I chanced upon a list of 100 things to do in Mumbai and almost every one of them brings back memories of times spent gallivanting around the city! Each of us have our own 'things to do' in the city we love, the city that runs through our memory veins and the city that has the ability to bring out the best AND the worst in us.
I reproduce this list as is here with my comments on some of the things I have done, yet to do and my own interpretation of some that I am attached to:
1. Get high on Qawaali at Haji Ali - Not sure about the Qawaali but totally worth walking through the slippery, rocky path that lead up to the Masjid and then do the 'maatha teko'. Make sure the head is covered as a form of respect to the place. It is a norm.
2. Spot a celebrity at Juhu PVR
3. Sit down on the steps of Asiatic Society Library - and watch the world go by!
I reproduce this list as is here with my comments on some of the things I have done, yet to do and my own interpretation of some that I am attached to:
1. Get high on Qawaali at Haji Ali - Not sure about the Qawaali but totally worth walking through the slippery, rocky path that lead up to the Masjid and then do the 'maatha teko'. Make sure the head is covered as a form of respect to the place. It is a norm.
2. Spot a celebrity at Juhu PVR
3. Sit down on the steps of Asiatic Society Library - and watch the world go by!
4. Crane your neck to see the Bombay Stock Exchange building - The site of watching brokers and those alike on-the-go and on-the-phone. For a photographer, it would be fun to capture images and expressions of these individuals.
5. Spot a leopard in IIT Bombay Campus. If you can't, settle for an IITian girl.
6. Enjoy a play in Prithvi Theatre - absolutely! A personal favorite!! And not to forget, some hot coffee to sip along with some brownies too. If keen on dinner, some aloo paratha with kaali dal and raita!
7. Enjoy the NCPA in a play or opera - their experimental theatre showcases some of the best talents in the city! Also, it can be followed by some good road-side Chinese food if those stalls still exist considering, they were banned at several places.
8. Find some calm around the Banganga Tank - I'd say, visit this place during the Banganga Festival. It is priceless!
10. Haggle for non-antiques in Chor Bazaar - they say, you never know what will be handed to you!
11. Face the high tide on Worli seaface - and thereafter, munch on some grilled veggie sandwiches and gulp down Energy! If its a rainy day, how about a cup of tea and some butta?
12. Bet money on race horses at the Royal Western Indian Turf Club, Mahalaxmi - More of a fashion show and since I am always low on cash, I would avoid this one. However, I would recommend some nice brunch at Gallops and watch the horses trot.
13. Dangle your feet, lean back on your palms and enjoy the sea from the Marine Drive promenade - Apply #7 and latter part of #10 here as well.
14. Go for a heritage walk in the Naval Dockyard (first Sunday of every month, Indian nationals only) - Wow, this sounds intriguing! Will try it the next time I am in the city.
15. Explore the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. A National Park in the city limits? Oh yeah! - Totally recommend this one. It seems there is less-travelled path that leads form Borivili to Powai (An IITian friend did this one!) and some of us friends did attempt on this one, after bunking a dreary lecture but 15 minutes into the stretch and we returned!! But do recommend Kanheri Caves and rock-climbing.
16. Soak in the Victoria Terminus - Delight to the eyes at night and something to soak in! Also, interesting is to hop on a 'shared' cab ride during peak times from here. You'd be surprised at the kind of people that would ride with you.
17. Watch DDLJ at Maratha Mandir - Come Fall in Love?? Totally cheezy! I am not a big fan of this movie yet, everytime it plays on TV, I tend to grab some moments from there. While Maratha Mandir has set a Guiness Record by showing this movie for the last 14 years (kidding!!), I am not sure how it'd be to watch it from there. Nevertheless, visiting MM is an fun considering the booming multiplexes that have made these ornate structures redundant.
18. Park at Hard Rock Cafe and mourn for a minute the death of mills around Parel.
19. Jog on Juhu Beach - The stretch next to the Godrej Bungalow near Holiday Inn is one of the better stretches to jog on. And not to forget, the indulgence of GOLA and all of #84 out here! Also, some kiddie moments of merry-go-rounds out here could be a good laugh.
20. Sit on a tetropod at Nariman Point in midnight till the police constables shoo you away.
21. Stand still on the flyover bridge at Dadar station and watch the crowd whiz by you - And if you are a woman, be prepared to get molested with n number of men touching you briskly. Yet, changing the trains from western to central lines at Dadar station at peak times is an experience to cherish. Kudos to people I know who did this every single day and to those who do so as I write!
22. Find out who is grittier You or Crawford Market? - The butchers' market area is extremely gory and I do think I can ever visit that part again!
23. Find the Fort Wall - now this would be interesting. I know that the Khaadi Bhandaar, Horniman Circle Gardens, Kala Ghoda are all part of this wall and mesmerizing to the core! But will have to see if I can spot the Wall beyond those vendors. On another note, a total must is to (a) enjoy the Kala Ghoda Festival (#92) and (b) watch a play/musical at the Horniman Circle Gardens. This can transform you to a magical night of light, color and grandeur.
24. Ride the Victoria on Marine Drive.
25. Discover the city's Jewish connect at Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue - added to my to-do list. I learnt more about this during the 26/11 attacks on the Jews.
