Memoir' From MUMBAI

It's only been 3 weeks since I landed in Pune. I was really happy in Bangalore soaking in every minute of my stay there. Busy roads, busy joints, posh landscapes, and more. But like every good thing my romance with Bangalore had to end as well. And who better to play spoilsport than my company? Bang came a letter and two days later I was on my way to Pune.

There have been plenty of incidents since coming to Pune but first I would love to share the great experience I had over the last weekend. I had a leave and a holiday lined up and I wanted to go on a vacation. The nearest is Mumbai and I chose that.

Beautiful views like these are common on your bus trip

I took the bus on Saturday morning 7:45. The estimated time to reach Mumbai was 3 hours. Taking the bus would turn out to be a fateful decision because of the grand views it provided on later part of the trip. It was the perfect setting. No rain but no sun either. Even at 9:00 it was like early morning. Fogs and clouds hovering over the hills were beautiful. Every now and then clouds would engulf the summit of a hill and it would like some arcane treasure is beaing hidden by god so dilligently. And when the bus slowly climbs the slopes of a hill it begs you to look down the vallies and hold your breath. It is criminal not to get a window seat during this journey and luckily I didn't commit that crime :D

Finally at 11:15 I reached Dadar. The weather was good but very humid in Mumbai. Upon settling down I had 2 days to enjoy Mumbai and so I did. Frankly speaking 2 days were never going to be enough but I had to make do with that. On sunday I visited the shoping malls at Vashi. For the shoppaholics there are some very big and great shopping malls at Vashi. To get there you have to go to Thane by train and catch the direct train to Vashi from there. Just as you come out of Vashi station there are the malls. So hours of shopping, eating and chatting with friends can start.

The Gateway of India

Shivaji Statue Near Gateway of India

On monday I visited the Gateway of India. Hotel Taj is right opposite to that. It was awesome visiting that place. The gateway standing with all the gravirty in the world and the sea water lashing on the walls freakishly only to bow down and get back. Thousands of people gathered there make that place really vivacious. You can take a boat from there to Alibag which I have heard is a beautiful beach. Next time I Would love to visit that place as well.

       

The Taj Hotel

A horse cart near Gateway of India

Of course once you get to the Gateway you can not miss the Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue right opposite the Gateway and the Swami Vivekananda Statue toward the left. Then there is the Taj Hotel. It is big, bold and beautiful. And seemed to have completely got over the scars it got few years back. We all saw with awestruck eyes how the beautiful place was being violated by a bunch of lunatics. But now it is back with a bang. Significant number of foreign tourists will establish this fact even more. If you have enough time and money you can go for a ride on the horse cart as well :)   

Getting there is simple. Just catch a train to get to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST), get there, come out, take a taxi to Gateway. Simple isn't it?

A beautiful view of Hiranandani Garden, Powai

I completed my travel with a trip to Powai hill. It's really a beautiful place and I really envy those who are working there in various IT companies. I believe it is very hard to find a more beautiful place for work and once you visit that place you will tend to agree as well. The bus bay over the Kensington Sez hanging over the hills is really awesome. The spiral roads going up and down will leave you breathless. And the beautiful buildings on both sides of the road are too good to miss. Even if it is not spoken as a place to visit , it is a must visit according to me.Oh and forgot to tell you can go to Pawai from Kanjur Marg station by bus.

Beautiful view from train

Another gorgeous scene

I was on my way back on Tuesday 24th Aug. This was by train. I caught the Pragati Expresss from CST. It was a late afternoon train and that was again a fateful decision to come by train. The scenic beauty exceeded even the bus journey. At times I was kept gawking outside the window for hours. How time went by I had no idea. All those rainwater soaked hills, rains trickling down from hill forests, lone rail workers blowing whistles as train zipped past them, one after another pitch dark solemn tunnels those were ravishing to the eyes. But like every good thing it had to end as well. The train reached Pune at 8PM. It took me another 2 hours to reach my flat. That night I went to sleep still thinking about what eye candies Mumbai had kept in store for me to eat.