Written by London swaminathan

Date: 12 December 2015

Post No. 2384

Time uploaded in London:–18-20 AM

( Thanks for the Pictures ) 

DON’T REBLOG IT AT LEAST FOR A WEEK!  DON’T USE THE PICTURES; THEY ARE COPYRIGHTED BY SOMEONE.

I visited Mumbai in 2013 and 2015. During my first visit I covered only two places: Siddhi Vinayak Temple and Mahalakshmi Temple. This time I went to Vinayak temple again, but covered many more places including Taj Hotel, India Gate, Victoria Terminus and Nariman point.

Mumbai Stamp exhibition

I was going through the newspapers and found out that there was a stamp exhibition held for two days. I never missed the twice a year London Stamp exhibitions (Stampex). So I requested my friend to take me to Mumbai Stamp Exhibition held in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. There were lot of students visiting the exhibition. It was held by the post and telegraph department, and no private dealers were there. In London in addition to Royal mail stall, there will be at least 150 dealers. So I was disappointed, but yet there were display of Indian stamps. I bought some stamps in the stalls there. Next time they organise an exhibition, they must allow the private dealers to open stalls.

Mumbai Dried trees painted

One thing that attracted me was the painted and decorated trees on the road side. My taxi driver explained that many of the dried or dead tree trunks are painted and figures were carved out or drawn on it. It is a good idea which other cities could follow.

Tyres hung

I saw lot of yellow tyres hung on trees. First I thought that they were life buoys for the boats. When I saw more ad more at every corner, I asked my driver and he told me they were the shops who fix the punctures. Bombay is full of four wheelers and two wheelers. It looks like the puncture business is doing a roaring business.

Stamp Exhibition in Mumbai

Cheapest postage in the world

At the stamp exhibition I looked at the post cards and envelopes. I was surprised to read the price of a post card and an envelope. Probably this is the cheapest in the world. A Rs.2-50 post card can carry the message from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. In Europe the same distance will cover fifteen countries. The amount is only two and a half pence! Here the same will cost us 60 pence just to cover the area of Andhra Pradesh. Great Britain is similar to one state in India! To be precise just like Andhra Pradesh.

Rs 2-50 card

Rs 4 cover/envelope

Picture cards with land marks

Shivaji everywhere

I know Maharashtrians named their Railway Stations, air ports, and Bus terminuses after Shivaji Maharaj. I tried to take some pictures from the car. The security guard at the airport zone (Chatrapathi Shivaji International Terminus) shouted at me when I focussed my camera on the Shivaji statue. He might have thought I am a terrorist photographing a sensitive area. Even when my driver explained that I was just taking the photo of Shivaji statue, he was not convinced. We knew if we stayed there for a few more minutes, five police cars would come after us with blaring sirens and so we quit.

Room rents

When we came to know that Chennai airport is closed for a few days because of the rains and floods, we tried to extend our stay in Mumbai. But to our surprise no hotel room was available in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. Fortunately we got seats in direct flight to London. Room rents are almost similar to Western Countries.

Taj Hotel

We went to see the Taj Hotel opposite India gate. We were allowed into reception after passing through an electronic gate. We saw lot of illuminated Horse Carts carrying the tourists for a ride. India gate lights were switched off due to some navy Day meetings. We could see the ships with light decoration at a distance.

Sugarcane Juice Stalls, peanut vendors, balloon vendors were doing good business. A large balloon was sold for Rs.50. platform food stalls are found everywhere selling Vada pav.

Inside the Mumbai airport, I went through the duty free shopping area. There are two shops selling Gond Tribal drawings and artefacts. They are beautiful. Make sure you visit the stalls. The drawings are expensive.

Next time I visit Mumbai, I must see Juhu beach and Prince of Wales Museum.

Illuminated Horse Carts near Taj Hotel

Ships decorated with lights near India gate, Mumbai

Stalls at the Stamp Exhibition , Mumbai

–subham–