Sunday 17 July 2011
Return to the 'Bay: The Rotten Apple of Mahalakshmi
Return to the 'Bay: The Rotten Apple of Mahalakshmi: "When you buy an Apple product you pay more and you know your paying for the sleekness and sexiness of the product in addition to the superio..."
The Rotten Apple of Mahalakshmi
When you buy an Apple product you pay more and you know your paying for the sleekness and sexiness of the product in addition to the superiority of the product your purchasing. What your led to believe when you join the elite Apple club is that you’re buying into a certain lifestyle. When you walk into an i-store anywhere in the world you are wowed and wooed by every single product.
I bought my laptop 2 years ago in Dubai and although I had my misgivings on coping with the Mac technology the cool dudes who sold me the computer were so confident and guaranteed every assistance that I bought my laptop on the spot. I just felt so comforted by the service I would always get and the fact that my Apple would never be infected with any worms and it was so very strong that it was impenetrable by any virus that I made a huge mistake and did not buy the warranty extension.
When I moved to Mumbai I never gave the Apple another throught as there were always so many computer dudes in India I was sure I would get better service if I ever needed it for my Apple In India. I was so very wrong. My biggest mistake was not sending the laptop to Dubai to get repaired when it got ill 3 weeks ago. The nearest i-store closest to my house in Mumbai is 45 mins away and is located in Mahalaxmi just off Breach Candy. It is one of the most inconvenient places to go to as it’s the hub of the most persistent traffic and is also area with no parking.
The worst part about having one's laptop repaired in Mumbai,is the i-store and the supposedly 'Apple compliant' service it purports to offer. The store services the millions in South Mumbai who have expended a considerable sum of money to own Apple products and they have ONE single individual doing all the technical work from the actual assessment of what is wrong with your product to what it will cost to repair, which in my case was something he required to look up on the laptop (no one else seemed to be capable on going online and doing that for him) while another angry customer let all the staff in the shop get a piece of her mind.
I have been to the Apple stopre 4 times in the last 4 weeks as they never could tell me exactly what was wrong during the first two visits or how long it would take to repair thereafter. What truly irritated me was not the fact that my computer’s health deteriorated further while in the i-store but there was a complete disregard for my time and for the amount of fuel I would have to expend to make another trip to the store. I have honestly had better service in Indian government run organisations, which is really the worst insult I can bestow on anyone or anything!
I refuse to rave and rant any more about how the Mahalaxmi i-store done me wrong. Instead let me share my list of a few things to do when your stuck in Mahalaxmi (everyone with an Apple anything in the area pay attention you will need to spend time pottering about there). First a confession although I should inform everyone of the very famous temple there I did not visit it as I was not in the state of mind to a place of religious worship in the mood I was in. In hindsight I really should have, as God may have been able to pave the path to some service and straight answers across the street. Fear not as I have not disposed my Apple I know there will be so many opportunities to visit the temple. Maybe i should skip the store next time and just take the laptop to the nearest house of God!
When I am a bit peeved I turn to chocolate and the Cinnabon outlet a few shops away was an ideal distraction. I had been pre-warned my Cinnabon fans to insist on freshly baked stock so that is exactly what I did. My first Cinebon experience in India did not disappoint the chocolate mini bite sized ones were yummy but I counted two less pieces then I would receive in Dubai and pointed it out to the management who informed me in India you only get 4. Do note that although you receive two less the pricing is almost the same as Dubai.
My next find was treasure, which I know prove to be a burden on my wallet for years to come. I cant think of enough nice things to say about the small shop full of natural, ayurvedic creams, potions and every conceivable beauty product barring very disappointingly make up. Forrest Essentials is just an amazing store with a super energy, feel and chic packaging. I walked in off the street only intending to do some browsing but the Jasmine oil they had on the burner coupled with the products on display were so enticing that I was relieved when they accepted my credit card. The shop was a real find for apart form the lip balm, night cream and Jasmine Oil I discovered a natural calendula mosquito repellant spray, which is something I have sought far and wide after suffering from the increased barrage of monsoon mosquito bites.
Another place which is worth the visit is the Shraddha Charitable Trust, which is an organization which helps mentally challenged young adults to attain financial independence. They are located across the street form the i-store in a public school behind the Ghetto Pub. When I got to Shraddha's premises and I saw the lovely ladies who teach the challenged young people handicrafts and those that manage the store where the handicrafts are sold all I could do was admire those who strive to assist others better their lives. I did buy a few wonderful gifts, which I wanted to send my friends back home and I will honestly say not one was bought out of pity.
Their products were so very professionally made that you really cant find fault with them and when you consider every product is handmade you know your getting more then value for your money. You can purchase number unique handmade items like jute bags, greeting cards, floating candleholders, gift boxes and funky ethnic handbags and stationary. My favorites were the cute ethnic handbags and the unique extremely well crafted disposable plates made from leaves.
As I paid for the goods I bought at Shraddha I actually considered giving them the entire sum of money I had saved up to get my computer repaired, well barring what I had spent at Forest Essentials but as I need the computer to make my daily bread I have to put that thought on hold. They do accept charitable donations and they are happy to provide you with a tax certificate as well for the same so if your feeling charitable do pay them a visit.
As the Aroma Thai Foot Spa located a few doors away from the i-store I assumed it probably gets a lot of customers from the i-store that need soothing down. The spa looked and felt relaxing to be in and the staff were warn and very kind but the chairs that they use were so uncomfortable that even if the session was wonderful i can only best describe it as adequate.
If anyone from Apple or i-store is reading this for the love of God do something. I intend to own my laptop, i-pod and apple accessories for a long time I really cant afford to spend so much on Cinnabon, Forest Essentials and reflexology! Train more technical staff for your stores or just remove all Apple service centers from India and give us an alternative as to how we can seamlessly repair our Apple goods.
I bought my laptop 2 years ago in Dubai and although I had my misgivings on coping with the Mac technology the cool dudes who sold me the computer were so confident and guaranteed every assistance that I bought my laptop on the spot. I just felt so comforted by the service I would always get and the fact that my Apple would never be infected with any worms and it was so very strong that it was impenetrable by any virus that I made a huge mistake and did not buy the warranty extension.
When I moved to Mumbai I never gave the Apple another throught as there were always so many computer dudes in India I was sure I would get better service if I ever needed it for my Apple In India. I was so very wrong. My biggest mistake was not sending the laptop to Dubai to get repaired when it got ill 3 weeks ago. The nearest i-store closest to my house in Mumbai is 45 mins away and is located in Mahalaxmi just off Breach Candy. It is one of the most inconvenient places to go to as it’s the hub of the most persistent traffic and is also area with no parking.
The worst part about having one's laptop repaired in Mumbai,is the i-store and the supposedly 'Apple compliant' service it purports to offer. The store services the millions in South Mumbai who have expended a considerable sum of money to own Apple products and they have ONE single individual doing all the technical work from the actual assessment of what is wrong with your product to what it will cost to repair, which in my case was something he required to look up on the laptop (no one else seemed to be capable on going online and doing that for him) while another angry customer let all the staff in the shop get a piece of her mind.
I have been to the Apple stopre 4 times in the last 4 weeks as they never could tell me exactly what was wrong during the first two visits or how long it would take to repair thereafter. What truly irritated me was not the fact that my computer’s health deteriorated further while in the i-store but there was a complete disregard for my time and for the amount of fuel I would have to expend to make another trip to the store. I have honestly had better service in Indian government run organisations, which is really the worst insult I can bestow on anyone or anything!
I refuse to rave and rant any more about how the Mahalaxmi i-store done me wrong. Instead let me share my list of a few things to do when your stuck in Mahalaxmi (everyone with an Apple anything in the area pay attention you will need to spend time pottering about there). First a confession although I should inform everyone of the very famous temple there I did not visit it as I was not in the state of mind to a place of religious worship in the mood I was in. In hindsight I really should have, as God may have been able to pave the path to some service and straight answers across the street. Fear not as I have not disposed my Apple I know there will be so many opportunities to visit the temple. Maybe i should skip the store next time and just take the laptop to the nearest house of God!
When I am a bit peeved I turn to chocolate and the Cinnabon outlet a few shops away was an ideal distraction. I had been pre-warned my Cinnabon fans to insist on freshly baked stock so that is exactly what I did. My first Cinebon experience in India did not disappoint the chocolate mini bite sized ones were yummy but I counted two less pieces then I would receive in Dubai and pointed it out to the management who informed me in India you only get 4. Do note that although you receive two less the pricing is almost the same as Dubai.
My next find was treasure, which I know prove to be a burden on my wallet for years to come. I cant think of enough nice things to say about the small shop full of natural, ayurvedic creams, potions and every conceivable beauty product barring very disappointingly make up. Forrest Essentials is just an amazing store with a super energy, feel and chic packaging. I walked in off the street only intending to do some browsing but the Jasmine oil they had on the burner coupled with the products on display were so enticing that I was relieved when they accepted my credit card. The shop was a real find for apart form the lip balm, night cream and Jasmine Oil I discovered a natural calendula mosquito repellant spray, which is something I have sought far and wide after suffering from the increased barrage of monsoon mosquito bites.
Another place which is worth the visit is the Shraddha Charitable Trust, which is an organization which helps mentally challenged young adults to attain financial independence. They are located across the street form the i-store in a public school behind the Ghetto Pub. When I got to Shraddha's premises and I saw the lovely ladies who teach the challenged young people handicrafts and those that manage the store where the handicrafts are sold all I could do was admire those who strive to assist others better their lives. I did buy a few wonderful gifts, which I wanted to send my friends back home and I will honestly say not one was bought out of pity.
Their products were so very professionally made that you really cant find fault with them and when you consider every product is handmade you know your getting more then value for your money. You can purchase number unique handmade items like jute bags, greeting cards, floating candleholders, gift boxes and funky ethnic handbags and stationary. My favorites were the cute ethnic handbags and the unique extremely well crafted disposable plates made from leaves.
As I paid for the goods I bought at Shraddha I actually considered giving them the entire sum of money I had saved up to get my computer repaired, well barring what I had spent at Forest Essentials but as I need the computer to make my daily bread I have to put that thought on hold. They do accept charitable donations and they are happy to provide you with a tax certificate as well for the same so if your feeling charitable do pay them a visit.
As the Aroma Thai Foot Spa located a few doors away from the i-store I assumed it probably gets a lot of customers from the i-store that need soothing down. The spa looked and felt relaxing to be in and the staff were warn and very kind but the chairs that they use were so uncomfortable that even if the session was wonderful i can only best describe it as adequate.
If anyone from Apple or i-store is reading this for the love of God do something. I intend to own my laptop, i-pod and apple accessories for a long time I really cant afford to spend so much on Cinnabon, Forest Essentials and reflexology! Train more technical staff for your stores or just remove all Apple service centers from India and give us an alternative as to how we can seamlessly repair our Apple goods.
Friday 24 June 2011
Return to the 'Bay: The Causway: Cheap and Cheerful day in Mumbai
Return to the 'Bay: The Causway: Cheap and Cheerful day in Mumbai: "One of my top choices for things to do if you ever find yourself with a bit of time to kill in South Mumbai is Colaba Causeway. It offers..."
The Causway: Cheap and Cheerful day in Mumbai
One of my top choices for things to do if you ever find yourself with a bit of time to kill in South Mumbai is Colaba Causeway.
It offers the perfect blend of entertainment, cheap buys to quell any retail therapy urges and it is a great to buy gifts for people who want something "Indian" or "antique-ish". Colaba Causeway can be described as part roadside Bazaar, part tourist trap and part Oxford street type (cheap to mid) range high street shopping.
So what exactly is the Causeway? well at one point and time, it was a stretch on land only accessible during low tide which was reclaimed to form a structure which connected the stretch of land between Colaba Island and Old Woman's Island the Southernmost of Bombay's 7 islands (for those who are unfamiliar Bombay consisted of 7 islands). Till this day Colaba Causeway is a significant road that connects the southernmost tip of Mumbai with the rest of the city.
To those who do not frequent Colaba the Causeway is just the road behind the iconic monument hotel Taj. A once beautiful avenue of buildings dating back more then a century bear their scars and stretch marks of old age. Many are in dire need of renovation and you really have to be patient and try to see their beauty these days. Most of the 4 and 5 storied buildings have been invaded by vendors who have encroached on ever spare bit pavement space under their turn of the century porticoed entrance arches.
At first glance the entire street looks like a shabby roadside bazaar a blight on the beauty of the splendor of grand old buildings. Then you notice that all the building owners at some point must have given up on trying to evict the vendors as every building has let out its road facing ground floor to commercial tenants. Today if you look past the vendors on the outer side of the porticoes you will find Benetton, Levis, Lees, Bodyshop, Nike, Reebok and other mid range high street shops.
Odd exotic shops bearing strange names with the words Arab and African thrown in, pharmacies, tailors, wholesalers, laundries, toyshops and florists. There are shops selling import-export rejects, the kind of labeled clothes sold in the UK and US which did not pass the mark to be shipped but look almost unto par with those that made it across the seas. So if labels matter to you the export rejects may be your thing, as they tend to have a very slight flaws that you cant usually tell. The vendors specialize in fake everything so if you want a fake T-shirt or watch I am told the causeway is the place to be.
Obviously there are also lots of touristy wears on display with touristy prices. However can convince the vendors that you are Indian (which I find very difficult) they tend not to quote unreasonably high rates to you. If you are an experienced bargainer the Causeway is definitely the place for you to test your skills.
If you need to buy gifts in bulk for friend’s abroad this is the place. My favorite gifts to give are beautifully carved wooden incense holders, faux antique compasses, faux antique early 19 century telephones, funky thick colorful resin bangles and multicolored glass bangles (both of which are so trendy these days) and so many bits of really good quality semi precious jewellery. If your into Indian clothes you will find cheap salwars there, the very popular harem pants, tie die everything (there are many kaftan shops which are very popular), huge cloth ethnic bags, inlay marble boxes and Rajisthani style mirror work cholis and skirts.
The Causeway is full of restaurants to suit every pallet. You can choose from North Indian to Chaat (roadside snacky cuisine), Parsi and Irani, Indian Chinese, Sandwich places, Coffee shops and Patisseries. My top tries are Delhi Darbar for Indian the must have is not a main but the roomily root its fantastic but I feel claustrophobic so I usually do a take away form there. Another place where you can have nice Indian kabobs is Cafe Leopold, which is quite a landmark as it was popularized in the book Shantaram. Unfortunately it was also the first location the terrorists struck in Bombay a few years ago fortunately the place survived and thrives more then ever.
If you want the best sandwich in Bombay head to the end of the Causeway to Paradise Restaurant a hole in the wall but clean and hygienic. Their mayonnaise is to die for. The chicken mayo sans and rolls are outstanding. Their chutney sans is super too. As far as patisseries and bakeries go Theobroma is legendary for their brownies. My favorite is something a dietician’s nightmare is made of the chocolate cookie brownie...so it’s actually a chocolate chip cookie topping on a decadent brownie. Theoborma also does a good smoked chicken roll and a good iced coffee.
If you are looking for a posher meal then you need to turn off the Causeway and walk a few minutes. The most expensive option is the Taj. Although this ones a hotel and not a monument it is steeped in so much history that I would describe it as a monument. It does has many nice restaurants and super ambience but it also the most expensive venue for a meal in the city.
Indigo is a restobar with a huge fan following. Its cuisine is Western Nouvelle/ Fusion. Busabar, right next to Indigo is a Pan Asian Restaurant, which has a good reputation though I cant, vouch for it. In all fairness my date for that meal was someone who is very allergic to nuts and I could not sample most of the dishes on the menu so its a must try again. If you want a good authentic Chinese meal I cannot think of a better place then Lings Pavilion. Words to the wise please do tell them what you expect from your meal. Indians tend to love their Indianised Chinese food so if you do not specify that is probably what you will end up with. Do note the drawback is the decor and general atmosphere of the restaurant its dingy and noisy they really need to do up the place.
The one place I can recommend for a nice meal, or just a quick bite, if you can get a table is the Indigo Deli. In my opinion it’s the shining star of the off Causeway restaurants with a great ambiance and a super menu. It deserves whole blog to itself but if you want a great sandwich, pasta or nicest ice cream with the nicest palette of flavors in Bombay that’s the place to go.
All in all who ever you are wherever your from and whatever your budget you will find something to do at the Causeway. If your a visitor to Bombay its one of those must not miss places.
It offers the perfect blend of entertainment, cheap buys to quell any retail therapy urges and it is a great to buy gifts for people who want something "Indian" or "antique-ish". Colaba Causeway can be described as part roadside Bazaar, part tourist trap and part Oxford street type (cheap to mid) range high street shopping.
So what exactly is the Causeway? well at one point and time, it was a stretch on land only accessible during low tide which was reclaimed to form a structure which connected the stretch of land between Colaba Island and Old Woman's Island the Southernmost of Bombay's 7 islands (for those who are unfamiliar Bombay consisted of 7 islands). Till this day Colaba Causeway is a significant road that connects the southernmost tip of Mumbai with the rest of the city.
To those who do not frequent Colaba the Causeway is just the road behind the iconic monument hotel Taj. A once beautiful avenue of buildings dating back more then a century bear their scars and stretch marks of old age. Many are in dire need of renovation and you really have to be patient and try to see their beauty these days. Most of the 4 and 5 storied buildings have been invaded by vendors who have encroached on ever spare bit pavement space under their turn of the century porticoed entrance arches.
At first glance the entire street looks like a shabby roadside bazaar a blight on the beauty of the splendor of grand old buildings. Then you notice that all the building owners at some point must have given up on trying to evict the vendors as every building has let out its road facing ground floor to commercial tenants. Today if you look past the vendors on the outer side of the porticoes you will find Benetton, Levis, Lees, Bodyshop, Nike, Reebok and other mid range high street shops.
Odd exotic shops bearing strange names with the words Arab and African thrown in, pharmacies, tailors, wholesalers, laundries, toyshops and florists. There are shops selling import-export rejects, the kind of labeled clothes sold in the UK and US which did not pass the mark to be shipped but look almost unto par with those that made it across the seas. So if labels matter to you the export rejects may be your thing, as they tend to have a very slight flaws that you cant usually tell. The vendors specialize in fake everything so if you want a fake T-shirt or watch I am told the causeway is the place to be.
Obviously there are also lots of touristy wears on display with touristy prices. However can convince the vendors that you are Indian (which I find very difficult) they tend not to quote unreasonably high rates to you. If you are an experienced bargainer the Causeway is definitely the place for you to test your skills.
If you need to buy gifts in bulk for friend’s abroad this is the place. My favorite gifts to give are beautifully carved wooden incense holders, faux antique compasses, faux antique early 19 century telephones, funky thick colorful resin bangles and multicolored glass bangles (both of which are so trendy these days) and so many bits of really good quality semi precious jewellery. If your into Indian clothes you will find cheap salwars there, the very popular harem pants, tie die everything (there are many kaftan shops which are very popular), huge cloth ethnic bags, inlay marble boxes and Rajisthani style mirror work cholis and skirts.
The Causeway is full of restaurants to suit every pallet. You can choose from North Indian to Chaat (roadside snacky cuisine), Parsi and Irani, Indian Chinese, Sandwich places, Coffee shops and Patisseries. My top tries are Delhi Darbar for Indian the must have is not a main but the roomily root its fantastic but I feel claustrophobic so I usually do a take away form there. Another place where you can have nice Indian kabobs is Cafe Leopold, which is quite a landmark as it was popularized in the book Shantaram. Unfortunately it was also the first location the terrorists struck in Bombay a few years ago fortunately the place survived and thrives more then ever.
If you want the best sandwich in Bombay head to the end of the Causeway to Paradise Restaurant a hole in the wall but clean and hygienic. Their mayonnaise is to die for. The chicken mayo sans and rolls are outstanding. Their chutney sans is super too. As far as patisseries and bakeries go Theobroma is legendary for their brownies. My favorite is something a dietician’s nightmare is made of the chocolate cookie brownie...so it’s actually a chocolate chip cookie topping on a decadent brownie. Theoborma also does a good smoked chicken roll and a good iced coffee.
If you are looking for a posher meal then you need to turn off the Causeway and walk a few minutes. The most expensive option is the Taj. Although this ones a hotel and not a monument it is steeped in so much history that I would describe it as a monument. It does has many nice restaurants and super ambience but it also the most expensive venue for a meal in the city.
Indigo is a restobar with a huge fan following. Its cuisine is Western Nouvelle/ Fusion. Busabar, right next to Indigo is a Pan Asian Restaurant, which has a good reputation though I cant, vouch for it. In all fairness my date for that meal was someone who is very allergic to nuts and I could not sample most of the dishes on the menu so its a must try again. If you want a good authentic Chinese meal I cannot think of a better place then Lings Pavilion. Words to the wise please do tell them what you expect from your meal. Indians tend to love their Indianised Chinese food so if you do not specify that is probably what you will end up with. Do note the drawback is the decor and general atmosphere of the restaurant its dingy and noisy they really need to do up the place.
The one place I can recommend for a nice meal, or just a quick bite, if you can get a table is the Indigo Deli. In my opinion it’s the shining star of the off Causeway restaurants with a great ambiance and a super menu. It deserves whole blog to itself but if you want a great sandwich, pasta or nicest ice cream with the nicest palette of flavors in Bombay that’s the place to go.
All in all who ever you are wherever your from and whatever your budget you will find something to do at the Causeway. If your a visitor to Bombay its one of those must not miss places.
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Return to the 'Bay: A day at the Museum
Return to the 'Bay: A day at the Museum: "The formerly Prince of Wales Musieum off Kala Ghodha is a super place to go when your down on your finances. If your an Indian its Rs. 30 pe..."
A day at the Museum
The formerly Prince of Wales Musieum off Kala Ghodha is a super place to go when your down on your finances. If your an Indian its Rs. 30 per adult less if your a child. If you are a foreigner it does cost Rs 300 quite a bit more but I think far less then you would pay to visit a museum in most countries of the world.
If you have no money well then I recommend you wander in and potter about the superbly maintained gardens of the museum and take in the beautiful architecture of the grandiose architectural structure that is the museum. It is simply iconic with a very distinctive dome and beautifully maintained gardens. If your a romantic sort of person you want to go there just now regardless of the rains to gaze upon the lone tree close to the central structure of the museum which is in full blossom with most beautiful pink flowers on display.
If you are lucky when you visit you may come upon a bazaar of tribal or other goods from all over India. The best new is that it costs nothing to go potter about and browse around. bear in mind through that if you want to see the treasures the museum bears you will have to pay but really my coconut vendor charges me more for one coconut (feel free to let me know if I am being robbed blind) so I really do not think its much even on a very financially challenging day.
A word of warning to those who have not tread upon a tourist spot frequented by domestic Indian tourists, tolerance and patience are the only things that will enable you to enjoy the experience. You have to bear in mind that most Indian tourists who end up at the museum are from small towns and villages so there may be a lot left to desire if you thought the ettiquette of the average Indian city dweller was appauling. On the other hand they may think just as poorly of you, your clothes etc etc so be patient. I strongly advise visiting the museum at an odd hour of a working day.
It is super to know that the government is working hard to develop, renovate and work with the museum on many new an innovative acitivities, including lots of activities that involve educating children. It may be worth looking up the museum's website for more details.
Now I love heritage structures like the Museum and loathe the newer steel and concrete messes that suddenly seem to sprout up in the city. However I do not hate the all new steel funky steel structure that houses a brand new ticket book and a very cool looking shop. The shop looked very tempting but was shut as it was still being stocked. I have to say I will go back just to potter about the shop which I am sure will be another thing one can do for free in Bombay.
Now a word of caution to all those Indians that can pass off as foreigners, get some identification stating your Indian. And note speaking a number of Indian languages will not help at all it may just fuel the war of words you will have with people who think your out there to fleece them of Rs. 270 more the foreigners pay into another language.
When you enter the main building you enter a foyer in which you get a taste of all things to come. You can see some mogal miniatures, a few ancient structures which probably pre-date Christ by mellenia and lots of other things. What I was thrilled to see was an information desk well stocked with people who were happy to point out to you where what was! And if you wanted to you could rent audio guides in many languages form them, which I did not do.
On both sides of the main foyer are galleries and long porches that house sculptures and stone tables form the Buddhist and Jain eras. You also can see very ancient statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses which were exquisite. What I was not keen on is the fact that they were not protected by glass and anyone can reach out and literally paw or grab at them. I remember this was the case when I had gone to the museum as a school girl. Whats amazing is that everything seems to still be there and now its quite simply as my 5 year old puts it awesome.
I do know that at the end of the left porch is the museum's natural history section which children absolutely find amazing as they have stuffed animals and birds of every imaginable variety and they make up in very well replicated models of things they do not have in clay. I unfortunately am a tremendous animal lover and could not bear to see dead stuffed animals but my 5 year old did go on another visit with friends and the children were quite fascinated.
I was unable to enjoy the first floor which housed some lovely exhibits form other Asian countries as I found that part of the museum very claustrophobic. There were no windows or air outlets at all, loads of people and no airconditioning or any other means to keep air circulation going.
What I did enjoy were two of the famous Chinese terracotta warriors which were on exhibit along with a lot of other Chinese artifacts which were wonderfully preserved and displayed. That section of the museum was air conditioned, I am sure the Chinese must have insisted so their exhibits stay in the condition that they were sent.
A feature I noticed most males seemed to enjoy, no not nude anythings there were none, was the numismatic section. That simply somehow translates into the museum's coin collection. It was interesting for a quick walk about to me but there were men gawping at coins as I would inside a Chanel window for the sighting of their latest handbag.
The highlight of my visit was the recently opened Jehangir Nicholson wing which houses a cross-section of modern Indian art. I have to say I was expecting a bit more then just air conditioning and the extra security from the exhibit, which was great, but I feel something was amiss or very predominantly lacking. Perhaps it was just the fact that I had worked myself up to expecting much, much more form the art on show.
Anyway so if you really are short on cash or you have people of various ages visiting from out of town and they expect culture, entertainment, experiencing Indian culture the museum is your best bet. If really your totally broke then the just walking the grounds and taking in the majesty of the building will make you feel rich in your experiences if not your wallet.
If you have no money well then I recommend you wander in and potter about the superbly maintained gardens of the museum and take in the beautiful architecture of the grandiose architectural structure that is the museum. It is simply iconic with a very distinctive dome and beautifully maintained gardens. If your a romantic sort of person you want to go there just now regardless of the rains to gaze upon the lone tree close to the central structure of the museum which is in full blossom with most beautiful pink flowers on display.
If you are lucky when you visit you may come upon a bazaar of tribal or other goods from all over India. The best new is that it costs nothing to go potter about and browse around. bear in mind through that if you want to see the treasures the museum bears you will have to pay but really my coconut vendor charges me more for one coconut (feel free to let me know if I am being robbed blind) so I really do not think its much even on a very financially challenging day.
A word of warning to those who have not tread upon a tourist spot frequented by domestic Indian tourists, tolerance and patience are the only things that will enable you to enjoy the experience. You have to bear in mind that most Indian tourists who end up at the museum are from small towns and villages so there may be a lot left to desire if you thought the ettiquette of the average Indian city dweller was appauling. On the other hand they may think just as poorly of you, your clothes etc etc so be patient. I strongly advise visiting the museum at an odd hour of a working day.
It is super to know that the government is working hard to develop, renovate and work with the museum on many new an innovative acitivities, including lots of activities that involve educating children. It may be worth looking up the museum's website for more details.
Now I love heritage structures like the Museum and loathe the newer steel and concrete messes that suddenly seem to sprout up in the city. However I do not hate the all new steel funky steel structure that houses a brand new ticket book and a very cool looking shop. The shop looked very tempting but was shut as it was still being stocked. I have to say I will go back just to potter about the shop which I am sure will be another thing one can do for free in Bombay.
Now a word of caution to all those Indians that can pass off as foreigners, get some identification stating your Indian. And note speaking a number of Indian languages will not help at all it may just fuel the war of words you will have with people who think your out there to fleece them of Rs. 270 more the foreigners pay into another language.
When you enter the main building you enter a foyer in which you get a taste of all things to come. You can see some mogal miniatures, a few ancient structures which probably pre-date Christ by mellenia and lots of other things. What I was thrilled to see was an information desk well stocked with people who were happy to point out to you where what was! And if you wanted to you could rent audio guides in many languages form them, which I did not do.
On both sides of the main foyer are galleries and long porches that house sculptures and stone tables form the Buddhist and Jain eras. You also can see very ancient statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses which were exquisite. What I was not keen on is the fact that they were not protected by glass and anyone can reach out and literally paw or grab at them. I remember this was the case when I had gone to the museum as a school girl. Whats amazing is that everything seems to still be there and now its quite simply as my 5 year old puts it awesome.
I do know that at the end of the left porch is the museum's natural history section which children absolutely find amazing as they have stuffed animals and birds of every imaginable variety and they make up in very well replicated models of things they do not have in clay. I unfortunately am a tremendous animal lover and could not bear to see dead stuffed animals but my 5 year old did go on another visit with friends and the children were quite fascinated.
I was unable to enjoy the first floor which housed some lovely exhibits form other Asian countries as I found that part of the museum very claustrophobic. There were no windows or air outlets at all, loads of people and no airconditioning or any other means to keep air circulation going.
What I did enjoy were two of the famous Chinese terracotta warriors which were on exhibit along with a lot of other Chinese artifacts which were wonderfully preserved and displayed. That section of the museum was air conditioned, I am sure the Chinese must have insisted so their exhibits stay in the condition that they were sent.
A feature I noticed most males seemed to enjoy, no not nude anythings there were none, was the numismatic section. That simply somehow translates into the museum's coin collection. It was interesting for a quick walk about to me but there were men gawping at coins as I would inside a Chanel window for the sighting of their latest handbag.
The highlight of my visit was the recently opened Jehangir Nicholson wing which houses a cross-section of modern Indian art. I have to say I was expecting a bit more then just air conditioning and the extra security from the exhibit, which was great, but I feel something was amiss or very predominantly lacking. Perhaps it was just the fact that I had worked myself up to expecting much, much more form the art on show.
Anyway so if you really are short on cash or you have people of various ages visiting from out of town and they expect culture, entertainment, experiencing Indian culture the museum is your best bet. If really your totally broke then the just walking the grounds and taking in the majesty of the building will make you feel rich in your experiences if not your wallet.
Thursday 9 June 2011
Return to the 'Bay: Finally a Salon that does not ....
Return to the 'Bay: Finally a Salon that does not ....: "Salons in Bombay as they are usually small and cramped, have very low or no standards of hygene and the staff is just untrained, uncouth and..."
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