If you should wonder, in between last week's new-to-me-blogging challenge, I did make it outside the house... barely. It was great fun to participate. I wrote more posts than ever, and I read some brilliant pieces from fellow bloggers. But now, it is time to take you around again - in this contrasty city I live in...
1. Because can you imagine? One day I participate in health testing of children living in the slum, to see if they are underweight and afterward we pass out fresh bread to a loooong line of people......
... and then we go for lunch, and one of my friends has this dish:
.
... and I am all of a sudden in the middle of a choir of bread-complaints: Yeeek, I can't eat this! What's the purpose? Is it just decor? Can't chew it! Too hard ... (and I hear this little voice: Shut up and eat your bread, lady! There are people starving out there!)
2. Another day I go to an opening of a new posh restaurant, I eat canapes, sip champagne ( hey! it's an opening), shop a bit ( Note to self: next time do the shopping prior to the champagne)....
... and in the car on my way home, with shopping bags, a full belly and still with some champagne bubbling in my mouth, I look out the car window and I see this:
... ok then, must be possible to hold two thoughts at the same time, right?
4. Another day I go to Crawford market again. It's in the middle of the day, the heat is intense, the bargaining is crazy, cars are driving in to the crowds, and wherever I turn, I bump into people. People, people and more people....
.... and then I go visit my friend who lives practically on Juhu beach. Ahhhh - sinking down into her soft chair, sipping ice tea, chatting and watching the waves.. Peace and quiet. Peace and quiet.
Oh, the different faces of this city... it completely takes your breath away - in just so many various thinkable ways...
I hope you have a good week so far, dear reader:-) All the best to you:-)
1. Because can you imagine? One day I participate in health testing of children living in the slum, to see if they are underweight and afterward we pass out fresh bread to a loooong line of people......
 |
| I love this picture from our visit to Dharavi... and a local bakery :-) |
... and I am all of a sudden in the middle of a choir of bread-complaints: Yeeek, I can't eat this! What's the purpose? Is it just decor? Can't chew it! Too hard ... (and I hear this little voice: Shut up and eat your bread, lady! There are people starving out there!)
2. Another day I go to an opening of a new posh restaurant, I eat canapes, sip champagne ( hey! it's an opening), shop a bit ( Note to self: next time do the shopping prior to the champagne)....
... and in the car on my way home, with shopping bags, a full belly and still with some champagne bubbling in my mouth, I look out the car window and I see this:
... and I think: This is the home of some people. Someone is living here, and they have children. I can see their clothes, kitchen ware, and something looking like a small temple - just there under the bridge on the busy highway..
3. On Women's Day I write about Geeta and her amazing story about survival and improving her life after being beaten and abandoned by her husband. I read fantastic inspirational stories, but then I start getting irritated by some of the ads and commercials. Because what?! Is Women's Day about flowers, wine, spa, chocolates and pampering The Lady?! Huh! No! That is not at all what it is about.
And then I receive this:
4. Another day I go to Crawford market again. It's in the middle of the day, the heat is intense, the bargaining is crazy, cars are driving in to the crowds, and wherever I turn, I bump into people. People, people and more people....
.... and then I go visit my friend who lives practically on Juhu beach. Ahhhh - sinking down into her soft chair, sipping ice tea, chatting and watching the waves.. Peace and quiet. Peace and quiet.
Oh, the different faces of this city... it completely takes your breath away - in just so many various thinkable ways...
I hope you have a good week so far, dear reader:-) All the best to you:-)
Mumbai rocks! It is an addiction!
ReplyDeleteTrue:-) All the best:-)
DeleteMumbai certainly is a city of many many contrasts and that conviction I have is cemented more and more as I see a bit more of this wondrous city every day.
ReplyDeleteYes, so true Bhavya! Thanks for following:-)
Deleteaah.. so many different moods all in a day.. so many experiences .. well captured n presented..
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot dear Smitha:-) Hugs your way
DeleteWow, so many faces of the city covered in a single post, Eli. This is awesome :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much:-) All the best
DeleteMumbai literally takes my breath away... :D I am a little scared of it :P
ReplyDeleteRicha
Know what you mean Richa..:-) Hugs
DeleteEli, I'm a frequent visitor to Mumbai. As u you are talking about Breath taking I would suggest u to catch an early morning local train from CST and travel to Kalyan station on central line, make sure you take a left-hand-side window seat. I am sure the outside view and the familiar stench will take you breath away.
ReplyDeleteHe he .. well Shabab - as I said... it does take your breath away --- in various ways..:-)
DeleteEli a great contrasting show here...true colors of Mumbai! Somewhere I'm a lil sad though...we say we are making progress, but then we look around n...
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Aditi:-) I know what you mean..:-) Hugs your way
DeleteLove your photos Eli, Mumbai looks and sounds so colourful!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much dear Amelia:-) Come and see- still owe you that chai:-) Hugs
DeleteHey Eli,
ReplyDeleteJust want to let you know that living in Mumbai changed my life a lot. We are now back in Belgium and I am soo sooo happy and grateful for everything. I remember those smiling faces of the kids playing in Dharavi ...
Hi Goedele! So nice to see you here:-) Miss u in Mumbai! But amazing to hear from you and your experiences ... Yes, our trip to Dharavi I will always remember also:-) Hi to the kids! Big hugs to you:-)
DeleteWow. What a contract between the haves and have nots.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Talya, it really is.. Hugs your way
DeleteWhat a lovely place full of so many contrasts and facets. I think I love that view of the beach and sea best of all, although it all looks pretty exotic. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy:-) Yes, it really is... So you can imagine the joy of sinking down in a chair with sea view- just to digest all impressions..:-) Hugs to you, dear
DeleteA wow post!! Yes, Mumbai is a city of maximum contrasts!!
ReplyDeleteWow:-) Thank you dear Shilpa! Yes, it really is:-) Hugs
DeleteI must admit Bombay is the one city I was glad to live in --- wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in India. It's a city of wonderful contrasts and I could see more of those just like you have when I visited the last time. You have huge skyscrapers and malls and then right next to it, people living in slums and doing it tough.
ReplyDeleteYes, so true:-) Thanks for following:-)
DeleteMumbai is a dram destination for me... maybe grown up watching so much bollywood movies I'm addicted to that place eventhou I haven't visited it...
ReplyDeleteGreat:-) I hope you get to visit:-) Thanks for popping by my blog Sheethal:-) Best
Deleteso much variety and loved the dharavi picture a lot :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Joshi:-) So happy to see you here and that you loved the picture:-)
Delete