The resurrected Taj.

I can't believe I have to rewrite this blog all over because I failed to save it but instead clicked on the delete button. Shit!

Seated at the Sea Lounge of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower just across the Gateway of India, I come across a sense of familariy but some things have changed. Afterall it has been five years since I stepped foot into Mumbai.

As I stepped in front of the lobby, the brainwaves brought me back to scenes I saw about a year back. The Taj undersieged.

Television footages showed the Indian icon that played host to international politicians and celebrities alike was seen burning in flames from the roof of the old wing. It was very close to the room where I stayed.

The hotel was built by Jamsetji Tata, a gift he wanted so much to give local Indians as during British rules, Indians were not allowed into hotels built by British thus in anger, Jamsetji decided to build one himself.

The hotel's fascade remains somewhat unchanged in structure but what stunned me were the amount of guards and metal detectors in the area. It seemed like a fort on it's own.

I stepped into the lobby to find it filled with lots of guests and lots of chatter. Chatter from happy guests and not chatter from the walkie talkies of policemen like one year ago.

The hotel was attacked by a group of terrorists that made their way through the city firing at people and landing themselves in a few locations and The Taj was one of the unfortunate ones to be chosen as a target.

Before the police realised it was not a gang war but terrorism working at its hardest, many guests, staff and police were hurt and even killed. It was grim in the air.

It took many hours before the last terrorist was eliminated by the Indian SWAT team which took a long time to appear. Reason being that these guys are based in the capital Delhi.

At press conferences, Ratan condemned not only the attackers but the government for taking such a long time to react to the emergency situation. It was also sad to learn that the police weren't properly armed to fight the terrorists who had explosives and AK47s. The police only had WWII hand guns and batons.

Ratan found it hard to accept that India wasn't prepared for emergencies that were of this magnitude. Who would have thought that it was possible to ride a boat illegal into the country and launch a cowboy style attack. From footages, even the police feared the AK47s.

As I walked through the corridors of the hotel, I couldn't find evidence that a shootout took place. The entire place seemed to be refurbished. Even the painting that stood behind the reception hasn't changed or maybe it was restored or maybe the color scheme remained the same as before. I couldn't tell.

Enough of history. Am meeting the man shortly and let's see if I can get him to pose for the camera. He may appear in papers all the time but he is shy and reserved by nature.

Will head to his home shortly and hope his dogs will be friendly.