Mumbai - A city, A wonder

On September 2011, I paid a visit to the most popular city of India - yes, the city of Mumbai. The commercial capital, the fashion capital, the city that never sleeps....you can call it by any name you want.

The city featured at the number one position on my bucket list. Years of planning and dreaming finally worked out. It was a short vacation of 4 days. I landed in the city on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi. What caught my breath at first was the marvelous aerial view of the city, its skyscrapers, the vibrant coastline and various other aspects that I got to view as the arircraft gradually descended from the skies.

Sitting by the side of the window, at that moment I wished that by some magic or sorcery, the plane got stuck in the clouds so that I could keep gazing at this marvelous view. Though short lived, yet the view was etched in my heart, never to be wiped out again.

The charm of the city caught my fancies the moment I emerged out of the airport. I could feel the vibrancy in the air. A certain aura of passion, excitement and freedom seem to be wafting in the air. I questioned myself as to whether this was for real or was it just another facet of my overtly profound imagination. Well, it was definitely the latter...confirmed by the fact that such deep emotional entourage faded into oblivion the day I left the city.

It was monsoons in Mumbai at that time. Incessant rains poured through the day and night. But that did not dampen my spirits of exploring the city. Each day was an adventure of sorts. I walked down the busy streets of the city, trying to soak in the life as much as I could.

I went to the bustling area of Goregaon Station. I could see people scrambling and running to get the train that would take them to their destination. Yes, the local train...the lifeblood of the fashion capital, without which the city would come to a standstill. The entire area was filled with different kinds of shops. From food joints, to gift shops, garment shops, repair shops...you ask for it and it is there.

From Colaba to Mahalaxmi and even to Bandra....I travelled across the lenght and breadth of the city inspired and awed by its beauty (a blend of modern and colonial feel).

Mumbai is definitely a dream city...a city that speaks of life, that breathes of joy.

Few Pictures depictong the spirit of Mumbai...amazing!
(Clicked by me. So please use after seeking permission or else it will amount to plagiarism)

A gift called Life

Just the other day I heard that my friend died in a car crash. Shocked and devastated, I realized how delicate life is. Well, I always knew how precious life is...but this news dawned on me the realization that life is too precious to waste on petty squabbles, hate, jealousy and various other such ill feelings.

I myself had got a second chance to live...and with this incident, my conviction that each of us should value each and every moment of our lives has become even stronger.

Life is a gift from the almighty...a delicate, beautiful and wonderful gift creating magic that all of us dream of. Where on one hand it has deep roots that makes it strong, on the other hand it is soft as the stem of a sapling that can break any moment if one is not careful.

I feel privileged to have been able to take care of this wonderful gift and preserve it well...what more can I say.

I thank God fo everything...for such wonderful friends, a loving family and everything beautiful that surrounds me.

Here is a four liner that I dedicate to life:

"Gentle as the petals of a rose,
You steal my heart with your beauty,
A gift so divine and pure,
You'r the reason for me to be happy."

Hola to the animal kingdom-Mysore Zoo.

The Mysore Zoo, officially known as the "Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens", is one of the largest zoos in the whole of Southern India. Come here and you will get to see different species of birds and animals. The zoo was built in the year 1892 and is spread across an area of 250 acres.

There are different varieties of birds that you can get to see. Right from the Golden Pheasant to cockatoos, peacocks, there are innumerable birds to be found. Walk down further and you will enter the world of the animals. A whole range of four legged creatures will greet you with their varied sounds and calls. The most impressive ones are the giraffes.