Photographs - In and around Colaba Causeway.

The best part of walking around in Colaba Causeway is the varied street photography option it provides. 

During my recent walk there, I concentrated on clicking the sort of wares/items on display in the roadside stalls and shops, around this place, and the stall owners. If the glitzy & glamorous shops do tremendous business, these street vendors give them a tough competition & run for their money. 

I got off at Churchgate station and walked up to Flora fountain.  Spent some time observing the place and moved ahead towards Kala Ghoda.

Click on the images to view them in bigger size.

Near Flora Fountain. ITC Gold Flake cartons, my dad's brand. Instantly caught my attention.

Even before reaching Kala Ghoda area - A bookstall owner setting up his business.

Shawls, stoles and more.

The stalls which sell varieties of
yummy sandwiches.

That was an interesting break for me.  After enjoying a leisurely 'spicy sandwich', walked ahead. Around Kala Ghoda too, one can find many stalls selling eatables like chaats, sandwich and also something to quench your thirst.  Some of the stalls are of Sugarcane juice, tender coconut water and fresh fruit juices.  One may also opt to have a bottle of chilled Pepsi from the nearby stalls.

                              

Feeling thirsty? You can help yourself to a glass of Mosambi juice
or tender coconut water- at Kala Ghoda.

Something for kids too!  The colour paper fans which tiny tots
love to watch when the paper blades turn swiftly on a breezy day.

Enough time spent near Kala Ghoda area, I walked towards the Colaba Causeway, my much awaited destination.  The street is always bustling with people - tourists, visitors, hawkers, students and many others with varied interests.

A rather relaxed morning it is!

              

The typical Colaba Causeway special - accessories' stall.

Colaba Causeway - A stall of a different type. One needs a whole day to
check out the sort of items on display & sale 

Colaba Causeway - Another interesting stall
for some souvenir shopping 

Varieties of stone beads. match your dress with one of those neck pieces.

While one strolls on the street, it is difficult to pass by one of the most popular eatery on Colaba causeway and not hop in for a quick bite.

At the 'Leopold cafe'!! The dessert options are just irresistible - Colaba Causeway

After walking leisurely along the street, I finally took the turn to the left and walked up towards the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel, heritage wing.  The Sun was right above my head and the heat was a bit too much to tolerate.  Slowly, I continued walking from there towards the Gateway of India, to check the sort of activity on the street there.

Gateway of India

Oh the place was full of energy - hundreds of visitors! And the busy hawkers striking their deal.

Taare zameen par
Those simple cubes with alphabet on them - make your own bracelet, anklet, key chain...
whatever you fancy - Near Gateway of India

The owner of those 'stars' - Near Gateway of India.

On a hot day, this hawker keeps himself cool with a towel on his head!
But it is business as usual - Gateway of India.

Yeh Bambai hai babu - sabko kaam karna padtha hai!
An aged gentleman offering some discount - Near Gateway of India.

The bubble - Near Gateway of India.

An amazing walk with interesting views!

BORN to be FREE!

One last look at the enclosure!
Gopa (standing closer to the tree) and Jespah, near the stone.

22nd September, 2013 is a joyous day to many of us who are regular visitors and volunteers at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali. Well, why am I writing about the day being 'joyous' to me...more than anybody else it is a 'significant' and a 'jubilant' day to 2 of the cutest lion cubs of SGNP!

JESPAH, walking out of the enclosure alone.

It's the story of JESPAH & GOPA, the apples of the eyes of their mother 'Shobha', the proud lioness and father 'Badshah', the undisputed lion King (until recently)of SGNP. Badshah passed away a few months ago, after leading a healthy and full life. The cubs turned 2 years today and were officially regarded as 'adults', capable of embarking on a journey in the wild.  What better gifts could they have asked for or got even without having to ask for - FREEDOM.  The well nursed and healthy cubs were released into the protected area for the very first time, without their mother keeping a watchful eye on the two pranksters.

Within moments comes GOPA, out of the enclosure

Pretty 'Jespah' emerged out first, from the enclosure around 10.00 am, under the watchful eyes of the forest officials & staff.  Soon her brother, the handsome 'Gopa' walked out in a gait befitting a king! It was a moment which will be etched in our memory for ever. The safari van in which the whole team was witnessing this event was awestruck and the only sound heard inside was 'click click and more click'.

Jespah trying to cajole Gopa to enter into a mock fight.

The 2 cubs, unmindful of the presence of the safari van, inspected the immediate surroundings with the same curiosity with which the kittens explore the place when they take their first step away from their mother. Jespah seemed more ecstatic and was trying to involve the 'stiff-upper-lip' Gopa in a mock fight. But Gopa felt the need to know his territory well and more than anything else wanted to mark his territory immediately. He looked around and walked peacefully towards a log, inspected if there was anything interesting. 

Some manicure & pedicure?  
Gopa Sharpens his claws as Jespah waits for him to finish his activity.

Even as Jespah watched her brother sniffing and moving around cautiously, Gopa went straight to the nearby tree and immediately sharpened his claws and scratched the bark of the tree and growled. He seemed to be getting slowly used to the independence and the wild environment around him. In the next few minutes, even Jespah checked her paws, licked herself a bit and wondered if they would go deeper in to the jungle.

Within a short period Gopa was ready and looked in total control and seemed he was already taking the reigns of the forest in his hands. He continued to walk away from the enclosure into the woods...with his sister tailing him and occasionally playing with the creepers and small plants along the way. As they both wandered here and there, Gopa made sure he rubbed off his scent on the trees or sprayed generously the tree barks with his urine. 

GOPA - closeup

Gopa, establishing his territory by marking with his scent.  Jespah watches his brother's antics.

Playing with the creepers - Jespah.

Oh, I am going to grow my ROYAL  MANE - Gopa.

The team watching the kids, I mean the cubs...Oh no, no, no... NOW, the 'adult lion & lioness', had a lump in the throat as we drove out of the forest. 

I AM THE KING - Gopa.

Being Naughty & playing Hide n Seek, is top on my priority list - Jespah.

Three cheers to Gopa and Jespah and the forest office staff who were taking equal care if not more than the cubs' mother Shobha !! Happy Birthday, kiddos - May you rule the JUNGLE!

Up above the World so high!

My first blog and here I am, posting of being in the sky...floating on dense layers of milky-white cloud! 16 August 2013, I was in Mumbai airport, waiting for my flight to be announced.  The flight took off on time and there I was, on a partly cloudy and partly bright day cruising smoothly in the sky.  It was a special day.  I was on my way to Bangalore or should I be more specific - Bengaluru?

I was visiting my hometown to attend my 'School Re-union'. I was going to meet my friends of 28 years after 28 long years! I was on cloud9...literally!! The bright sky and the amazing views from the aircraft's window only added to my delight.

I Was there...Up, above the World! So high!

Landed in Bangalore and hopped out of the airport within no time!

A view from the window - shortly before landing!

Had a great re-union at my school. We laughed, remembered the good old days, made fun and also sat in our class - on the now-tiny benches and spent the morning reminiscing our school days.  My friends, teachers and a few other staff members left with happy memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.