I had no plans for shopping in Mumbai but I knew when I will be back home, It will be hard for me to face my children. I knew how they will start searching my belongings like kittens. Oh!that innocent look in their eyes searching for things really movesd me and I cannot escape that. So I decided to takes some things for them.

In order to have authentic things at reasonable rates, I asked my friend, Michalle, (who has been in Mumbai, India for last 10 years) to accompany me and she excitedly agreed. I must say she is prone to shopping.In fact I did a lot of window shopping and she did the amjor. It appeared as if she was the one who came from New York. What ever it might look, She provided me genuine information about the different markets. We wandered through the bazaars of Mumbai, inquiring about various things. At some places we asked price of things just for the sake of knowing, while at some places it was mere window-shopping. Shopping in Mumbai proved to be a memorable experience as we wandered through its Bazaars with striking names like Chor Bazar, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar.

The first market that I thronged to was the Chor Bazaar. “ You know what chor Bazzar means” She asked me and in turn I gave her an inquisitive look to know more about it.The English translation of Chor Bazaar is thieves market. She told me that it is believed that the original name was shor Bazaar or the Noisy Market, that aptly described the yelling and shouting of the local traders on Mutton Street while selling their second hand house hold goods. Today, it is a hustling bustling market selling an eclectic range of new and old furniture and bric-a-brac.

The phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leatherware and general bric-a-brac at Chor Bazaar really amazed me. My friend also took me to Crawford market, famous for flowers, fruits, meat and fish. The place is worth capturing on camera.

The next market that Michalle made lucky was the Zaveri Bazzar, that endorsed excellent Jewellery that was upto the mark and had international quality. Seeing the excellent range of jewelery items at Zaveri Bazaar, I thought of purchasing something for my wife. I let my friend to do the talking and bargaining for me. I bought a set of fine Indian Jewelery intricately designed for my wife.

Then, Michalle took me to Colaba and Flora Fountain (Hutatama Chowk) in the heart of South Mumbai for ethnic artifacts and departmental stores. We went to Fashion Street. The street is frequented by people for cheap clothes. Kemps Corner, Warden Road, Breach Candy and Napean Sea Road are the ideal places for glamorous, trendy and costly items.

I especially admired Bandra, the so-called Queen of Suburbs, is the residential abode of the's who of Mumbai, film stars, industrialists and the likes. Linking Road joins Bandra to Khar and is lined up on both sides with showrooms for the elite.