Jogger's Park in Bandra

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

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…

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????

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

 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……

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

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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.

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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.

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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??

Begin the New Year by enjoying the Week –End at NCPA

"Happy New Year' to my visitors on this blog, Hope you had a great celebration and made some New-Year resolutions that you will promise to keep but will realize it (again) at the end of this year, that you were unable to stick to it, well, that is normal, then why we keep making newer resolutions each year…ah ha!!

Thinking aloud, I say, 'Why do we keep making New Year resolutions year after year'??? Can we stop making them and start enjoying the life as it comes……

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For a start, you can begin by enjoying the inaugural event of NCPA’s annual multi-arts festival from 8th January onwards. Yeah…you could watch the world-renowned tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and the eminent mridangam vidwan Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani, representing the North and South Indian traditions respectively, who engage for the first time ever in a rhythmic dialogue, during the inaugural event of the NCPA’s annual multi-arts festival.

Tala Vadya Samvad kicks off their three-week multi-arts festival, NCPA Anubhuti, which will include over 20 scintillating and exquisite performances.

Okay, I understand you like Mumbai and that is why you keep visiting my blog on Mumbai. But wait, I said, 'wait', would you be interested in the life of a true Mumbaite? A footpath person on the street? A drunkard? huh?

‘Atthanniyaan on 9th Jan at 6;30pm’ is just that….

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Some of Gulzar’s wonderful poems and stories on Mumbai are contained in Atthanniyaan. The noted poet-lyricist, film director and playwright paint myriad characters that reveal his concern for the precarious life of the underdog in an urban scenario. With his trademark humor and poetic brevity, this is one great raconteur at work.

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And if you wish to explore the relationship between theatre and cinema by focusing on how the transition from stage to film is effected through Shakespearean adaptations, then you might be interested in attending the films workshop ‘Roopantar’ – adapting theatre for cinema by Amrit Gangar, on 10th Jan at 10:30am

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“We look for fixed points, but there are none, either in ourselves or outside in the universe. To live without these fixed points is our challenge.” Drawing inspiration from J Krishnamurti’s statement, the theme of ‘quest’ is explored with all its varied resonance in ‘Uncharted seas’ a highly-acclaimed dance production by one of the country’s leading Kathak dancers and dynamic choreographers, Aditi Mangaldas on 10th January at 6:30pm.

All this and many more, including popcorn and drinks, at NCPA…for details visit the links

And have fun………during this week end….do send in your comments if you attended any….IF, and only if… you have some time to share your views…..will you??

Beach Culture in Mumbai

This is a beach in Maharastra. Did you say that you can see nobody in Bikini???

Yes, you are right, nobody is dressed for the beach, like you see in Europe or in the US, nobody is in Bikini or in a swim suit, well, this is Maharastra……People come to beach for a whiff of sea breeze…….

Even those who opt to swim are fully clothed in waters, men in shirt and pant and women in Saree or Salvar suit

Those who like to tan will do so, in their normal clothes…without sun tan lotion and without any sun beds to lie down to soak….

Some who like ‘bird watching’ will sit closer to the sea….

Rest will just jay walk on a hot sand near the sea, mostly in groups

Yes, this is the beach in Maharastra where foreigners too are dressed, who in their own country will show some skin but here in our country, even their young ones are dressed

I am told that the beach in Goa is not like the beach in Mumbai…..But then, I have yet to see it…..till then I will just enjoy the street food like Pani Puri and Pav Bhaji at the beach….. and enjoy the sea-breeze…..till the sun sets down to sleep…..