Have you visited Pheonix mall recently ?

Christmas and new year time is one when air has feeling of holidays in it. Every one kind of wants to have little relaxed time. Naturally, you need to go to places where such mood of celebration is there. Many people try to go out of places like Mumbai to enjoy the time. But then not all can go out. Some need to stay behind to run this always running city Mumbai. For such people, there are places which serve good during this time. One of the place is Phoenix mall. It is really a celebration time here. You just go and wander around. I did that just before Christmas day, and I can't believe I ended up spending close to 8 hrs just enjoying the food and environment. I had planned to catch up a movie, but once in, I did not need the feel of watching a movie. The atmosphere was astounding.

If you happen to be in Mumbai during new year eve and if nothing else is planned, then you may catch up some fantastic time in Phoenix mall. Go ahead and have a blast.

Mumbai turned Mahabaleshwar !

Mumbaikars are witnessing a strange weather for last couple. I guess, it all started with the introduction of cyclone "Ockhi". Things that never happen like rain in december was witnessed. It turned the weather altogether. For one day, Mumbai turned into Mahabaleshwar in many parts, especially in areas full of greenery. It was amazing to see a little bit of rain, along with cool ( really cool) breeze, wet greenery and a kind of mist, that enveloped the whole environment around. It was just mystical. Such days are very rare in Mumbai. I witnessed it for the first time. Thought to share with you here.

Houses of Gods

Somewhere enroute Alibaug from Mumbai, took a halt for breakfast. While waiting for every one to gather to begin the onward journey, tried killing time by taking some snaps around. There I found, this construction of these houses for the Gods, made by the mortal humans. Beautiful design and the steps to climb up for the God, are the things which caught my attention. I am just wondering, if it is the Coromandel King Superior cement or the Marble, used in their construction.

CSI Mumbai airport

This is one of the snaps taken at the Mumbai airport. It has been sometime now that this new architecture has been presented. But, even today, if we visit this airport, it definitely makes you take a minute and wonder about the magnificent architecture of the place. I really like this place and am always in an awe of the place. When ever I look at these huge pillars, they remind me of the Bodhi tree, under which Buddha sat and meditated and gained the knowledge of the world. Not that I have  seen Bodhi tree, but the way it was always pictured in our school textbooks, the structure goes very close to that. Just check this picture for instance.

 

PC:  http://threeroyalwarriors.tripod.com/bodhitree.html

And the huge very old style watch put just next to the pillar makes the snap even more wonderful. I would surely suggest you just to visit this place for the awesome architecture presented to us at the Mumbai International airport.

Rain Rain go away! Mumbai potholes are here to stay!!

(PC:http://www.mid-day.com/articles/repair-roads-before-monsoon-hc-to-mumbai-civic-body/17173154)

Last couple of days it is raining incessantly in Mumbai. As much as we love this heavily down pouring rain of Mumbai, we equally hate the water logging situations and the worst ever possible conditions of the roads. Well, may be because of the topography of the city, it is difficult to curb the waterlogging situations in pressure situations like heavy downpours. But, how can we not improve the quality of roads to sustain such heavy rains plus heavy traffic on it. It is totally a man made thing, which can be prepared as per our requirements. Now, Mumbai rain and Mumbai traffic are no new things which changes in every monsoon. While the traffic situation continues to grow as always, the rain here also show similar nature in every monsoon. There are few bouts of heavy and constant rains for couple of days across four months. Rest of the days, either it does not rain, or it is controlled showers of 15-20 minutes at a stretch.

If we know so well the pattern and intensity of the rain, why is it difficult to take measures and make roads which can sustain this level of rain. Are we saying that, the heaviest ever kind of rain happens only in Mumbai and nowhere else? If it rains like those horror days of July 26, its a different case. But present day rain is no where close to that and still the situation is at the worst.
I happen to cross a small patch of road near Wadala bridge every day. Believe me, that patch is the best example of patched up road. It has everything. It starts with partly made cemented road. In between there is I guess Tar road. And to make up, at some places you will find patches of paver blocks, which at most places have come out. This patch has been dug across the length many a times (atleast 6-8 times) in last 1-1.5 years for some pipeline work by the work. It goes without saying, once dug, it remains in that situation for atleast 3-4 weeks. Once this pipeline work is done, the patch work done to so called levelling the road is just an another addition to all ready present patches. Crossing this patch is no less than taking an experience of trekking on the roads or driving on those wild life safari roads.

Today morning while reading newspaper, I went blank on reading "पाऊसच एवढा पडतो, त्याला पालिका काय करणार?" ( http://www.loksatta.com/mumbai-news/shiv-sena-chief-uddhav-thackeray-back-bmc-over-pothole-issues-1514074/) a quote given by Present Shivsena Chief Uddhav Thakrey. I wonder, is it the same person, who is instigating us through his editorial columns in Samaana to attack Pakistan and finish it once and for all? You sound helpless in front of a regularly occurring phenomena of rain, and how do you plan to attack and conquer a nuclear weapon owning country! I have no more words to add  to it. There is no positivity in his words or seem no intention to overcome this issue. All they can do is to fill up those potholes and be happy with that. They don't seem to have any plan to eradicate this whole problem of getting potholes itself. I wonder, if we can find and elect people who actually have a solution to the day to day problems of common man.

Thunder at Essel World

One of the rides, that can make your head spin, even by mere watching it, is "Thunder"  or "Thunder Bolt" as every body around me was mentioning its name. This ride has many facets:

First of all its sitting arrangement. Its designed such that you will experience both free falling with your face down or looking up towards the sky.

Initially, you just feel that it will move like a pendulum. But then at one point, it crosses the point of maximum height and take you to the other side of the circle.

Worst part is, there is no pattern, you can recognize. At every moment, you keep wondering, whether,you are going fell down on your face and other way. 

Those two minutes may feel like an unending procession. And only relief you get is when the ride is over. 

In the end, most of the people keep wondering why the hell did I decide to go on this ride. But then there are few, who return to the ride for second round and make you feel, "Really!!"

Restaurent review: Indigo Deli, R city mall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai

 Recently, we visited a very nice place to dine out in Mumbai. We wanted to try some real good Italian food. Italian, because, it provide many vegetarian options and it used to be our surviving kit, during our stay in Europe. So, with few recommendations, we decided to visit the Indigo Deli, located in the R city mall in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.

Indigo Deli -Interior (Photo courtesy -http://www.thecityguide.in/Scoops/Food-And-Wine/2013/February/19/Indigo-Deli-opens-fifth-outpost-in-Ghatkopar)

Indigo Deli -Interior (Photo courtesy -http://www.thecityguide.in/Scoops/Food-And-Wine/2013/February/19/Indigo-Deli-opens-fifth-outpost-in-Ghatkopar)

One of the most interesting aspect of European restaurants is their interior. It takes you to a different zone. Especially, those little old restaurants, with some associated legacy. It may be a sports bar, or a cafe, the interiors are awesome. Little darkish, with only available lights in the  shades of yellow, mostly dim. At other times, may be we won't appreciate such a light arrangement, but for those, who at some point of time got acquainted to European's day to day ways of living, would slowly get used to it and start appreciating it over the time.
Similar experience, you can get at Indigo Deli. With little odd ceiling, usual dim light, hand written menu on a black board  in a corner, this place assures a unique ambience, which is relaxing.
The sitting arrangement is also fabulous. You can either have a regular Table-chair arrangement, or there are kind of coupes to sit for a group of around 5-6 people. The coupes also give kind of privacy, if that is what one is looking.  From the major part of the restaurant, people get a view of the chef's place. This could be interesting to see, if a special dish is in preparation. Although, I  didn't get to see any such show.
Coming to the delicacies, the place offers a huge variety to vegetarian as well as non-vegaterians plus a spectrum of drinks.It was really difficult to put to order, because, there were so many things to try and we really didn't wanted to miss any. The server was real patient and gave us enough time to converge to a few dishes. So, finally we ordered a seriously garlic bread, along with soup.
In between, I ordered one of the dishes, I have been longing to eat for some time. It was Cheese Fondue. It was a mix of 3 types of cheese. The taste was little different from the Swiss Fondue, I have tasted earlier. But, the dish did its work. We wanted to spend some quality time chatting, and that's what, cheese fondue helped us to do. It is not a dish, which requires all your attention. You can eat one cheese enveloped bread, enjoy the taste and can chat side by side, with out any big breaks.
Once, done with Cheese fondue, we shifted our attention towards the next dish, Cannelloni of creamed spinach, corn and philly cheese. Now, this is a filling dish, oozing different tastes in mouth in every bite.One dish has 3 rolls, and by the time, you reach the last roll, you realize, it is difficult to go that last mile. But, you don't leave it unfinished and somehow cross the line.
All this you get to experience at Indigo Deli. To add to the experience, while walking out, you can not ignore a glance at different products on retail counter. And the glance does its work. You will no doubt end up buying either the baguette or dough nut or some of the interesting bakery items presented well on the counter.
The only thing which might not be in the favor of the restaurant, is its location. It is located in the mall in such an isolated area, that, you will surely miss, if you are not specifically looking for Indigo Deli. Even, the direction boards to the restaurant are not easily visible. One reason behind such an isolated location, might be to avoid unnecessary crowd of the mall, walking next to the restaurant. But, that thinking is way to much to provide an isolated place.

Football Ground under water

One fine rainy day when Football Ground went under water in Mumbai