marine drive and marina

Just back from a business trip to amchi mumbai. Stayed very close to marine drive, and used late evening and early morning time to stroll along and drink in the ambience of the place. Sub consciously kept comparing the walking experience of besant nagar beach and marine drive.Here goes;
Marine drive has a much wider walkway(good stretch of it is also under renovation) and also there are no hawkers.Greater mumbai municipal authorities strictly do not allow any film shooting in that stretch.It appeared to me that they are religiously guarding the place strictly for 'walkers, sitters and gazers of the sea'; yes concession is made for cyclists.Saw lot of youngsters in their sports outfits bicycling away riding abreast with friends and generally having a good time.Doves by the thousands throng the walkway and there are any number of people who come specifically with the idea of feeding them. They bring grains in pouches and lovingly throw them for the doves.All of a sudden you see them take off in one swift wave and you realise that you have caused all the disturbance!They settle down quickly enough and this 'ballet' goes on at regular intervals.The process looks so picturesque that i felt it is no wonder that film makers have liberally used this situation in a number of movies.
Heard hindi, marathi, gujarathi tamil and english in almost equal measure.It made me realise the cosmopolitan culture of the city.I was also noticing that churidar kameez was worn by very few ladies and they were strictly well above 50 years !Girls were in sports outfit or jeans and short tops; did see saree clad women only a handful of them;almost everyone was having walkman or a mobile sticking to their ears;heard all latest movie songs as ring tones and I would hum that song till i heard some other ring tone and i will take off from there!Kept me amused and engaged.
The walkway ends jutting out into the sea.Avid surya namaskaram doers make it a point to travel up to the tip and wait for the sun to appear on the far side.Unlike besant nagar beach, the sun does not mercilessly beat down on you, first thing in the morning and make you scurry for cover at 6 am.The Hiltons and Air India buildings effectively shield the walkers from the sun atleast till 8 am!Yasas used to call chennaites insomniacs as they head for their morning walk at ungodly hour of 5 pm. I now know why they do so !
Saw more luxury and midsize cars than i have seen in besant nagar beach area.Financial capital endral summava? Of course there is no beach in mumbai. And there were no fishermen either.Saw quite a few "victorias";i mean the tongas colourfully decorated, line the walkway; i saw quite a few tourists use them when i had gone there late evening.
The evening life on marine drive is quite different.More families come out to enjoy the breeze and quiet and open space.I actually spotted stars on the horizon; but could not identify many as one is used to the eastern sky and familiar with some of the stellar constellations there.The famous 'queens necklace' is a treat to watch.The skyscrapers at a distance are like a painting etched against the inky blue of the sky.No tall buildings rising up to the sky in Chennai.
Altogether enjoyed my anonymity, solitude and leisure on the Marine Drive.