On Cloud 9 and under an umbrella in Mumbai

On Cloud 9 and under an umbrella in Mumbai

Mumbai in August can be charmingly unpredictable and yet smiles at you in a myriad ways. From couples huddling under an umbrella to a bhel-puri seller ready to prepare a helping for you from under his weather-beaten umbrella… from beach photographers protecting their DSLRs to your hotel staff running out with you under an umbrella helping you get in a cab! Yes, everything is endearing to the heart because it has an uncanny way to connect to people and places that reach out in as unpredictable ways as the rains in Mumbai. So keep in mind that in August you must bring along umbrellas wherever you go in Mumbai.

On Cloud 9 and under an umbrella in Mumbai

I have stayed in a number of hotels in a number of places all over the world and have faced disinterested to snooty looks and haven’t liked it at all. But at the JW Marriott near the Sahar Airport in Mumbai, as I entered the dining area I could see that the servers were busy preparing for the evening tea. Here I was, tired and hungry after enduring a delayed flight and so I walked up and asked, ‘I know I am late. But is it still possible to have my lunch?’

The fellow did not hesitate even for a moment before answering, ‘Yes sir, you may. A few of the dishes have been removed from the buffet lay but I shall ask a waiter to help you out.’

In less than the time it takes for hunger pangs to befuddle a mind, a waiter appeared and escorted me to the buffet tables and informed me the names of the dishes that were no longer there but could be brought if I wished to have any. I looked around and said, ‘This should be enough. Thanks.’

Now here I was absolutely sure of a haughty rebuff, maybe a silent one, but this readiness to serve overwhelmed me. And then I began noticing that everything about the hotel had good taste and sufficient space subtly juxtaposed to give any traveller a feeling of warm welcome.

Our room was comfortable but we hardly had the time to go beyond cursorily loving the wood lattice-work on the panels inside the room, the large windows with a view, and a responsive and patient reception. The artworks in the lobby and elsewhere had a semblance of uniformity, the cleanliness even inside the elevator was reflective enough for candid shots… well, even the apples on a plate in my room inspired me to click!

Marriott wooden lattice design is obvious even inside the lift…

Artworks in a hotel are the first things that inspire people to come again…

Wooden lattice design that is found all over the hotel…

Later, as we stood in the lobby discussing the merits of venturing out in a weather that seemed to encourage rain-bearing clouds hover ominously, I heard a voice, ‘Can I help you, sir?’

The petite young lady was the concierge and when we asked if going to Bandra Bandstand and Juhu were possible, she said, ‘Why not? Mumbai is so much like a sonnet in this weather. You will love it.’

So we called one of those app-based cabs but by the time it reached, the rain began. The cab was a few feet away in the open and the lady came to our rescue again. She walked up and said, ‘Don’t worry about this rain. It comes and it goes. You’ll get enough time to shoot some great pictures but I’ll get you two umbrellas. You need to protect your gear, you know.’

When we appeared reluctant, she added, ‘You can return the umbrellas here at the desk when you are back.’ And so, the trip to the famed Bandstand, Juhu, and a ride over the Worli sea-link happened. Look at a few of the shots that I am sharing and you’ll know all that an umbrella does… in a city like Mumbai.