In catching up with my travels from India I would be remiss not to write about a favorite activity in Mumbai.
As I mentioned in my previous post, Marine Drive is a 3 kilometer long walk-way along the one of the bays in Mumbai. Here on any given day you find people walking, jogging, or just sitting and admiring the view. But the drive ends at Chowpatty Beach. We decided that near sunset would be the ideal time to take the kids for a walk along the drive and see the hustle and bustle of Chowpatty.
The timing was perfect. The weather was cooling (or as cool as it gets in Mumbai in October) and the sun was spectacular setting against the backdrop of the city. Along the way my son was amused my the trained monkeys and I was amused my all the young couples sitting and cuddling, watching the sun set.
Sunset over the bay on Marine Drive
A local admiring the beautiful view
At the end of the drive we walked along Chowpatty Beach as the vendors and visitors were starting to emerge. Food vendors were already set up selling street treats and cool cucumber with spicy pepper sprinkled on top. My favorite vendors were the ones selling rides on little toy cars. They charged few rupes to sit in a little toy car as the vendor ran pushing the child rider around the beach. (I wanted to put my son in one but my grumpy son did not want to leave the stroller). The only thing missing was the bubble-vendor. The last time we came to Chowpatty in 2010 and at the Gateway of India, there were several vendors selling a cheap toy that created bubbles. My husband and I desperately wanted to buy it for our son because it looked so entertaining. But he was too young in 2010 and asleep at the Gateway. Here, they had not come out yet. My son didn’t seem to care but I was heartbroken.
A bubble vendor setting up as we leave
Chowpatty Beach as the locals start to come out
