it seemed like) There was a small bar with bar stool topped with saddles. After having a cup of coffee I peeped out of the window.

My gaze spread over the sea view of Marine drive, popularly known by the name of 'Queens necklace'. There is a fly over built across the drive-way which kinda cuts the neckace like a hook

Since there was no revolving platform, I walked to the next window to get the view of Churchgate station, and Rajabhai tower

Looked down to the left and was surprised to see the blocks of buildings of same design at equidistant to each other in a goemetrical fashion. (great planning there)

Now walked to the other end and there was 'Mantralaya' behind the stadium

And then back again to the other end of 'Queen's necklace' (this time without a hook) right up to Nariman point.

Enjoyed the cool breeze and pleasant evening and watched the sunset from up above the Marine drive sharing the view with the birds.

Fresh Farm food In Mumbai

2010-02-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

Last month, everybody was talking about BT Brinjals and I was quite afraid of its’ results. Actually I love Brinjals very much and many times I pickle it in mustard, garlic and red chilies to be eaten when I am too lazy to cook. But to risk this experimental food that contains ‘toxic pesticides whose effect on the human body and the environment are not known.’ huh? It is out of question for me. How would I deal with diseases like swollen face, itching skins, and other allergies? Nah!

No BT Brinjals for me! In fact no chemically induced veggies for me! Shrug*

Therefore I was glad when I read about the farmers from across Maharashtra, who will hold a weekly Farmers’ Market from March 21 in Bandra to sell fresh organic produce in the city.
So Remember

Every Sunday, beginning March 21st

10am - 5pm
Nilgiri Garden,
Bandra Hindu Association,
Linking Road,
Bandra (W)
South-West of National College
Opposite The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

If I can buy fresh, organically certified fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, what else would I want? Isn't it??

This is really good news for me because I eat lotsa salad and fruits and now I can be assured of eating chemical-free food.

I want to live healthy or not at all.

I have a choice!

Boating Culture in Mumbai

2010-02-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

Image source

Are you interested in sports boats, luxury yachts, Jet Ski’s, water scooters, kayaks, Engine marine gadgets and other marine accessories?

Yeah? Then head on to MMRDA grounds for the 'Mumbai International Boat Show 2010' or at Gateway of India and feast your eyes from 19th to 21st February 2010

The fourth edition of the Mumbai International Boat show is for showcasing the boating and related services and for their support of FICCI India Boating Forum

Image Source

Indians were master boat builders from very ancient times. The fact that the oldest floating ship in the world today –HMS Trincomallee, was built in ‘Bombay’ Dockyard in 1816, is a testimony to this.

Mumbai is surrounded by the coastline on all three sides and walking at the promenades or at the sea-shore is the culture of Mumbaites. For people like me, who may or may not go for sailing, just watching the sky line of Mumbai across the shores, dotted with beautiful boats against red sunset, will certainly thrill my senses. With 7600kms of coastline (virtually un-spoilt) and a huge network of rivers and inland waterways all around, India certainly has significant potential in the areas of both water transport and marine based activities. We really need some water sports (too) to entertain us.

I sincerely hope the boating culture is revived in Mumbai. Hello? is somebody listening?
If the proper infrastructure is created, I might even go for India- round- trip in a luxury cruise.

Ole! Que Bonita Vida!!

Mumbai decides not to be bullied anymore!

2010-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

What if Sena behaved themselves and

prepared some soups
of sanity
We could live life, king size, colorful style,
and savor the sips
of equality
We would readily embrace the rules of trade
and even learn some
Marathi
If they didn’t crush us, beat our souls,
we would help, punch head
of instability.
Mumbai, a common umbrella for all;
we could breathe the life
of quality.............
Read more of my poem here

It has been quite a while since Shiv Sena has tried to bully Mumbaikars into obeying their silly demands and people have caved in. Be it Valentine day celebration or forcing people to speak Marathi to get a taxi license. Sena knows only agitation politics and it always makes wrong targets. Lately they have targetted icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Rahul Gandhi, Shah Rukh Khan, etc. Since last ten days Sena has threatened Mumbaikars against watching the film ‘My Name is Khan’

Today, Mumbai was aggressive, online and offline. “Bollywood and Politics Collide in a Red-Carpet Standoff” screamed the newspaper headline.

The netizens debated via twitter, telling each other to stand up against Shiv Sena. There is even a group on the facebook titled: ‘Shiv Sena sucks’ All mumbaikars are kinda fed up with this hooligisams and want to live peacefully. They wanted to make a statement that they were no more afraid, by coming to the theatres, across city in big groups. The state assured them the safety, police was patrolling the city all day and for once, mumbaikar trusted the police and went out to watch the film with much gusto.

Finally, after 20 long years of suppression and threats, Mumbai is scared no more……

A day out at KalaGhoda Art Festival

2010-02-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

I knew it (from my previous experiences) that it would be too crowded on weekends so I reserved this Monday (instead) for Kala ghoda arts festival and I was glad that I did just that.

To start with, I headed straight to the short film show ‘Blind flyers’ (2004), a senti film on 13 years old teenager friends who lived in a blind home and how they perceive the ‘lookie’ world. Although they were blind, they had the same aspiration for looking good and desirable, dressing up, dying their hair to color red/blond (when they have no idea of what that color be), getting carried away by TV contest, not realizing that blindness is not a media asset. It was worth watching.

After the film, we walked around the stalls along Rampart Row and parking lot, admiring the different installations, photographs and wild animals (not real animals, what you thinking)

and then towards the art quest where they had installations on theme: global warming.

After lunch (yeah, street food, channa pattis, khandvi and drinks) we headed towards Hotel Ambassador (14th floor) for heritage walk on Mumbai skyline. Over the cup of coffee and biscuits, we got updates (from a NRI student, who wouldn't want to live in Mumbai) on history of Mumbai architecture and its heritage value, and then we spend the next one hour clicking pictures of Mumbai skyline as we watched the sun set on Marine Drive.

Cooking is my passion and anything to do with cooking, eating or writing is my forte, it interests me a lot, it's the discussion I didn’t want to miss. I must have behaved like a spoil-sport when I looked at my watch several times to remind my friend to hurry up cause we were getting late (where we did arrive ten minutes late,) for the discussion session, at Sassoon Library Garden, but I were relieved that it started only after I was comfortably settled and ready for the discussions to begin.

I collected lots of ideas (and got wiser) as I sat listening to the ‘Panel discussion on delicious variety of food cooking’ with Vikram Doctor, as moderator and Nilanjana Roy, Shobha Narayan and Rhusina Ghildiyal, the food writers.

Food writing in not just writing hotel/restaurant reviews or jotting down your regular traditional recipes but it is something more than that, it’s a way of discovering family culinary histories, ethics, politics, culture. I felt that my blogging might have some future, if I do enough food writing that includes traditional food with fiction, or food with science, or food with history. All that I need to do to achieve that is to do serious research on local ingredients and their applications in our diets and then to write from my own experiences that compliments those recipes. During the discussions, my mind drifted back to various recipes that I have tried during my travels and although my taste buds has changed over the years, there are days when I still crave for my own traditional home cooking.

At the end of discussion I was inspired a lot, happy that many more people shared my passion for food-writing (the session was crowded) and I was beginning to feel that I should resume my cooking and food-writing simultaneously, with my ego boosted then, it was wee bit crushed when I heard the editor of ‘Upper Crust’ saying that 70 percent of food writers had no talent for writing. (I don't wish to take that personally) Ego was re-booted again, when a senior person in the audience announced (during the inter-active session) that he was ready to invest in a cook-book that stressed on traditional cooking in the sincere way (and to his liking) such that his grand children would not crave for junk food and pickles and would return back to the traditional food habits.

The next session on ‘city stories’ was interesting too, whereby they openly discussed writings on ‘Bombay’ it was getting late, we didn’t wait till the end… (Dinner-time, yummy. street food again) and then by local train, back to my cozy suburbs

Didn’t get enough of this festival in one day, may be I go back again, another day.

Colorful Kala Ghoda Festival from 6th to 14 February

2010-02-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

The statue of King Edward near Prince of Wales Museum, seated on a black horse, is there no more, but Kala Ghoda retains its name and it is the hub for creative talent. Artists, food connoisseurs, fashion designers, architecture buff, they all flock here.

This is the venue that comes alive in the month of February which attracts not only tourists and shoppers but also common people around Mumbai and other parts of India. It comes alive with Kala Ghoda Festival which you can enjoy from 6th February to 14th February 2010

A nine day extravaganza, 'The Kala Ghoda arts festival' sees Mumbai's Kala Ghoda Arts Society transformed into an open air exhibition space and stage show. This vibrant street festival includes arts and crafts exhibitions, seminars and workshops, dance and music, theater and literature, heritage walks, and special events for children.

According to your taste, you can station yourself at different venues. There are cultural dance shows, Bollywood music, hip hop, folk music and fashion shows at open air amphitheatre, then there are various activities and workshops for children at parking lot and at Museum Garden, variety of film shows at Cama hall, Max Muellar or BNHS auditorium, literary events at David Sasson Library, theatre at NGMA Auditorium and classical and fusion music shows at Asiatic steps .

There are heritage walks and open-deck-bus rides too. And for those who like to feast their eyes, there are art installations, photograph exhibitions and street plays. Just check their schedule and plan your outing according to your interest.

The great thing about it is that it's all free!

Unless (of course) if you also want to shop and eat. Now, now, you didn't expect free food, or did you? But then that adds fun to your adventure too.

There are thousands of people attending this festival each day and most of them blog on their own page. Me too. For those who are not able to attend this festival , can still attend virtually, you can catch 2010 festival as it happens at caferati blog or you can follow them on twitter here

Previously, I had attended the festival and if you like what I blog then, you can visit my archives. I had blogged here and here.

And every year it is a different experience….and its fun to meet people who share your passion….of art and culture….Maybe I should bump into you this time...yeah..good idea....see you then……

Share this with your friends at

Yipee! Short Films Again!!

2010-02-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

Image source

Okay, the poster above shows the film festival that was in oct/nov last year, its here again!!! February is the great month to be in Mumbai. The month has just started and the festivals are all line up.

To begin with, here is the Mumbai festival, The 11th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF)—with a bouquet of 200 short films and documentaries from 40 countries — will take off on February 3 at the National Centre of Performing Arts, Nariman Point.

This should interest those who like to watch short film, There are some films on science, environment, climate, etc. there will be workshops and seminars too.

This year the festival will look more colorful and glamorous,, since there will be lot more Bollywood stars too. Stars like Yash Chopra, as the chief guest for the inauguration, Ajay Devgan will also be present and Preity Zinta will be the guest for the concluding session and they will also have interactive sessions with film industry’s experts.

Ooooh! I am looking forward to it!!!!

Jogger's Park in Bandra

2010-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

My family and friends love to come to Bandra and admire the people here because everbody is so slim and attractive. and why not? are you wondering how? Actually, we have many venues where we can take care of ourselves without going to Gym (ok, ok, I agree, there are lotsa gyms too, but those are for elites or fitness freaks) but the common and wise people use promanades at Carter Road and at Bandstand and yes...one more..Shh!

it is Jogger's park..yeah! You enter the gates with just two rupee coin and you are transported into the world of bliss

while you jog, you can stop by the bird cage and see some beautiful variety of birds chirping and tweeting tunes

Or watch some bigger birds under the wooden bridge, floating on waters..

or admire the rock garden in the middle of the pond..ooops! the water was dried on the day I had decided to click some pictures..but nevermind, sometimes chalta hai..birds will understand....

for tired joggers there is a pole to lean on while you watch the sunset behind the trees

The red sky plays the magic to the scene....

Some exercise closer to the grass, rolling perhaps....

while others choose the jogging tracks, concrete or mud will do..

Its the choice we make, we can walk closer to sea or watch the water behind the railing.

watching the waves at the shore is so very soothing.

and there are many couples who seek the privacy on the rocks. Each in their own world...thats the beauty of Jogger's park..

Carter Road, Bandra

2010-01-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

Sometime ago, I received an email from a (regular?) visitor of my blog asking me about a certain house at Carter road, Bandra. The person who wrote to me, said that he used to live in Bandra, (now staying somewhere in states), he was curious to know how this area looked like, since he has not visited Mumbai for a long time and knows that there have been so many changes since last few years and he wanted me to write about Carter Road.

Well Carter road, for one has changed a lot. It is what one would call it a ‘happening place’, At any hour of the day, you will find people clustered here, either at the promenade, at the group of eateries called 'khao galli', this is a cool place to hang out, then there are also some nice restaurants where you can chill. I love to watch the sunset while sipping coffee at café day which is just across the street, opposite promenade, facing the sea.

The best time to go to Carter road is at 5pm. The golden sun rays filtering through the skies creates magic moments on the waters at this time. You can sit on the bench facing the sea and watch the sun go down. The sky plays tricks changing from yellow to golden red and then to dark blue.

After sunset (or during if you prefer) its time for evening walk. There are hundreds of joggers marching across the path, some are deep in their own world(meditating?), some listening to music that is plugged into their ears, while others busy on mobile, chatting non-stop and then there are those just walking left, right, left, right as if they are in the army.

The promenade is the interesting path to walk. If you are tired of walking and need a breather, you can stop by 'dogger’s park' to watch the dogs share their buscuits within their elite group, excluding a stray dog, who might just admire them from outside the gate.

Or you could also watch the children play (on swings and slides) while their parents familiarize with each other discussing what new furniture, branded clothes or exotic baby food is suiting their whiz kids

Further up, there is an amphitheatre which is crowded during festivals when there are live shows.

or you can rest in the small, lush green park where you might also find some homeless people in deep stupor under the shade of the tree.

Carter Road is quite interesting place to have your evening walks.

The walk along the promenade is pleasant with cool breeze and you can walk during late hours too, since the place is well lighted up. At the end of the street there are enough food stalls to tempt your taste buds that can easily nullify the weight that you might have lost during your long walk.

Well, there is always a next day when you will promise yourself to be more disciplined, once again.

Till then walk on…..

Quiz of the day-part 2, Guess the venue…

2010-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Many Thanks to ‘Hobo’ and ‘The clerk’ for participation in my fun game and attempting to guess the venue part 1
The correct answers were Plaza theatre at Dadar; b=corner building opp Tilak bridge; c=bus stop near Sitladevi mandir, d=Tilak bridge, Dadar, e=St Micheal church, Mahim and f= Jama Masjid at Bandra.

Here are more of the pictures in Mumbai.. want to guess????

I will anxiously wait for your guesses....come on...how well do you know Mumbai la??

Get set. Ready? Go! I Mean, Come to Marathon 2010……

2010-01-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

Hello, have you arrived in Mumbai as yet? Oh! Oh! What you waiting for???
Would you want to miss this???

Image source

For those of you living outside Mumbai, (nevermind the locals, they will watch it anyway) would you be interested in hopping over to Mumbai to attend the 7th Marathon this week-end? Yeah? Come on over.!! .its fun and Marathon is getting better each year. You don’t believe it? Give up your couch/mouse potato habits, instead come to Mumbai this Sunday, 17th January 2010, and attend the ‘Marathon 2010’ party.

The Azad Maidan near Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus is the Event Venue of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2010.

image source

The following races will start and finish at the Azad Maidan:

Marathon (42.195 km)

Dream Run (6 km)

Senior Citizens’ Run (4.3 km)
Wheelchair Event (2.5 km)

You will see the participants of the above races assemble inside Azad Maidan at least one hour prior to the start time of their respective races.

If you are in Bandra and don’t wish to travel all the way to South Mumbai, you can watch ‘The Half Marathon (21.097 km) race’ that will start from opposite Rang Sharda Auditorium (Bandra) and finish opp. the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus junction.

image source

And there is fun happening too, specially if you can see people dress in those funky, cool costumes and be judged by noted personalities from fashion industry.

Yes! You guessed it right! The stage is also set for the most creative, vibrant and outrageous fashion statement the city has ever seen, at the Kingfisher Run In Costume.

So, isn’t that a kewl way to spend the Sunday morning? Will you be coming??? Scratching your head?? Huh??

Welcome to Mumbai..!

Guest Post by Arif Who Has Made Mumbai His New Home

When NRI Visit Mumbai City

Gaysi Family Dirty Talk

The Year That It Was in Mumbai-(2011)

Christmas at Bandra in Mumbai

NCPA in Mumbai is in news again…..

Thespo 13 - An Event not to be missed.

Linking the East with the West of Mumbai

Auto Rickshaws Services in Mumbai City

Maharashtrian Women of Mumbai

Day out at BandStand in Bandra

Mumbai's broken roads and Potholes

Travelling from South to North Mumbai

When it rains in Mumbai, it pours, and it pours, and it pours till the city gets paralysed

Getaway from Mumbai for the week-end - Lonavala

Street Shopping in Mumbai

Driving around the City of Mumbai

Godrej Nature Basket in Mumbai

‘Must visit restuarant’ - Global Fusion in Mumbai

From My lens at Sewri

Blowing Away NRI’s Blues

Mumbai Medical Care Centre

BEST Bus Service in Mumbai

Sky line of Powai

Waiting at Peddar Road

Lavasa Women's Drive..350 cars participated from Mumbai...

Women's Drive will resonate from Mumbai to Lavasa

Women in Mumbai travel dangerously

IdliSambar on a bicycle

Street Art cheers the crowd at Kalaghoda

KalaGhoda Festival in Mumbai....Ready???

So what you doing on New Years' Eve in Mumbai?

Literati Festival in Mumbai

Arties festival in Mumbai

Arty Changing Times in Mumbai

Ladies Local

Shades and Hues of Navratri Festival in Mumbai

Oberoi Mall in Mumbai

Oh yes! One more thing- remember you have to be brave enough to face heavy traffic, yeah - dodge the bus, the car, the auto to cross over to reach this mall.

Fully Time Pass in Mumbai

hat. A hat? Geez!

If you are gaming buff then there is good news for you.

If you are the type to enjoy the western music concert, then head on for delightful music at NCPA which is hosting the Ninth Celebrity season.

Mumbai always has some or the other time-pass-activities, for those who would like to just while away their time doing nothing then there is always linking road for shopping and eating Bhel Puri.Anything is better than being a couch potato. Isn't it?

Mumbai always has some or the other time-pass-activities, for those who would like to just while away their time doing nothing then there is always linking road for shopping and eating Bhel Puri.

Anything is better than being a couch potato. Isn't it?

Celebration is Everywhere in Mumbai

Pass the fish, please...

Peddling In the Eco-Friendly World

Say NO to taxi and autos

Re-Visiting Powai Lake

CAMPAIGN AGAINST HONOUR KILLINGS IN INDIA

Wet, Wet Mumbai

Eating out in Mumbai

Bandra- the cream of the suburbs

Bharat Bhand July 2010-Mumbai streets.

What stories would interest a Mumbaite??

Picture of the day

One more evening at Jogger’s Park in Bandra.

Summer Bonanza for kids at NCPA

Shop for Change

View from a Bus Window

Shivaji Park declared as the Silence zone

Children’s Film Festival In Mumbai

Mudra Dance Week

Literacy in Mumbai city

For artist who can read between lines

Twit-Festival in Mumbai

Sunday Market

South Mumbai Sky line

Fresh Farm food In Mumbai

Boating Culture in Mumbai

Mumbai decides not to be bullied anymore!

A day out at KalaGhoda Art Festival

Colorful Kala Ghoda Festival from 6th to 14 February

Yipee! Short Films Again!!

Jogger's Park in Bandra

Carter Road, Bandra

Quiz of the day-part 2, Guess the venue…

Mumbai always has some or the other time-pass-activities, for those who would like to just while away their time doing nothing then there is always linking road for shopping and eating Bhel Puri.

Anything is better than being a couch potato. Isn't it?