More of Mumbai: The Main Beach and The Ananda Cafe

In the "chic" part of Mumbai, the new Ananda cafe is an oasis... a respite from the noise and craziness of the second largest city in India!  (It's metropolitan area has a population of over 15 million.)

 

On my second day, I accompanied my good friend Aryavan to the Ananda Cafe, located in the upscale part of Mumbai. It is also, strategically, very close to one of the most popular beaches in town (the name of which I have since forgotten).

This relatively new Ananda creation was positively astral! It was a true oasis away from the noise, chaos and craziness of the city streets outside of its doors. It offers a largely western fare, along with delicate desserts. I had a cup of tea and a lovely chocolate tart to go with it. 

In keeping with the neighborhood, the style is very chic and westernized: 






By contrast, the scenes on the nearby beach were thoroughly Indian, as well as fascinating and fun! 

There was a vast assortment of makeshift vendors; myriad, aromatic cafes whipping up huge quantities of curries; an "iceman" carting block ice on a bicycle; several women doing real "tatoos" on all those they could snatch (hint-- see next blog entry on how I was grabbed!);  groups of festive folks wanting to take selfies with the ONLY Westerner on the ENTIRE beach (yes, I was the only white face for miles around, to be sure) ...and so much more...in short, QUITE the spectacle! Enjoy the scenes below:


Aunts, sisters, cousins... I was surrounded by this extended family of beautiful women and commandeered to be in their photos!

Same group...the boy in the corner slyly snuck in... !


Too cute... who mimicks who? Balloon mirrors unhappy girl, or girl mimicks upsidedown "happy" face?!?!


Enamoured with this crazy duck float, the young girl takes possession of it! 


Quite the festive mob scene... congregated to continue the celebration of Diwali, the equivalent of the western new year. 

So many weird and wonderful edibles at the myriad beach stands...
I dared not sample any, concerned  as I was about hygenics... 


Unfortunately, I was unable to descretely capture their faces, so had to content myself with the sweetness of fully bedecked mother contrasted with her totally naked child!


What could be better than cricket on the beach?!?
This game, brought over by the British, is a favorite, much-beloved national sport of India. 


Curry? Red dahl? Not quite sure...couldn't ask... they did not speak any English.
It was so bright and beautiful, and the aroma...quite tantalizing! 


"Indoor" market... hmm....perhaps they add a real "roof" in the rainy season!??!


And... where would India be without the importation of such delicacies from America??!! (Sarcasm noted??!! I HATE the influx of the worst of Americana into this country and culture. Starbuck's, KFC, Domino's pizza, McDonald's...have infiltrated all the major cities now. An absolute CRIME, if you ask me!!!)


Another angle of the happy multitudes cavorting under the baking Indian sun. Even though it is almost November, apparently the weather NEVER changes in Mumbai... and there are only slightly varying degrees of "hot" here! Nonetheless, all the beach goers are fully clothed! Go figure.... 


"The iceman cometh"...on a BICYCLE! Well heck, you gotta do whatever works for you, right?!?




I need to be calmed down, so...YES! I WILL have some kulfi, pronto!!!!


You have never seen SUCH a display of shlocky, plastic junk in all of your lives... !


On the other hand, these monster ears of corn looked QUITE enticing!!!




SO very colorful, no?!!? One of the many wonderful aspects of India... 


MORE junk food!! This is what came up when I googled "cotton candy": 
"Perversely enough, cotton candy was invented by dentist William Morrison, with the help of confectioner
John C. Wharton"...
Yes, another "wonderful" bit of Americana to help ensure the rise of diabetes in this country!!!

Chat: a traditional, savory snack sold by street vendors in India.
Puri: a type of fried, Indian bread.
Mahalaxmi: Goddess of wealth and abundance.
See the connection?!?! No??


This female tatoo artist was NOT thrilled about my photographing her...
Not sure why... could be good marketing!
(I never COULD understand etching skin with something so permanent...ever!!!
How strange, the human creature... )


Make sure to bring YOUR stomach HERE...this very minute!!!! 


So colorful... ain't she sweet!??! 



Comments

  1. DiegoNovember 27, 2022 at 2:59 PM

    What a great experience, Sheri! By the way, you are wrong, people want to appear in pictures with you not because you are the only white face all around, the reason is because you are the only person who is wearing sneakers on the beach!! 😂😂

    ReplyDelete

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