What a wonderful place is Mumbai

I heard on a TED talk that no place or people should have just one story, because if you just hear one story you fail to see the full story

If there is a story of India it is one of contrasts and therefore you have to take them all in as fast as you can

On this trip I combined a business trip in a 5 star hotel with some free time in the streets. My overriding expereience was one of contrasts and indiference. I have seen poverty before, but the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty in such close proximities is something that I will always remember.

After arriving and checking in I had some free time so took a car to the Bandra sea front and took a walk there. The large houses with security guards were looking out on a beach of shanty shacks and people washing clothes and themselves in the streams and pools on the beach. Further back into town there were lean-to shelters made against the side of the Rolls Royce garage and the five star hotels.

Whereever I walked however I saw poeople with dignity and hard working and whilst the poverty goes unnoticed by the better off there is a peace within the cocophony of life that I will always remember

To finish the trip I took part in a Holi Party which was organized by our work colleagues. People were incredulous that I was taking an expensive camera into the melee, but it was well protected within a plastic bag except where the lens poked out and the dust proofing on the Olympus cameras is second to none. I ended the day many different colours and my clothes will never be the same, but the camera was fine

The pictures in this section are taken with my E-30 Olympus camera with the 14-54 lens.