The 'YAM AT LIBERTY IN MUMBAI' Day...did she visit
all the temples in the metro? Did she seek edification in gallery or museum?
Did she heck. Outside - she wanted the outside - and lots of photo opportunities thank you very
much! Then for a midnight re-play...
Aitch; SO what did you see and where
did you go? Did it go well?
me: in typical Sanskrit style,
I'll start at the back. The beginning did not go well - the original car didn't
turn up. Decided to stay in Goa it seems. S-amma was on that phone like bees on
comb trying to find a car at last minute. So got half an hour late. Driver only
spoke Hindi - lucky I speak Hinki…
R's place was a bit tricky to find but we were okay, with the help of
half of Mumbai. We tried out all four directions before deciding the middle was
the place. Then up to the 9th floor
to view her place - palatial flat with views and soooo quiet. By 10am we got down and I instructed Ashok
(the 'chuffer') in best of Hinki that we were now to head for Gateway of India.
Tour boats. Many, many tour boats. |
me: anyway, We dropped off there for photo ops
then called him back (R has cell). "Ashok bhaiyya, Colaba Causway
kripa".... dropped us by chappel dukhana (shoe shops) as Me wanted new
trad slippers with the toe loop. Got, them after a few tries - pure leather
authenticani for <>$12.... Happeez
Aitch: well done for the new slippers
me: :
meanwhile back at Colaba, it was upon the midday hour, so then over to Kala
Goda Jehangir gallery for lunch. Yummy alloo paratha with trims for me and vege
cutlets full lunch for R. Two gallery rooms were active. The eclectica in one
room, most artists were Gujurati and one in particular I loved. Then in the
other venue there was Kudalayya - OMY... I LOVE these. sigh. Artist was there
and I had to say that at the moment I certainly cannot collect anything. But
have taken his display booklet and details - will be following this up... http://kudalhiremath.com/ - it's
the water colours of the cows that struck me.
Stunning stuff.
... after gallery, "Ashok bhaiyya, Horniman Gardens
kripa"! Lovely Georgian
architecture in the Indian influence all around the circle and the gardens in
the middle.
"...are you talking to me?..." |
me: The large white bldg is
the Mumbai Town Hall and Asiatic Society Central Library
(ought to have mentioned that beside the Gateway, is the large Taj
Mahal Hotel - victim of bomb attack some years back.
Nearly finished fixing it.)
Then, after Horniman, out past the naval dockyards
and along to Cchatrapati Shivaji Victoria Terminus (central railway to youse
and mes). Another lovely bldg - beside which is the Central High Court Bldg -
all grey and turrrety...
me: By this time Ashok bhaiyya
has got the hang of Yamini-ji and is offering ideas!
a fly shot from the car - check profile page for more photos! |
Aitch; oh good in hindi I suppose
me: Zaroor! But I had my plan
and was sticking to it. Next... along Marine Drive please and stop at Haji Ali
Masjid (mosque in the sea)
Along Chowpatty beach then- (CHOW patty not cow-) and wanted to get
piccies of the Sea Link bridge... tricky given length, curve etc
Sea Link is only about 3 years operational and a true feat of
engineering. gorgeous.....
me: anyhoo. Now it was coming
upon 4pm and Ashok was asked to drive us back to Chembur.. but on the way he
decided to detour just for me... only we ended up in the middle of a fishermans
colony and a tiny street which was humming with genuine local atmosphere -
piccies not soooo great there due to prevailing road ineffeciencies - but the
memories will be solid especially the 10 minute puzzle of passing another
vehicle in this 3 metre wide lane; many of the community turned out to assist
in the manipulations! All that then....
we got to far end and couldn't see the bridge! Poor fellow, he was soooo
wanting to impress me.
Deep breaths everyone. For more and better views, go ogle YAMs photo page - click on Rekha up top! |
But he did shortly after. Found another spot from which I took the
fabby one you see here.
Aitch: How did you find that metal frame for the mosque in the sea, I
would never find anything like that and it makes the photo
me: then back to Chembur for
an hour or so with R in her home. Left at 6pm and Ashok finished the day off
beautifully for me by driving back on all the local streets avoiding most of
the highways. Very colourful and wonderful. Back at 7pm pretty bang on. 3500rupees
for the day - that's about $70 or 45pounds for a private, personal, personable
tour!
As to the mosque. He parked by the end of the corrugated fence and
there it was staring at me.
ooh forgot to tell about the single copula bldg - that's Mumbai
Council Chambers. Then, at the end...... autos!!!
Aitch; The link to the artist there are some lovely paintings there hope
you saw many of them.
The birds that look metal on a pile of stones are they surrounded by
water or grass. Is it a fountain?
me: I'm in love with the
single bull's head on the left and splash of sindoor across the page... it was
there and I couldn't take my eyes off it
...Yes that is a fountain - not sure when it runs though. Those are
Indian cranes depicted. There were ducks in the water, but went behind as I
took it.
Just keep paddling... she'll go away eventually! |
Aitch; I was coming to that, is it a carving.
me: which the bull or the
fountain?
Aitch: The bull - Silly ducks...
me: nnoo -watercolour.
Absolutely stunning, brilliantly crafted water colour. I was in awe.
gobsmacked. bulled over, to coin one
BOL [that's
"bark out loud" for the unfamiliar]
Aitch: Very busy lots of folk about and they look like tourists
me: ..........?
Aitch: In the photos
me: OHHH noooo you were
talking about in the garden I just realised... that's a horse made from
recycled wood... I was stuck back at the gallery
Aitch; Ohh we are at cross purposes
me: not the 1st and sadly
probably only the start
Aitch: never mind we always get there in the end!!!
me: ;)
Aitch; It could be a bull
me: if it had horns
Aitch; Ah well you saw it better
than me and in the shadows it could have had horns
me: granted
Aitch: The last photo is of the rickshaw you usually get is that right?
me: correct... I was
trying to snap them all day, but in the city it is more the taxis, this was
last minute, outside R's place
Aitch; They look good do they go fast?
me: faster than pedaling. Not as fast as Ashok's 4x4.
Aitch; as fast a a motor bike
me: hhmmmmmm more you're Italian scooter
like No . maybe faster than that
Really did have a fabby day. Bahut accha din
Ashok Bhaiyya!!!
Aitch: Ugh
me: Buh -huot, ach-aa, deen - very, good, day. Realised how much more there is TO see though.
Could spend months just getting to know the place. I Y Mumbai!!
Dear Reader - if you too would like to enjoy a full photo tour by proxy, click onto my Google Profile and opt for photos - (two albums, cuz I had trouble with clouds...yes, you know what I'm talking about!)
Such splendid photos of a city about which I'm woefully ignorant. Tanks for this.
ReplyDeleteHave been waiting for this for days. Finally. Great to see you enjoyed the lunch and the gallery. I love that place, and I do love Mumbai with all it's traffic, heat and dust. Will go to the link now. Happy Tamil New year for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeletePerpetua - dhanyavada memsahib! It truly is splendid and so are the people. Hope you were able to link through to the full album.
Mahal - YAAYY! We'll have to do a bit more of this when you get here &>. Put some pongal out for me in the morning - then you can all share a bit with my love! Happy NY. xxxx
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteThat indeed was a lovely day beautifully documented!
Hari OM
ReplyDelete... in a crazy meno kind of way! Nice to know a local could get something from this also - thank you Sahib!