Half the Story

15/06/2026

Some moments bring together everything you love. In my case, Mumbai, transformative infrastructure, and the husband.

Experiencing Mumbai’s Aqua Line Metro and Coastal Road together is a reminder of what bold urban ambition can achieve. These projects showcase world-class engineering.
The Aqua Line Metro slices through the city underground, cutting hours off your commute with speed, comfort, and seamless connectivity. As the city’s first fully underground line, it tunnels beneath dense urban sprawl and even under the seabed, a marvel of precision engineering.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Road lets you cruise the western shoreline, reducing travel time while adding a scenic edge to your drive. Built on reclaimed land, this eight-lane expressway eases congestion and showcases cutting-edge urban construction.
Mumbai’s infrastructure leap is undeniably impressive, but it is also complex. While these projects are engineering masterpieces, they come with real ecological and social costs. Large-scale reclamation along the coastline disrupted mangroves, intertidal zones, and local marine habitats, affecting biodiversity. Altered shorelines can change natural water flows and increase vulnerability to coastal flooding in extreme weather.
As cities invest in next-generation mobility, success must be assessed not only by engineering achievement, but by long-term environmental resilience and inclusive access.

08/06/2026

A few years ago, we witnessed firsthand, for the first time, a form of worship that involved a spirit entering a mortal body. At the moment, the husband didn’t say a word. Weeks later, he casually remarked that this was not unusual at all. He explained that he had seen people go into a trance before, and that such an occurrence was a crucial part of completing a Shastha Preethi.
In Shastha worship, the Preethi is not merely a prayer but a reciprocal act of hospitality, a way of honoring Shastha, inviting him and his entourage of guardian spirits to accept offerings, protect the community, and restore balance. The deity is believed to arrive not symbolically, but viscerally, through human vessels.
This year, I told my Peripa and Perima that I would attend their local Shastha Preethi and showed up at the designated hour. Perima urged me to sit closer to get a better picture, while Peripa sat right behind me, pointing out what was going on. “That is one of the people the spirit usually enters,” he whispered, pointing toward an elderly man seated a little ahead of us.
The husband had given me the impression that only one person would be possessed, and that this moment would signal that food would be served. What I learned instead was more layered. Any number of people, of any gender, may receive the spirit during a Preethi. Some sway gently, some tremble, some sit still. Among them, there is a designated bearer whose possession marks the conclusion of the prayers. When the spirit enters this individual, he rises and hands over a bundle of banana leaves, signifying that the prayers and offerings have been accepted and that the community may now partake of the prasadam.
The visual language of the Preethi was unmistakable. The men sat bare-bodied in plain white cotton veshtis, with sacred ash smeared across their foreheads and chests. The women brought color and abundance with their silk saris, jasmine in their hair, and gold jewelry. The setting was solemn yet joyous. As the drums beats grew faster and chants rose in crescendo, it became clear that the Preethi was not about possession, but presence,the certainty that the divine had been invited, welcomed and honoured.

01/06/2026

Three curious, loud, and excitable children joined a guided marine walk by Experiences and discovered a whole new way to see Juhu beach. It was an evening of discovery, advocacy, and wonder; proof that when you slow down and look closely, even the most familiar places can reveal extraordinary treasures.

The tidal pools became classrooms. Hermit crabs scuttled and squabbled over shells. Snails clung stubbornly to rocks. Every few steps brought pointed observations, rapid-fire questions, and bursts of excitement. The walk was a lively learning experience.
Then came the moment that stopped everyone in their tracks, even as they stepped cautiously closer for a better look. A hook-nosed sea snake, one of the most venomous snakes in the world, showed up in the shallows. We watched, tensed and mesmerized, as someone gently picked it up and tossed it back into the ocean.
Towards the end of our walk, we spotted a pearly sea anemone, closed tight in its tidal pool. The guide tried to build a small moat around it to keep it covered with water and encourage it to open. In the process, a tiny hermit crab was inadvertently trapped. This did not go unnoticed. Our littlest explorer fiercely chided the grown-up, strongly advocating for the crab’s freedom, much to everyone’s amusement.

Even the smallest creatures deserve our care. Take a walk, observe, and discover why protecting our beaches matters.

We ended our adventure by dipping our feet in the waves and building sandcastles.

The children came surprised that the beach was not dirty and left filled with wonder, declaring Juhu Beach an exciting place.

25/05/2026

Musafir took us on a private forest hike at SNGP’s Manpada Forest Zone, just a 10-minute walk from home.

The trail is about 4.5 km and moderate in length, but overall an easy climb. It involves a little scrambling in places, with rocky sections and uneven ground, so good hiking shoes are a must. SNGP, one of the few national parks inside a city, stretches over 104 square kilometers, a mix of rolling hills, streams, and historic paths. It supports a very high biodiversity, including over 1,000 species of plants and hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, and insects. Our guide believed that the British had tried to create an exotic botanical garden here, surrounding the manmade reservoirs in the park.

While this is marked as a bird-watching zone, no birds were spotted during our walk. However, there were lots of butterflies throughout the trail. The guide was especially warm and engaging, lending LO her butterfly identification book, which turned the hike into a hands-on learning experience. LO was thrilled, carefully lifting her binoculars to her eyes every now and then, fully immersed.

The hike peaks at a plateau with panoramic views: on one side, lush paddy fields and the rolling hills of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and on the other, the urban sprawl of Thane–Mumbai, a striking contrast between nature and city. The morning started cool and shaded, so I dressed LO in full pants and full sleeves in thicker material, perfect for the forest canopy. However, once we reached the open plateau, the sun made them too warm. LO grew uncomfortable and was eager to head down quickly, get home, and change. Once back under the shady canopy, the relief was immediate. She didn’t complain but later, at home, changing clothes felt like the final reward of the morning.

At the end of the hike, we visited the beautiful butterfly garden at the entrance. By then, LO was confidently identifying multiple butterfly species on her own.

So bring your little explorers along and let them experience the wonder of hands-on learning in the heart of the forest that is called the lungs of the city.

18/05/2026

When I saw and her son dancing their hearts out at Noel Alexander’s workshop, it brought an instant smile to my face. a viral choreographer known for his electrifying energy and signature style, had taken social media by storm with his Kaantha choreography. The choreography is a mesmerizing blend of contemporary and folk elements that makes every move feel both effortless and powerful.

With some research, I discovered that the same workshop was happening nearby and perfectly matched our dates in India. I thought how wonderful it would be for the LO to experience it. I initially considered taking her myself, but I can’t dance to save my life or yours. I was filled either dread and consternation until I hit upon the idea of sending her with her older cousin. Alas, her cousin was not free, but it turned out she was busy attending Noel’s workshop!

I quickly rushed over with the LO and dropped her off for her very first dance workshop in India. From the moment she stepped into the studio, the atmosphere was electric. The room pulsed with music, laughter, and movement. Noel is known for his ability to break down even the most sequences steps into easy steps, while keeping the energy high and the excitement contagious. Even then, the choreography was admittedly challenging for the LO. So, she chose to sit out and watch.

Even though she had been too shy to try, she brought home the joy and energy of the session.

08/05/2026

04/05/2026

Most people ask if Greece is fun, scenic, warm, or welcoming, and my mother asked if the people were beautiful. My mother’s first and only question was, if the people are truly drop dead gorgeous. You can guess this question comes from beauty being equated with the flawless form of Greek Gods. No, Amma, the streets are not filled with Hrithik Roshans. Instead, beauty appears in small, human gestures.

Greece revealed itself not as beauty but as generosity. A local deli owner stepped in and told the little one that she was no longer selling ice cream that night, gently conspiring to help a mother say no. When a city tour bus driver realized we had been scammed by a competing agent, he waved us aboard and carried us to our destination for free. On our last night, we wandered into a small, family-run restaurant, ordered dinner, and asked if they could warm up some leftovers from lunch for the little one. Not only did they agree, they did so with genuine warmth. They even apologized for accidentally pouring gravy over her rice and offered to replace it if she did not like it.

Beauty does not always announce itself. Sometimes, it helps you along the way, and lets you leave feeling looked after.

Save this as a reminder that beauty is not always what we expect.

27/04/2026

Brettos also offers an ouzo tasting, but that was not for us. Having tried the anise-based spirit at our hotel earlier, we already knew. We’ve reached that age where a single sniff of harsh local spirits is enough to send you reeling—no tasting required. Instead, we lingered over mastiha, the aromatic resin distilled from the Chios mastic tree, a gentler and more approachable expression of Greek distilling. Since antiquity, it has been used as medicine, perfume, and culinary treasure. Greek and Ottoman physicians prescribed it for digestion, oral health, and as a mild antiseptic. Modern studies confirm its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Today, it flavors liqueurs, pastries, desserts, and cocktails. Serve it chilled as an after-meal digestif, or lighten it with dry sparkling wine and soda water.
Then came other liqueurs—fig, citrus, herbal blends—playful and bright, each a tribute to the enduring craft of Greek distillers.
The tasting felt like a small, intimate way to experience Greece.

Holiday spirit >>> all other spirits

20/04/2026

Olive cultivation in Greece is not an agricultural activity so much as a way of life. Olive trees have grown here for over 4,000 years, shaping the landscape, the economy, and the cuisine. Olive oil sits at the heart of Greek culinary culture. It is not merely a cooking medium but a daily staple. With some time to spare in Athens, we decided to follow through on our plan: an olive oil tasting. A quick search led us to Brettos, often called the oldest bar in the city, tucked into the narrow lanes of Plaka.

Plaka is colourful, crowded, and cheerfully touristy, filled with little shops selling souvenirs, soaps, ceramics, and sweets. We were told the tasting would need a little time to set up, so we used the excuse exactly as intended; wandering, shopping, exploring, and enjoying.

Back at Brettos, we descended into a cool cellar to taste the essence of Greece.
Four oils, four regions, four personalities: crisp Koroneiki from mainland Greece, fragrant Kolovi from the island of Lesvos, layered Kolovi from the hillsides of Lesvos, bold Lianolia Kerkyras from a 100-300 year grove in Corfu. Side by side, the differences were striking. The host was gracious throughout. She smiled, sharing stories of sun and soil, all while explaining, encouraging questions, and not in the least begrudging the LO’s enthusiastic sampling.
Tasting olive oil, properly, is about understanding terroir, variety, and care—much like wine, only older. Modern producers combine centuries-old tradition with precision harvesting, early-press milling, and quality control to create oils that are internationally celebrated for aroma, complexity, and polyphenol content. Olive oil isn’t just flavor; it is Greek history, geography, culture, mythology and modernity compressed into droplets of green-gold.

13/04/2026

While we didn’t get to climb it, we did see the Tower of Winds, the Greek precursor to Jantar Mantar. Where Jantar Mantar represents mature astronomical instrumentation serving both science and astrology, the Tower of the Winds represents early applied astronomy serving civic life.

The Tower of the Winds is one of the earliest known clocktowers in history. Sundials etched into its exterior tracked the sun’s movement, while a water clock inside measured time even when clouds veiled the sky. Additionally, the tower functioned as an ancient meteorological station. A bronze weathervane once spun atop its conical roof, pointing toward the active wind deity. The combination of solar, wind, and water systems made it a multi-functional scientific instrument.

The tower was built to serve both civic and scientific needs. Unlike temples built to honor gods, the Tower of the Winds stands at the intersection of astronomy, engineering, and philosophy. It reflects a shift from purely religious monuments to functional architecture.