What is it like living in our neighborhood? I”ll try to paint a picture of our area, an area i’ve started to feel at home in and love, it’s got it’s own special charm, revealing new sides of itself to me each day…..
We live in a western suburb of the city of Mumbai called Andheri. http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=andheri+west&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=N&tab=wl
Andheri is divided into East and West and we live on the West side in an area called Versova. Today Andheri has a population exceeding four million making it one of the most populous suburbs of Mumbai.
The area we live in, Versova, is a beautiful and fairly quiet neighborhood with a famous beach facing the Arabian sea. The beach is an extension of the popular and crowded Juhu beach.
On this quiet and romantic beach you’ll find the Koli fishermen who lives nearby, young lovers close together escaping the streets for some time alone, families dipping their feet in the sea to cool themselves from the scorching sun, children taking a “joyride” on the exhausted and old horse who walks up and down the beach all day long…. men strolling together, talking as the sun sets on the horizon….
Versova Beach during the day.
Fishing is the primary industry in this area, at times during the day the air becomes thick with the smell of the fishermen’s catch of the day.
We usually buy our fresh fish from the fish market nearby in an area called Four Bungalows. The fish vendors are all women and they scream out their offers, almost throwing the fish at you. The variety is huge, live Crabs, Prawns, Pomfrets and hundreds of fish I cannot identify….we are eating our way through them one fish at a time, mostly steaming them with fresh coriander, olive oil, crushed garlic and green chilies..the fish is always delicious and fresh and this market in Four bungalows is apparently regarded as one of the better markets with high standards in produce and hygiene. Although upon entering the market it does appear to be anything but hygienic; flies cover the meat, cats and dogs are hanging around the market, sleeping in the heat or eagerly waiting for a piece of luscious fish meat. So far we have survived eating the produce and have loved every bit of it….
I love this guy!! He’s snoozing off to the sweet smell of fish……
Our building is on a small road currently under construction; for the last couple of months we’ve seen hundreds of workers dig out the ground to elevate the road level. They’ re making a cement road instead of mortar as the area is prone to destruction during the monsoon every year. It’s been really interesting to watch the progress. We’re still waiting for the final result and the monsoon is about to hit Mumbai on June 10th according to last reports…..
A little girl is watching as they’re working on the road
The road leading up to our building. This side has been elevated recently, they are now working on the other part of the road
The entrance to our building
The building complex is very well maintained, clean and beautiful with plants and trees and benches under the shade of the trees where the old men in the building sit and talk until late into the night
In our courtyard is a beautiful and serene temple with Ganesha and Sai Baba idols. Its a lush oasis of calmness. Every morning and evening a priest performs a small puja in the temple, he’s ringing a small bell and lights incense….in the evenings neighbors gather, making prayers, eyes closed….as the humid night closes in….it’s a blessed moment
More to follow…..Love, Anna
bombaysun 
Ah, you’re so lucky living in Versova and being so close to the beach! Your apartment complex looks beautiful too. 🙂 Lovely photos.
Thank you Sharell! Yes it is a great area to live in….our apartment isn’t the nicest though and you pay a lot for the nice apartment complex and security and calmness so we’re looking to maybe moving towards Lokhandwala if we can find a place!