Miscellaneous Mumbai: Final Photos

 Polluted, reeking of drying fish (on Madh Island, where I have been staying)...Mumbai is NOT someplace where I can imagine settling, even though I love the wonderful, joyful Ananda community here. I have struggled to breathe, struggled to be impervious to the trash, the emaciated street dogs, the horrific traffic in the main part of the city. It cannot be done. It was a worthwhile visit, to be sure... and photographing all the fascinating sights did make it more bearable. 


Isn't it always ironic when bad air makes for beautiful sunrises and sunsets?!? This one was captured out of the window where I stayed in the huge highrise as friend Chitra's guest (she has a 2BHK flat).


Horrific, smelly, disgusting... what an eyesore, and it is EVERYWHERE!!! 


Washing, bathing... this bay has to be horrifically polluted, attesting the hardiness and adaptability of the Indians who maintain their lives here. 



On a major highway.... you can see just how horrific the air pollution here is... 



View out my window at the more historic and stylish part of a Madh Island apartment complex... 



I climbed the stairs of this 36 floor highrise to get this photo. The pollution and haze obstructs what may otherwise have been a most magnificent view over the ocean. 


The newest complex on the island and completely devoid of character and charm, this highrise boasts of 36 floors, luxury apartments and a very hazy view over the ocean on one side, and the surrounding, "posh" society buildings on the other. They DO at least create some lovely landscaping here, including the beautiful bouganvillias you see in the foreground here. 


Because of the drying, smelly fish, the sky was constantly buzzing with flocks of these kites, circling on the ocean breezes and hoping for a chunk of fish! Not sure how often they managed to snatch a bite, but they must have succeeded because of how prolific they were there!


A bit of crazy culture: Since Chitra declined a unit with AC, the building's manager/owner simply left the hardware for such units protruding from the walls! SO unsightly! And yet, these units are really fairly pricey... a true wonder that such a disregard for aesthetics is tolerated, but there you have it! 






Like the gentleman you see here, I collected my wordly goods and high-tailed it for Pune! 

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