Mumbai Daily Photo

A Chopper above Land's end

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:31:00 +0000

Pumpkin Milk Shake

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:13:00 +0000

This fruit is called “Sitafal” in Bombay. In north it is called “Sharifa”. In north pumpkin is called Sitafal. Soon after moving to Bombay I say Sitafal milkshake on the menu of a restaurant. I just couldn’t understand why would anyone want to drink pumpkin flavored milk. I noticed that this was not limited to just one restaurant but is available in almost all eating joints selling milkshakes. When I couldn’t bear it anymore, I asked someone what exactly it is and then only I found out what it is.

The road is my playground

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:33:00 +0000

I am not talking about Schumacher or Alonso or anyone else involved in any type of tracing. I am talking about the kids who live in these jhuggies. This is somewhere between Bandra and Parel. The entire footpath on that stretch and beyond has been encroached. The roads have not been spared either as it serves as the front yard of their houses. All the stuff you are seeing including the bicycle, the green crate and the aluminum milk can is on the road. This is pretty much what happens to al the roads in Bombay. You may make a road that has four lanes but there will be only one lane effectively used by the traffic.

Giant Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:34:00 +0000

These are makeshift human powered rides that you can see quite commonly in fairs in India. Human powered because it is not operated by power. To run it, two-three people climb up the axel and by walking on it, they make it turn, quite a bit like guinea pigs that keep moving in their cages on a circular path. I personally find these very dangerous because you never know what the state of the men was last night when they put this ride together It was quite likely that they were drunk and couldn’t do it properly or may be they are frustrated by their low wage and are not wiling to go beyond a certain point.

Yellow Titan

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:03:00 +0000

I have mentioned earlier as well, if not here than in my other blogs that JV Link Road is taking forever to be completed. My nephew Bharat clicked this picture of the roller when he was visiting us in June last year. The work on this road is still going on. The time it takes to build roads in Bombay and their conditions is pathetic but what is even more amazing is the kind of things you will see on roads. Usually you have trucks to carry heavy machinery like this or earthmovers but in Bombay they share the road with other traffic. If this is to be transported to another place, they will simply drive it to that place. If you are thinking how long it will take then think how relevant it is. The wages of the operator or should I say driver of this roller will be so low that it will be cheaper to let him drive it instead of hiring a truck to carry it even if it takes a whole day to drive this damn thing to destination.

Bandra-Worli Sea link

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:15:00 +0000

This is a sea link connecting Bandra with Worli. When this is complete, it will reduce the time taken to travel from Bandra to Worli dramatically. This is a guess they have. In reality I guess this may not be as effective as they think. My negative thinking is because of they way the administrations makes poor guesses. I think the number of cars traveling on this will be way more than estimated and I am not sure what exactly has been done to prevent the bottlenecks just before and after this bridge. The bridge may be clear but I am sure as soon as you leave it, you will encounter encroachers in the forms of parked taxis and rickshaws, vendors selling all possible kind of things and what not.

Building on Bandstand

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:36:00 +0000

Bandstand is a promenade in Bandra west and the people living there supposedly build it. It is a nice place; there are a few cafes’ there. This place is one of the favorite places for couples to hang out.

The Performer

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:24:00 +0000

This is also from the same fair in Jogeshwari. When I went there with my camera, I saw a play going on with this guy dressed as a woman animatedly speaking something. I don't know what the play was about as it was in Marathi. A camera can get you a lot of respect. As I got there, they moved the kids out of my view and insisted that I sit on a chair.

Creative Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:27:00 +0000

Quite an unusual name for a restaurant. Don't you think? It is situated opposite the Phoenix Mall in Lower Parel, Mumbai. I haven't had a chance to try it out and I am really wondering what exactly is creative there.

Break Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:24:00 +0000

Some time ago, there was some fair kind thing happening in Jogeshwari and this is one of the ride. In the coming few days you will see more pictures from there.

Nest

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:55:00 +0000

Quite a few years ago, I thought of making a painting showing a nest on a tree wothout any leaves. I wanted to name it "Hope". I never made that painting but yesterday I saw something exactly in real life. This is a nest on a leaveless Almon tree in our housing society.

Almond trees shed leaves very quickly. In a matter of 3-4 days, they are completely naked and in another 3-4 days, they start having new leaves.

Taking a nap

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 08:40:00 +0000

Driving taxis and rickshaws is not a very easy job, as sometimes you have to wait for long time before you can get a fare. When you do get a fare. This rickshaw driver is taking a nap on the back seat of his rickshaw on a lazy afternoon. He gets the rest he needs and when someone comes to him, he will jump up, rub his eyes and will be ready to go. I like the kind of graphics they have in their rickshaws that include pictures of movie starts to other things like this hand and rose.

Padded Fire Hydrant

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:15:00 +0000

There are a few fire hydrants in our society but I am not sure if they will work should a need arise. I guess they are there more for compliance with rules than any other purpose. On of the fire hydrant is placed at a little awkward place. It is right at a turn and a little too close to the road. I have never seen or heard about anyone bumping into it but seeing it padded with tires makes me feel it had caused a few dents in some cars.

Priyanka Chopra

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:20:00 +0000

This is a Pepsi Truck on the Western express higway. On the left is the jhuggis that are now being pushed back fr the widening of the road. This picture is taken by my nephew Bharat.

pepsi priyanka chopra

Letter box

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:29:00 +0000

About 10 years ago, this box would have seen a lot more letter than it sees today even if there are more people living here. Not only in out society but also in the societies that are being build around ours.

Objects in the rear view mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:19:00 +0000

Bombay-Pune Highway, on the way to Lonavla.

Sunset at Juhu

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:18:00 +0000

This I think has to be the busiest beach of the world. You go there in the eveningand it feels like a Kumbh mela with half ogf the world converging at just one spot.

No globe

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:11:00 +0000

This is a lamp in out housing society. This has white globe on it which is missing in this shot because it was broken.

A bike and her mommy

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Parked in our building. I love the way the small bike is leaning on the big one as if to get emotional support

Auto Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:25:00 +0000

These are the auto rickshaws of Bombay. The drive very rash and if you hapen to be driving in Bombay you will find them as annoying as a pimple on the bum. Contrary to popular belief these drivers will often say no to you if they are not interested in going there. I have often been frustrated when noone of them would agree to go to Andheri Kurla road where my office is located.

Majas Bus Depot

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:48:00 +0000

This is Majas Bus Depot and this was visible from our staircase. Now the fourth building of Kalptaru is under construction that will block this view. I don't know whether to call myself unfortunate that I will not be able to get the view of Majas Depot and Aarey Colony or cal myself fortunate that I did get a view to begin with in a place where cutting down trees is not an issue and any piece of land is used for real estate development.

A little more about the buses. I am not sure when the BEST bus service started in India but you can see the buses are based on the red London Buses. The double-decker buses are also exactly like the London buses are or should I say used to be before they evolved. The BEST buses are the way they used to be.

Triclour and country's future

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 06:25:00 +0000

On the morning of Republic Day (26th January 2007) our society hoisted the tricolour Indian Flag. This is Manu (my son) on the right and Ritam (Manu's friend) with our national flag.

As a child we used to eagerly wait for this day and used to watch the parae on television without fail. After the parade, there used to be a flypast by the Indian Airforce fighters, helicopters and transport planes and our home was on the way to India Gate from their air strip and the planes used to fly past our terrace. So the moment the parade was over, we used to rush to out terrace to watch the planes.

Gradually the excitement surrounding the parade faded, we still watch but only parts of it and in Bombay, there are no planes flying above out house.

Tools of Trade

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:12:00 +0000

This is pretty much the investment required for opening a basic cobbler's shop. As I have said, the investment in getting the shop is nil. Same is the case for any business opened on the roadside on encroached land.

Objects in the Rear view mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:38:00 +0000

On Sundays I usually take some pics. If I find something interesting at home, I take pics of that or may go out. Most of the times I don't go out too far and just roam around in our housing society. On one of those days I took this picture of the reflection in my motorcycle's rearview mirror.

Security Guards

noreply@blogger.com (Mental Floss) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:54:00 +0000

The manpower in India is quite cheep. You will have to shell out a decent amount of money for skilled people but the unskilled labor can be hired pretty cheep. An example of that are the guards in our society. There are about 8 guards in the society. If there are eight of the, there is not need to say that they are not paid a lot. To make things worse, the work conditions are pathetic too. They have to work in a shift of 12 hours-from 8 till 8.

If we were living in a economy where manpower is not so cheep we would have figured out some other way to keep our buildings safe.