The multifaceted city reveals a different color to each visitor. It must be the dynamics of the city that give this feel, both being a boon and a curse-as association with the place is redefined for a nonmumbaikar with each visit.
Often found myself encountering a new individual(city) in each of my visits.
The marine drive ,the diamond necklace of the dreamland welcomes visitors with party, love, sale, tears, gossip, passion, and life.
Tourist marvels at its spontaneity, artists find inspiration and new tales to paint the canvas on the streets, Shopaholics finds peace in the street markets. What is a greater joy than window-shopping and flaneuring through the shopping streets just appreciating the colors and vibrancy of them?
Image 2:Bandra-worli sealink(source:Sid Saxena),Image 3:Marinedrive (source: Satyajeet Mazumdar)
Migrants travel from miles to make their ends meet and with the dream of taking a leap in the economic ladder. This commercial center is where the heart is sold and the economy guides the change.
It speaks money but the heart bears the soul.
Order in the chaos, one quality most of the -Indian cities possess but at its best in Mumbai is what is best about the place. Scenes and frames change in seconds interval but that's the beauty of the place.
Mumbai dreams even in its sleep. It's the hope that leads time here and along the space transforms.
As a child, my association with Mumbai in the pool of nostalgia was with the marine drive, gateway of India, vadaa paav, the high rise buildings, busy streets, traffic, and the train-Mumbai local'.
It amused me for sure I guess.
The next visit was years later during the architecture course and this time I was determined to observe keenly. The childhood associations still clicked and struck as image-ability elements but observed details a bit more this time. A closer visual analysis of the motifs, materials, scale of buildings, architectural style and attempts to identify the period of construction of the building by observing them were some of the atrocities done in the second visit.
Image 5:(source:ar.Sarga GS)
I do relate to these actions as 'atrocities' now that the interest taken in looking at details made me miss seeing the larger picture which was 'the city' and its people.
Reading buildings on its own without understanding the symbiotic relationship they offer to the city and vice versa does not make sense.
In later visits observing people, their movement and the character of places and correlating the identities city offered in the various time of the day, turned to be an interesting hobby. This act on its own helped in discovering a Pandora of stories cracked by mere street exploration.
Among many ways to explore Mumbai if you have one day and a wish to capture first impressions best way recommended is to take a double-decker bus and roam the city. The views, streetscape offered from the bus at very cheap travel fare is amazing.
And the fact is not just you as a mere individual, it's often the company, the dialogues you share, and intention of the trail that leads to a chance of encounter to beautiful stories.
Let's observe more and share dialogues about the public spaces.
#traveltales #architectureappraisal #aamchimumbai #urbandesign #citystories #storiesofcities #thevagabondtales #traveltips #nonmumbaikarview #architecturetravel
nice photography sarga g s..