Jeudi dernier, j’ai rencontré une journaliste, une vraie. Elle a bien sûr été super émue quand je lui ai dit que j’aimais bien écrire et que j’aimais encore plus sa ville. En deux minutes je me suis retrouvée à pondre, pour son prochain sujet, un article sur ma vision d’étrangère de la ville. Pas folle la guêpe ! Voilà donc en V.O. mon ‘perfect day in Bombay’.

What’s the Bombay spirit? I have no Idea but one thing is sure, it got me. I’ve been here one year (although it’s not the first time) and there is nowhere else I’d rather be right now. Of course, some days the traffic, the noise, the heat, the people everywhere makes me want to go live on mars, but this is what I do on those days.

I start the day joining my favourite Bandra girl for a latte at Bagel Shop (they open at 9) where you get a good glimpse at the underworld, trendy, arty Bombay scene. Then I ride a cab (or the train, when I feel up to it) and I head south.

Of course by the time I get to Colaba I need another coffee that I have at café Mosche in the fabindia shop, it’s quiet, cool and you never know if you need a nice kurta. It s 11 o’clock, the galleries are opening. I drop into Bodhi art for the space and the edgy exhibitions, but then I head straight to Hacienda gallery where the lovely Punita shows me the best of the Indian “affordable” contemporary art. I can’t leave Kala Ghoda without a tour at the Jehangir and maybe a fresh lime soda at Samovar.

Then my tummy starts asking for the best irani food in town. Britannia is only opened for lunch and its walls whisper the story of the city, and the caramel custard is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

Once my batteries are up and running, I ride a cab to Crawford market, starting point of my favourite tour in town. I just get lost in the bazaars:  Mangaldas market for the oceans of silk and cotton, zavery bazaar for the glitter, Michi Gallia, the spice market for your nostrils, Phool galli, flowers for your thoughts and to relieve your mind, a bright, white and peaceful Jain temple.

I end up in Chor bazaar in the cool afternoon light. I can’t spend too much time going through old Bollywood posters and not so old classic furniture if I want to reach on time the best sunset spot in town: The dome, on the roof of intercontinental on marine drive. The honking is far below, the views are mind-blowing and the cocktails are appealing.

Last stop, back in Bandra, at Zenzi for cool food, cool music and cool people. A perfect day in a groovy city that makes me feel I’m part of it.

Bagel Shop – Pali Mala Road – Off Carter Road – Bandra W – NoBo. Ouvert de 8h à minuit

Café Mosche at Fabindia – Jeroo Building – 137 MG Road – Kala Ghoda – SoBo. Ouvert de 10h à 20h

Bodhi art – 28, K. Dubash Marg, I. T. T. S. House, Kalaghoda, Mumbai 400 001. P +91 22 66100124. F +91 22 66100127.  mumbai@bodhiart.in

Hacienda Gallery – K Dubash Marg Great Western Building, Mumbai G.P.O(Fort), SoBo – +91 22 22837232

Jehangir – 161, Kala Ghoda, G.P.O(Fort), SoBo – +91 22 22843989

Samovar – 161, Kala Ghoda, G.P.O(Fort), SoBo – +91 22 22843989 – ouvert de 11h à 16h

Britannia – Ram Gulam Road, Ballard Estate, a coté du Fort. t: 2261 5264. Taxi : Opposite new custom house – SoBo. Ouvert de 11h30 à 16h du lundi au samedi.

The dome – Intercontinental Hotel, 135 Marine Drive- SoBo – 022 3987 9999. Ouvert tous les jours de 18h  à 00h30

Zenzi -183, waterfield road, bandra – NoBo. t: +22-56 430 670