Gate of A building

Gate of 'A' building and the eucalyptus tree

Old sketches

Jivdhan and Nanacha Angtha

These must be from the 90's - perhaps 95. I was unwell at that time and used to dream of the mountains. The Sahyadris haunt me as nothing else. I yearn to experience the romance of the mountain fastness again. so so so much...

Cockeyed Metal Pig

Peeping through the wall.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Mumbra Hills

Oh so long ago we came here with Errol D'Douza to learn rock climbing. Me, Vivek and Shabbir. We started with the nursery at Kanheri. Then did the slab there at 34. Mumbra was harder – there were lots of loose rocks around.

It must have been sometime in '97 or '98. One early morning we travelled from Kurla by slow train to Mumbra station. We had to go towards the right - towards Kalva. The slums were not as widespread as now but we still had to navigate them. Errol told us of the Nutan (film actress of old) bungalow which was perched on a ridge. It was a famous landmark at that time. From our spot we could see the railway line below us and the water body beyond. Errol was a super fun person with amazing stories. He was also a kickass teacher.

A few years ago I went to stay at a friend's friend's place in Kalva. We reached very late and partied all night. In the morning when I woke up and looked out of the window, lo behold our old rock climbing spot right outside! The buildings have taken over now. Everywhere.

Seller of food

Supports life, in a way.


Life in Mulund was strange — I was back in my own city but at a part I never had visited. But Mumbai everywhere is Mumbai. The soul is the same. The feel is the same. I had taken up in a old and inexpensive area. My colony was full of 40 year or older 2 storied buildings. The wife was expecting and shift to her mum's at Kalyan a few months after we shifted.

The area was full of old people. People whos children had flown the coop. So there were several small stalls which sold home cooked food at very cheap rates. This dude was one such. He used to bring chicken a few times a week. Good home cooked food.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Overgrown

Omnipresent change

One early morning

Rain clouds

Slowly but surely the monsoon creeps near. The clouds come down closer to the land. There is a fragrance in the air. Of the awakening earth.

Father

All senior people love the corner seat by the window. I think as we grow older we observe more. Life still remains mysterious, perhaps ?

The photo
Camera: Sony A6000
Lens: Sony Zeiss 24mm F 1.8

I loved the light coming from the window. He was so lost in his cell phone. The leading lines of the left wall all pointed to him.
Processed in Capture 1.

The Old and the New

The old shall give a-way for the new.

Back to Mumbai

Back to the city of lights. My city. Five years have gone by very fast. Five years of change, of hard labour, of anguish, of disappointments, of peace, of family, of love and of happiness.

I moved to Pune in the January of 2010. I and Percy went underground to work on tripr. We stayed for 2 years at Percy's house in Warje and worked really hard. We had to give up on tripr when we went broke.

Then 3 years with the family. With Dagdu. The marriage. Jo. Happy times...

Kalyan station in the early morning.

Kalyan station in the early morning., originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

The Train

The Train, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Traveling the train. Things seem to have changed. 4th seat no longer so common.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Auto

Auto, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

From Kalyan

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Urban clearing

Urban clearing, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Ajju of the Naka

Ajju of the Naka

Hero Log

Hero Log

Cave

Cave

Inside the cave of my mind
where the thoughtful bats hang
nobody will ever remind
you, that your insanely humorous gang
has finally fallen behind

the cave is deep
and sometimes the cave is shallow
when the bats start to weep
even the rocky walls sound hollow

there is water in the cave
what a wonderful gift he gave
now we can eat and drink
and think
about what is to come
the whole world drowning in rum

at last! there is company for the bats
we are being invaded by the rats
if the insane humour goes from the eyes
you can see the stark emptiness that lies
in the vast void behind
called the cave of my mind...

~quasi 6 Apr 2002

Ghanshyam Sports

Ghanshyam Sports, Ruia Naka


I finally got my Panasonic LX3!! 24mm f2. :) I have waited for this one since it launched late 2008! It was not available in India at all till a couple of months back and then too only a piece or so. I wanted a black one, but got a silver one. But only one piece was available so I took it - what's in looks, anyway?

The firmware was 1.0 so first thing updated it to the latest 2.1. Handling etc. are fantastic. I am really impressed with this one. The low light performance has been really crazy. I could not shoot night scenes like these except with my dslr+fast prime and at high ISO's.

Lets see where it takes me ...

Pathanwadi etc.

Slums. Tightly packed 1,2,3 storied shacks. The hill is taken. A massive population has invaded. Up to 10 people sometimes live in tiny rooms of 60sqft with ceilings so low that you have to stoop when you stand up. The lanes reaching the remotest of remote living spaces are also the paths for the sewers and pipe carrying water to internet bandwidth. The irony is that in this sordid space, of top of these 'buildings', you will see satellite TV dishes galore.