And for a Friday in Mumbai, with the marquee Tata Marathon just concluded and a welcome return to the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, some thoughts….. some musings…..
The 18th edition of the Mumbai Marathon, after a gap of 2 years due Covid, was expectedly as much a fantastic spectacle as a world class marathon, the largest in Asia, with some of the best global Athletes participating. Whilst the 21 and 42 kms are for the professionals and the really committed and well trained amateurs, the Dream run of 7 km and Sr. Citizens of 5 kms is full of fun, vigour and showcases the diversity and the large heartedness of Mumbaikars as they all come together to support /donate to a cause close to their hearts. The robust charity programme includes individuals and corporates who can run for a cause. It’s just fabulous.
It was equally refreshing to be back at the Taj Palace hotel. It’s throbbing lobby, the excellent service and refurbished Coffee Shop and Restaurants; good to see the hotel in full occupancy and back to its iconic best. However I notice the number of foreigners are less. It seems a lot of domestic travelers and families raving it up with all the celebrations that were missed in the last two years. The upper middle class are all catching up in family time. Wedding receptions, birthday events and just Gettogethers. Domestic travel has returned with a vengeance.
Mumbai is changing; massive new infrastructure, new metro lines, coastal road and feeder bus routes. Let’s celebrate the remake of Mumbai the tolerant way, the caring way, the SEEGOS way.