Walk This Way

Have you ever seen a queen's necklace in person or in the movies? If you haven't or can't recall, I bet you can imagine one quite easily anyway. There's a huge necklace found in Mumbai, India that is as grandiose, sparkly and  eye-catching as a queen's necklace ought to be. However, I am not talking about a piece of royal jewelry here, but a magnificent shoreline facing the southwest called Marine Drive.

This picturesque stretch of road is three miles in length, running from Chowpatty beach all the way down to the Brabourne Stadium, and ends a little bit further down where the National Centre of the Performing Arts is . It curves gracefully along the shores of Back Bay, which in turn lends a welcoming backdrop to this affluent and charming area of Bombay.

On a clear evening, the night lights illuminate Marine Drive in a manner which produces a most dramatic effect. Viewed from a high-rise, the entire stretch of road beams golden bright, you can very well imagine it on her highness' neck. The sight is  truly something to behold, and just stare at and revel in for hours.

In the afternoons, this boulevard, with its palm tree lined walkways, is a sure fire hit with the hopeless romantics. The play of hues in the clouds, of pinks, purples, blues and oranges, and the colors of the rainbow from the rays of the setting sun, will strike a sensitive chord in your hearts. One can't help but be reminded of those gentler eras we only get to read about now in historical romance novels.

Don't miss your routine morning jog on account of your vacation. It might just turn out to be the best run you'll have in a long while and one you'll not soon forget. Who can be insensitive with such delightful and refreshing an ambience, with the cool morning breeze blowing through your hair, the rising sun peeking behind the rows of Mumbai's more artistic buildings as if playing hide and seek, and your ipod, your constant companion, playing the soundtrack of your life. It feels so great, you won't even mind looking like a fool with that big grin plastered on your face. Heck, everyone there is probably wearing the very same grin for all you know.

This might as well look like any other bayside street for some, but for those who know, this strip of road is the path to a genuine Mumbai treasure.