04 THECONSCIENCEOFACITY(^02) soarsabovetheMumbaiskylineononeofthemostposhaddressesintheworld,afittingTheworld'smostexpensivehouse,Antilia,
residenceindeedforMukeshAmbani,oneofIndia'swealthiestmen
(^03) pacalledTheTote,asaclassyseriesofbarsandstarerebornunderthecanopy likeprojectDisusedbuildingsfromMumbai'scolonial
restaurants 04 AdmiretheVenetianGothicmarvelofthe
UnglassintheUniversityLibraryandamemorableGothicclocktoweriversityofMumbai,hometopristinestained
From a population ofaround three million
in the early 1960s to22 million today, this
megacity has seenmonumental changes.
Beautiful Bombay, the city of my childhood. I lived in an old bungalowon Cuffe Parade. Across the road were mangrove swamps, and there was
an elevated pavement where my parents and I would take our dogs foran after dinner walk. As we enjoyed the sea breeze, we could see Marine
Drive and the entire bay.as have the mangrove swamps. Land has been reclaimed and filled withIn today’s Mumbai, the bungalows of Cuffe Parade have disappeared,
high rise buildings, and both the view and the elevated pavement are gone.In many ways, this one street reflects the massive changes that
have occurred in the city of Bombay as it changed to Mumbai. From apopulation of around three million in the early 1960s to 22 million today,this megacity has seen monumental changes. But it is still my city.
Maidan, the High Court and the Rajabai Tower. Then we would pass astatue of Queen Victoria. Today, she liesOn my way to school, in the red BEST bus, I would pass the Ovalsomewhat abandonedin the
Jijamata Udyan zoo and gardens. Whether these buildings, and othersnearby, influenced my decision to become an architect I cannot say, but
they influenced my practice enormously and my love for the city. I havejust completed the restoration of the Rajabai Tower, in addition to theUniversity Library.
the Colaba Causeway, as I loved the BombayMy favourite eating place was a restaurant called Kailash Parbat onchaat(the savoury snacks
more typically served at road side stalls). We would enjoy their deliciouspani puribowls. Another restaurant, long gone, was Café Naaz on Malabar Hill, which came first in stitched leaves and then later in plastic
near the Hanging Gardens, overlooking the bay and Marine Drive. Today,
Freder cSo tan/Corb s EdmundSumner/V EW/Corb s
Top cPhotoAgency/Corb s
02
03
04
ourexploration andconservationpartners
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ASIAN Geographic would love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected]! Letters may be edited for clarity and length
Dear Editor,
I just realised that the thing I love
most aboutASIAN Geographicis
the Editor’s Note – so insightful
and almost philosophical. I read it
out loud to myclass whenever an
issue is out and they then have to
write their thoughts on it. It sets
the tone for every issue and gives
us the ability to approach a lot of
stories with better understanding.
It is such a great addition to the
lessons I teach.
alison lee, singapore
Dear Editor,
I have been following the Passport section for over a year now, and
I think it is one of the best travel reads I have come across. It is very
insightful and authentic, coming from real natives of each destination.
And they are all so accomplished as well! I look forward to every issue
to read the Passport section. It is my favourite part of the magazine.
hansen botch, australia (living in singapore)
{editor’s note}
If you want your children to be intelligent, readthem fairy tales. If you want them to be more
intelligent, read them more fairy tales.Albert Einstein
EdAS AN Geograpitor of the Year awahic’s editor received the prestigiousdat he 2011 2012 & 2014 MPAS Awards
A Victorian children'sbook llust ation from 1893published by McLoughl nBrothers The story is a
morality tale w th a longh story also in the songFroggy Went a Court n'
grew updevouring them when I was old enough to read. Sometimes, thecharacters I got to know from the pages of these fables kept melistening to fairy tales being read to me and then
company, allowing me to be my own free self, without judgement,while I and my fairy tale posse go on adventures and discover secretgardens, flying carpets, little tunnels in the ground, elves and new
nooks and crannies; the places where candy huts exist alongsiderainbow runners.No doubt, it taught me the concepts of escapism and honed the
inexorable march of creativity in so many of life’s facetseven bestowing the ability to dream and reach for the stars.I hope this issue inspires the need to read, more so now, inperhaps
a transient world swept away with shallow glamour and emptydistractions. At least in the parallel universe of parables, all thatglitters is gold and mysteries make for substantial adventures that
are bound to take you on worlds you’ve never imagined.Shalom, salam, om shanti,
I
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Dear Editor,
I absolutely love your “Mankind’s
Tiniest” edition (Issue 2/2015).
Who would have thought about
the smallest things? Only ASIAN
Geographic! Thank you for
bringing to light the smallest
of things that we so often take
for granted. I always love your
magazines because they never
fail to enrich my life!
tan lili, singapore
Dear Editor,
I think ASIAN Geographic did a great job for 2014. I have just collected all the
issues from last year, and looking at them all, it was a real treat. I sat with
my kids and we read some amazing stories and discussed
some concerns that your amazing tales highlighted. We also
intend to gather as a family to discuss possible trips to some of the destinations
we read about in ASIAN Geographic. I hope you know your magazines have done
my family a lot of good. Thank you.
randall tan, singapore
Marc Doz er/Corb s
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