Two Nostalgic Weekends….Mahabaleshwar & then K Lal’s Magic Show ‘Mayajaal’ in Mumbai

 

It’s been a fairly Hot summer in Mumbai,although evenings bring in a nice breeze….and the last two weekends have been quite impulsive and nostalgic…and not really planned

Mahabaleshwar one weekend and Magic Show in Mumbai this weekend

Mahabaleshwar…a summer hill station getaway from the sweltering heat of Mumbai….six hours drive from Mumbai…..friends were threatening and so we just jumped into their car and drove off last Saturday for a weekend break….was quite welcome really as we had worked day and night for over a month to complete a prestigious assignment…The Hill Station brought back a whole lot of memories……began the Saturday afternoon with  a splendid Thali at Hotel Dreamland were we had managed to get  a Regency Suite..seven of us packed into a nice rowhouse villa….good privacy within the premises but away from the hundreds of others in the packed hotel…our neighbour was the BCCI President and his family….no pretensions here…Hotel Dreamland caters to the Gujjus wholesale….Only Vegetarian…No a la carte…all fixed meals and included in the package whether you eat or not….Breakfast for Rs 150…we had fresh Litchi Juice,Idlis,Corn Toast,Cornflakes…… Lunch for Rs 300….a lavish Gujju Thali with the seasonal Aaam Rus…..Heaven followed by Deep Slumber…Double Heaven….. and Dinner for Rs 200…a bit of Fast Food Frolic here..Pao Bhaji and Tawa Biryani…..but the Dessert was  simply Divine…the ubiquitious and sinful Fresh Strawberries and Cream……unique to Mahabaleshwar…..then a Juggler entertained us by the poolside……and at 10.30 pm we roamed around the market,just around the corner, and that remains open till Midnight….playing air hockey and had hot corn in butter…at 11.30 pm glimpsed the Enam Head in his chauffeur driven Merc in the bustling market ….but you got to get off and walk to breathe in the Mahabaleshwar market place…..I’ve been retreating to Mahabaleshwar every few years since I was a child…that’s not to far back and I yet am !….lovely memories of The Indian Oil Guest House with it’s spectacular gardens and views of the Valley,right next to the Mahabaleshwar Club…Rs 10 a day for the rooms ! and lovely customised food….Magicians and Puppeteers came to the Guest House to entertain us…Horse Rides….Sunset and Sydney Point….Boating at Venna Lake….Fresh Strawberries and Cream by the Lake…..trying hopelessly to play Nine Tins and throw the ring around that Biscuit packet  or Drinks Bottles….these games now cost Rs 20 each….and the odds are simply stacked against you….but it’s great fun !….won a Monaco Biscuit packet !  for breaking the Tins Structure in three Ball Throws….Yippee ! have not lost my touch  !   read more