Mumbai Icons-3

Haji Ali.... the next icon that has become a defining landmark for the city of Mumbai...and again a much explored and exploited one....and again spoilt with several overladen symbolic meanings and references in different types of literature....

One thing that I invareably see when I visit this beauty is that people are reluctant to walk that mile in the sea, to the actual building. They stop to take the pictures at the enterance and then head to the juice center and are off then...such a pity...

Haji Ali is thought of in several different words by different people....mosque, for muslims, thanks to the films now, it is thought of as a terror hangout as well....seldom is it look upon as a structure in the middle of the sea..standing tall...welcoming visitors with open arms, saving them from the furies of the voilant sea.....seldom is it thought of as a place of peace, tranquality, worship, a place which lets you reach in the recesses of your soul, inner self.....

Haji Ali to me,....a Mumbaikar like me, is defined as a board of peaceful heaven, of quawali, of music, of happiness and of smells, smells of the sea, and tranquality....it is the place I want to go to, when trouble and fear and hate and anger gawns at me....a place that gives me confidence to be,..its strength against the sea, giving me strength to withstand the odds and to move ahead.....

Walking that mile to reach the building, surrounded by the sea, is a walk towards trance, trance that leads me to my thoughts which get lost in the choas of my city's sounds sometimes...a trance that makes me believe in that lost God, in faith, in some self beyond me.....

Haji Ali....another face of Mumbai....another fascet of this schizopharnic city....a gem that shows the deep soul of Mumbai.........

Mumbai Icons-2

Funny as it may sound, I was very confused about what the most defining monument could be for a outsider visiting this city of dreams. My thoughts and deliberation came to an end,when I spotted a tourist bus speeding towards The Gateway of India.

Built during the colonial era to commemorate the visit of royalty to this country, the Gateway, fast became a symbol of the colonial past of this city. However, years later, it is remembered not as a landmark built for the British royalty, but the place from which they said their final goodbye and left the city for good.

Every single person who undertakes the task of touring this city ensures that he takes a peek at this monument. After hearing the tales of its grandeur and beauty, the actual place has often let people down, not matching upto its wonderful descriptions and imagery. A few friends who I got the chance to take around the city, were more excited about the Taj that stand opposite the Gateway then this place...

For me Gateway of India has had several meanings, since my childhood till now. As a kid I was always inspired with the thought that the Gateway was the final get away point for British. Then came the reality check, my actual visit to the place. Pretty boring is what I remember...I had no idea what I was supposed to look at when I went there. The monument was pretty stinky with pigeon poo and other inexplicable smells from right beneath the dome. There were stairs that led to the waters of the natural harbour, which is now used for ferry loading who take a ride for fun or to go to the Elephenta caves. The ride was interesting and more inspiring then the place. Vendors with candies and tourists clicking pictures was nice to look at as well.....

The Gateway of India has a lot of historic importance. It does play a vital role in defining the historical and political importance of Mumbai. However, its importance as a tourist destination is fast weaning.....What does Gateway symbolize for a Mumbaikar like me... for me..the monument makes me proud of Mumbai past. Standing tall, it tells tales of the power this city holds. But it does not charm me, sweep me off my feet, or even engross me enough...it stands as a symbol of history, power and other things, but does not define that diverse, didactic Mumbai that it is today to me........

The Mumbai Icons

My Mumbai is back to being itself, stripped of its diwali jewels, it does not look wasted or tired but rejuvinated and happy..its just being itself...without all its finery, its puts on the running shoes and is on its feet...

My journey through this city, during this transition phase, has made me ponder and wonder, all over again, about what makes this city, what ever it is...and why...but more than that, my inquisations, as I see the tourist wonder the place, have gone on to ponder on what they think of this place..what is their perception of this city, what do they want to see, when they come to see Mumbai.....and how much of these icons define Mumbai for a Mumbaikar...

1. Marine Drive: Made very famous by its references in different movies, songs, books and other literature, this place is sometimes thought of as a synonym of the city itself. Overlained by several symolic meanings, this place defines several things to several people. For a Mumbaikar living in a suburb it defines oppulance..portrayed by the people livng there, their riches, that Taj Mahal Hotel, Trident and others.....and sometimes freedom, for that is what a few famed movies tell us...Its fun to walk on the pathway there, gazing at the sea and the distant ships...to me, a walk along the sea here has somehow always meant a constant process of becoming, constant moving from being to becoming, from what is to what will be....On a glorious wintery evening, I walk along the sea, looking at the golden ball go down the sea and turn around, to see the reflection of its brightness on the highly sheening glass windows of the tall tall buildings. I see some tourists clicking away, capturing the sunset on their camera, trying to overpower that angry bolb.....uncaptured, capturing.....There is a strange sense of relief in the entier scene....a sense of calmness, a filfillment as I begin to remove me from the trance and get back to the hectic "usual" life...

For me, Marine Drive is a break from the real life, life out of Mumbai, a small dream-like place, which is no Mumbai at all.

I shall write about other Icons in the subsiquent posts...

Mumbai Shopping Comprehensive Volume 1

This is the blog by Preeti Vangela.....a Guest writer here.....

This, I intend to make the Mumbai shopping comprehensive for the cheap shopper! And what better way to start it off then to let you in on a very good deal I got this evening at The Loot on some very nice shirts most suitable for formal office wear.

Two very cute printed formal shirts in a delicate color, one stripped shirt in three-fourth sleeves all from the brand AND, and a Wills lifestyle fullsleeve shirt in a very light pink color great with a nice pair of light colored trousers for office or paired with denims for a laid back casual look, purchased for total of INR 1117/-!! I think it’s a steal! If formals are what you are looking for and you are not overtly concerned about your clothes being a last season design, you will have fun shopping in The Loot and the Grab Store.

Okay, let’s all play a game of mystery gift bag! Imagine, a large group of people that decided to contribute in cash or kind towards a collective of gifts, big and small in size and/or value and put ‘em all together in a large, very large colorful tasseled red velvet sack(for added visual effect of course) and then jumbled them all up! Then they play some game of chance or dare and each time someone wins, she or he gets the opportunity to put her/his hand into the sack and pull out one gift item. How awesome would you feel, if every time you tossed the dice or performed a dare in your game, and it was your chance to pull out a mystery gift from the great big velvet gift bag, you just happened to pull out the best of the best gifts that were placed in the bag (none of them by you of course)!

Fun isn’t it?

This is the exact feeling I get every single time I go down to my favorite shopping haunts with an open mind and a restricted budget looking for kickass merchandise. I always happen to find deals on clothes and accessories that seem to cost me just a token amount to purchase, allowing me to buy a whole lot more for a whole lot less money.

Now, I’m not really a compulsive shopper, nor do I “shop” my feeling (to borrow from the expression “to eat your feeling”) but I do like a new outfit for any special occasion and a new outfit just for the heck of it every now and then. So stumbling upon stores like the ones I mentioned above are a great help to put together really good outfits on a peanuts price-tag.

So, I told you where you can get some nice formal office wear shirts. You could also get some formal trousers at these same places. But then again, I’m into remodeling of my own dresses and can handle basic fitting on my pants, so I do buy em from here sometimes. The thing is, I really like narrow fits in pants, skinnies, straight fits, that sort. These are not easy to find in Grab or the Loot for some reason, yet.

Here I could share a nice lil trick with you I use very often. I am tall and quiet healthy. So finding the right fit of pants is not always easy. What I do is, I purchase pants that have a good fit till mid thigh ( minimum requirement). Below mid thigh, I have my pants altered to have a skinny, very “now” look. I like that. It’s easy and can be done cheap. Very good for regular office wear, if you can be tempted to go for that bit of extra work that is.

While on the topic of pants, there is one more store I have been shopping from for the past 2 years quiet regularly for pants. Located right next to Reliance Trends store in Bandra, Mumbai, this is a very very tiny shop, always packed with girls buying party wear, casuals, denims etc. If you are looking for Formal office pants, denims, shorts, anything! You would find the right stuff right here!! great cloths, good prices and a bit of bargaining possible. One added benefit of shopping from here is, if there is a minor fitting problem but you love the overall fit of the pants, they will have that altered and fixed for you right there within a few minutes. Perfect!

So now that you have the right shirts and trousers, throw on a nice scarf (tips on getting a great scarf dirt cheap here) and you are ready to shine at work!

Diverting from the current topic of clothes, if you do like to wear a bit of makeup pretty regularly, a really nice brand I like, is NYX. I bought it first on my trip to US but soon found out its available here as well, in Manish market, CST, Mumbai. I have not bought em form here myself, but a good friends did. When I bought NYX from US it was time for the Christmas sale and I got all of the goodies dirt cheap. Great colors long lasting and no side effects so far. If you like mascara, I would definitely recommend the ColorBar Lash Illusion Mascara Duo. it comes with two tubes, one for lengthening the lashes and the other for volume. Easy to apply long lasting and gives a nice look. For Rs. 350/- i like it!

So now you have something to get you through the week at work in formals, but how bout causal Fridays! More helpful hints, tips and tricks on that coming up soon! So until next time, bye bye and happy shopping to ya’ll!!

Happpyyyyy Diwali

My Mumbai is filled with colors...its happy...dressed in dainty gold and red and yellows and greens and pinks.....its blinks and smiles away at all those here for a trip......welcoming them with ever open arms and wide wide smile....

Diwali....festival of lights....and for Mumbai, festival of fire crackers, happiness, smiles, sweets, greetings and general merriment....this is one time when Mumbaikars and barring all their casts and traditions come together to celebrate life with pure and unadulterated mirthful hearts and minds....

So how could I be left out? Frequent shopping sprees and fun times with friends and family.....

Check list..... spoke to friends, relatives......collogues.....guess all those I know generally....and now here is something very very special for all my readers as well.....

A guest Blog by a veteran writer......my friend and a guide in a lot of things.... (read shopping shopping).....

Introducing Preeti Vaghela..........
(http://thelostbunnydiaries.blogspot.com)

the next post is by her.... she calls it "A Comprehensive shopping list for Mumbai"

I found it very very interesting and informative...even tried a few stints and they worked!!!!!!!

So enjoy reading and A New HAPPY DIWALI.................

Introspection....

Ahhhh......its been very long since I have posted anything....I am both angry at myself and pity me for the lack of time, or non inclination to write when I have time...well my recent choices have been between relaxing (read sleeping) or pushing myself to my self-extended boundries to work/write some more...The former has won 99 number of times outta 100 in my arguments with self...

well, finally I am here, doing my favourite thing...taking time off from all the runing...my small pre-diwali gift to myself....and wondering if this mad marathon run is really worth it...

On my train journey back and forth frm work, after crazy long days which has now become a robotic routine, a drill to be followed frm one day to next...one question has been nagging me constantly.....Time and its relativity.....Nothing has made it more appearent to me then the mad routine which is my life now.... and as usual, my darling, sweet, electic, dynamic, colorful, scary, weired, angry, painful, chaotic, happening, loving Mumbai becomes the microcausm for an explanation....

Roll, camera and action....

scene: a crowded dadar station, train arrival, womens compartment, chaos to get in-get out, start train, a woman hanging by a tinsly train handle, tyin to balance herself on the edge of the train step, as it speeds ut of the station, fighting on the phone...

snippets frm it..
I cannot come in tomorow, pls understand, I cannot,....my new job, have to go..hospital, I cannot come, is she serious? but Leave i will not get, shit m sorry...dont break up...no but new job.......ya 7 months.....difficult to handle boss.....dont do that...I knw your mum dying...sorry but cannot make it........ahhh.....ummmm....I understand.......no no......cannot help you......i understand your state.....Sorryy.....no no.....pls pls.....i know.....pls....(hear sobs, crying)...

finishes the calls, tear washed face...pained....

this lady is a regular in my train....both of us roughly have the same routine....get on the same train early morning at 7.15 and are usually going back hme around 9 at night......I smile at her and she likewise, we even talk once in a while.....I understand her situation, she knows that I know her situation and hve heard her talking on the phone.....

She has a fiancee, his mum is in the hospital, serious. He wants her to visit his mum. She cannot take a leave from her "new" 7-8 months old job, for her pain-in-the-ass, nagging boss...

After I get off the train...I begain to think of her situation....what would I do? would I take a leave, risk the job, stake the career, financial concern? Go visit the mum, or hurt her fiance, risk a breakoff, hurt a mum and leave her in pain????

What would you do? how far is a Mumbaite ready to run the unending rat race, how inhuman can people get?? Is this what Mumbai is all about? Is this the pride of the financial capital of India? what are we? who are we? do we fall under the label of "being a human"....

I dono...What I do believe in is these line by a poet whose name I cannot recall....

"What is life if full of care?
There is no time to stand and stare..."

Huh???......

A small conversation between two friends who reconnected on FB after several years and then chance upon each other during a daily train ride...

Friend No 1: hey....how are you? wassp? I saw on FB that you have been writing a bit...different you know,..from what others do.....

Me: Ya ya true true..what are you upto....several updates from you as well...your life seems to be rocking....

etc etc etc..

Friend No 1: So, you run a small blog...

Me: oh, that? ahh its actually just to have some personal virtual space to talk like I want...on Issues I want..

Friend No 1: What is your blog about? fashion? work? Travel? what what??

Me: Actually about Mumbai, no my thoughts on Mumbai...oh well both and more....some small amount of Philosophy as well..In a way...

Friend No 1: Mumbai,....oh ya....I read several things written about Mumbai,...Its the hot topic for now....So what did u write about Vt station? or Marine Drive? and what about Leopoalds? Metro?..

Me: Actually I have not too much about them...these places are not so much a part of my life you see....

Friend No 1: oh....(scilence)...then what of Mumbai? if not these things, what is left?

Me: Trains....and places and people who live in Mumbai...

Friend No 1: Ya ya, Trains are hot topic too. Like how dirty and filthy they are or even how they are the lifeline of the city...

Me: No, actually about people in trains...and their life in Mumbai..how they react to life and situations...mainly about how people react to Mumbai and its life....

Friend No 1: ...(scilence).....oh....quite off-beat, am sure some few people will be interested...makes for some writing material.....Do you have many followers? Not that many I guess....Its not like Mumbai fashion or even about the Bomb blasts in Taj you know....but I admire your courage....

Me: hmmm

Friend No 1: Lets see if I like it.....I might want to read something of it, you know....

Me: Ya sure...My ID is.....well...lets me know what you think..

Friend No 1: Lets see....I hope its interesting...

Me: Ya, hope....I have to go...its my station...Bye, take care...keep in touch...

Friend No 1: ya sure...I am always on FB....Tc Bye...

My thoughts.....funny is it not?.....