A very rich personality, someone who had all the good things in life, and was obviously out of shape, was woken up by a taunt, to get back into shape. Aka Abraham Lincoln, who grew a beard on the advice of a school girl. Our rich and wise man, is Anil Ambani. Anyone who goes for early jogs along Marine Drive, is familiar with this man's sincere commitment to achieve and maintain the goal he set for himself, to keep in physical shape. No matter how rich one is, each one has to work hard, to keep a non paunchy figure. This sincerity has earned him my respect.
I have started going for walks along the sea face, to motivate my daughter to become slim - a goal she has to achieve, in order to live upto the expectations of eligible bachelors. We also go to the Hanging Garden, via the secret steps. The garden is pristine, but the vehicles and stalls on its outskirts are a painful experience. Expensive cars are owned by rich people, who display their callous side by honking unreasonably, breaking the one way rule to suit themselves, eating and drinking and littering the road. The two gardens have fountains that are switched off by 8pm. So whenever we manage to visit during the 'on' time, it is a very aesthetic experience.
The problems along Marine Drive are caused by vehicles too. The police encourage 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers to park on the beach and the footpath along it. Pedestrians have to dodge vehicles while walking on the footpath, and the last straw that breaks the camel's back, is the audacity of the riders to honk nonstop when they approach pedestrians from behind.
Along the seaface, hawkers are all targeting the public to buy neon lighted bands, 'make-a-wish' lanterns, lighted up hairbands, tea-water-bournvita, When I used to visit the seaface as a child, I can recall only the freshwater coconut sellers and vendors roasting corn-on-the-cob. The problem with hawkers is that they make the beach their home. They live on the beach and use the sea as their open latrine. That is the dark side of allowing anyone to earn a livelihood unchecked. Sometimes, I almost feel that I'm walking along Dharavi. But the people are almost oblivious to the vicious circle that they create, when they provide sales for these squatters.
Now it is the rule that every walker has headphones plugged into their ears, or they are listening and chatting with someone on their mobile. And the 'selfie' fad is the most popular obsession I have observed. Once dogs had been banned from being walked along the seaface, but now, dogs are walked here and no one enforces rules that were once set,,,,,,,,and then the rules 'are forgotten'.
The majestic Saifee Hospital is aesthetically illuminated, a treat one can witness only as a night walker.
Nowadays, it is the wedding season and at the gymkhanas across the seaface, gaudily decorated and ostentatiously lighted up shamianas are seen almost daily. What makes me angry is that there are always people trying to cross the road randomly, braving the obstacle of having to climb over the cement road dividers. And of course, the 2 wheeler dare devils, who decide that they can speed and shout and 'enjoy' themselves.
As we take our round along the seaface, we observe the 'serious walkers' wearing expensive nikes and adidas shoes and the 'evening out' ones, who just prefer to sit along the platforms. The next category is that of the lovers, sitting very close to each other, some of them a bit apart-arguing with each other, and others with little kids playing nearby,,,,,,,every stage highlighting the time frame of the relationship.
The walk along the sea face, is a refreshing experience, in spite of the numerous downsides. God has made the sea have its soothing waves, that you can fine tune your ears to be able to hear. And the sky above which encompasses eternity, keeps me enthralled and motivated to walk along the shores of the Arabian Sea.
I have started going for walks along the sea face, to motivate my daughter to become slim - a goal she has to achieve, in order to live upto the expectations of eligible bachelors. We also go to the Hanging Garden, via the secret steps. The garden is pristine, but the vehicles and stalls on its outskirts are a painful experience. Expensive cars are owned by rich people, who display their callous side by honking unreasonably, breaking the one way rule to suit themselves, eating and drinking and littering the road. The two gardens have fountains that are switched off by 8pm. So whenever we manage to visit during the 'on' time, it is a very aesthetic experience.
The problems along Marine Drive are caused by vehicles too. The police encourage 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers to park on the beach and the footpath along it. Pedestrians have to dodge vehicles while walking on the footpath, and the last straw that breaks the camel's back, is the audacity of the riders to honk nonstop when they approach pedestrians from behind.
Along the seaface, hawkers are all targeting the public to buy neon lighted bands, 'make-a-wish' lanterns, lighted up hairbands, tea-water-bournvita, When I used to visit the seaface as a child, I can recall only the freshwater coconut sellers and vendors roasting corn-on-the-cob. The problem with hawkers is that they make the beach their home. They live on the beach and use the sea as their open latrine. That is the dark side of allowing anyone to earn a livelihood unchecked. Sometimes, I almost feel that I'm walking along Dharavi. But the people are almost oblivious to the vicious circle that they create, when they provide sales for these squatters.
Now it is the rule that every walker has headphones plugged into their ears, or they are listening and chatting with someone on their mobile. And the 'selfie' fad is the most popular obsession I have observed. Once dogs had been banned from being walked along the seaface, but now, dogs are walked here and no one enforces rules that were once set,,,,,,,,and then the rules 'are forgotten'.
The majestic Saifee Hospital is aesthetically illuminated, a treat one can witness only as a night walker.
Nowadays, it is the wedding season and at the gymkhanas across the seaface, gaudily decorated and ostentatiously lighted up shamianas are seen almost daily. What makes me angry is that there are always people trying to cross the road randomly, braving the obstacle of having to climb over the cement road dividers. And of course, the 2 wheeler dare devils, who decide that they can speed and shout and 'enjoy' themselves.
As we take our round along the seaface, we observe the 'serious walkers' wearing expensive nikes and adidas shoes and the 'evening out' ones, who just prefer to sit along the platforms. The next category is that of the lovers, sitting very close to each other, some of them a bit apart-arguing with each other, and others with little kids playing nearby,,,,,,,every stage highlighting the time frame of the relationship.
The walk along the sea face, is a refreshing experience, in spite of the numerous downsides. God has made the sea have its soothing waves, that you can fine tune your ears to be able to hear. And the sky above which encompasses eternity, keeps me enthralled and motivated to walk along the shores of the Arabian Sea.
