Bombay: A pleasant Visit....

Whenever, I visited Bombay along with my husband, it would always be very brief, spent mostly visiting relatives, and coming back to Bangalore. Though I started my life with my husband in Bombay  years ago, and have visited almost all the important places along with him, yet, wanting to see Bombay through different eyes was always my goal.

My daughter who now lives in Bombay with her husband, kept on asking me to come when she had some long weekend so that she could show me the places I really wanted to see and be seen at.

This time, opportunity came by, when she had a long break,  starting with  the festival of Holi, Good Friday, etc. 

So off I flew off to spend some fun filled time with my daughter,  her husband Ram and their lovely dog Loki. The weather too was fine,  in fact slightly cooler than Bangalore.
Powai : this is where our daughter stays so that she could be closer to her office in Goragaon, and here is where the most happening place in Bombay is located : Hiranandani Gardens.
It is a place that immediately transports you to some European country, just for a few moments you can think you are somewhere else, not in India. The architecture, the surrounding layouts, the lush gardens with European style fountains, the cafes, the glittering shops everything fools you into thinking that you have stepped into dream world, see for yourself these buildings:

Powai Lake

Can't believe it is our own Bombay or Mumbai  PS : Image Kind courtesy Google
Though my daughter doesn't live in one of those ultra posh apartment, for they are all very expensive. However, she lives in a beautifully landscaped apartment complex in Powai, which has big wide balconies opening out of each of the rooms including the kitchen. It has a swimming pool, a high tech Gym and the landscaping is so beautiful.One has to just take a walk around the vast building complex to see how drastically the style of all the new buildings have changed in the last few years in Bombay. Gone are the days when we had match box type buildings, things  are changing. Though such small ugly looking apartments are still very much there, but the sight of some new buildings are really a feast to the eyes.
Next stop is Lower Parel: Oh, one has to see the lighted high rise buildings in the night, it almost makes you wonder whether you are in Bombay or in Manhattan, it is unbelievable. However, the same buildings in the morning look very shabby.
Next visit: Colaba:
 While driving to Colaba you get see the famous Marine drive and some of the very old and  beautiful buildings facing the ocean. I always wanted to stay in a house or an apartment facing the sea, and whenever I see such buildings my heart aches.
We got a glimpse of Mukesh Ambani's home called 'Antila', the world's first billion dollar house, an architectural disaster, pure eye sore, standing as a sour thumb. I don't know why he had to get the best architects from Chicago to build this monster.You can see for yourself:

                                                       Image Kind courtesy Google

There is no harm in having money, but at least he could have used it wisely to build something beautiful, classy. We have all seen pictures of various very rich people's houses, but have you ever seen such a horrible looking building. It also claims to be the tallest building in Bombay.
These are some of the most beautiful old buildings in Bombay, all near the Taj Hotel facing the sea:

                                                 All pictures taken by my daughter

                                                         Another beauty: so different
We reached Colaba dropped off Ram at Leopold Cafe`, where he was to meet somebody.
It is one of the most favorite and most visited cafes of the city. Leopold café is the typical hangout place for youngsters and also the old regulars. For some reason it always attracts foreigners. The food is good and usually with large servings and is fresh. Has amazing range of different wines and Champagne.
However, we ( daughter and myself) decided to go to Café Mondegar, for this was one place, that I always wanted to see, having read about it in many travelogues, and seen it in various food channels.
Next to Regal Cinemas, the cafe opens early in the morning and is open till midnight. This place is for all the college goers, office goers, tourists, and of course, the regulars : a favorite hangout place for almost everybody. Drinks and food at reasonable rates with amazing music wafting from the Juke box.

Mario Miranda's paintings also adorn the walls of  Pub Cafe Mondegar. 

                                                             Pub Cafe Mondegar

                                                The paintings of  Mario Miranda

   Another interesting  Place called Picadilly, a Irani Cafe, very old, with Coke posters, famous for Lebanese and Persian food for Irani Chai/ Tea and Irani Samosas
After lunch shopping:

                                                                Antique shops

                                      Bought two glass lamps one in Pink and one in Violet

                Had to admire this smart lady selling Henna blocks, and speaking such good English

Then hopping to Starbucks for coffee, at The Taj Hotel.
 Since it was a Saturday, it was crowded, but we did manage to find a good place to sit. Took a picture of The Gateway of India:

                                 The famous Haji Ali Dargah, how can I come without seeing it

The shops at Haji Ali

Amazing views from this bridge: Bandra Worli Sea link

During the night it would look more beautiful with the lights on.

There are many more places to see and things to do in Bombay, but from this visit only this much was possible.

And finally a picture of Loki, the cutest, and the most lovable dog.

Back to a hot furnace called Bangalore.

Again it is a photo blog.