Mumbai keeps surprising, every time one visits it!
One other identity of Mumbai I realized this time very clearly is that Mumbai is essentially a huge group of very small villages connected together. Mumbai tries to pretend to be modern city simply because of the pace of the immigrant workers and being the center of financial activities.We all realize this but tend to believe that it is a cosmopolitan planned city, which it is definitely not.
I however do enjoy visiting it once in a while to experience the surprises !
During my recent visit , mainly for meetings and conferences, Mumbai surprised me pleasantly at the Juhu's Silver beach with the cleanliness and less crowded peacefulness like one experiences in a serene village beach..
Here are some nice pics and short videos of the silver beach near Juhu..(Facebook Album)
Previously I have written about Mumbai / Bombay as it fascinated me with its dichotomy , the spectrum of diversity and transformation .. from Mills to Malls .. from BKC to small coastal villages , the crowded Eastern and Harbor line to the Western suburbs! Everything fascinates and surprises me! I was a "Mumbaikar" for 2 years (1996-98 ) as "worker" for WHO and ICMR but have never dared to be back as resident. I do visit Mumbai now and then for business meetings and conferences and that is enjoyable and surprising simply because the stay is only for few days!!
Here are some of my previous blog posts about Mumbai (since 2014 till date )
Revisiting Mumbai
A Western Trail : Photo-diary of walk along the western suburbs
Bombay : The Mumbai of mill workers .. from mills to malls
Girgaon : The forgotten heart of Mumbai
Bhendi Bazar : The area , gharana , the gayaki
Three part series on History of Mumbai
History of Mumbai : Part I A quick read compendium
History of Mumbai : Part II
History of Mumbai : Part III
Mumbai is a great place to visit , at least once a year especially for business and meetings. It is meant for "Business", people "exist" and survive here to make money. Living is altogether a different thing! I have seen Mumbai closely since 1996 or so ..very closely. I like it for the way it is, it gives me a good perspective of life. I however feel more proud and blessed that I was born as Punekar, raised in Pune and have been groomed in the culture of Pune. I must mention here that there is absolutely no comparison here. These are two different "cultures" and worlds separated by around 200kms !