MUMBAI, 3 months ago

The Gateway of India seen from the 10th floor of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, 3 months before armed gunmen stormed in and began killing innocent people.

In August, I spent three days in Mumbai with my wife Shawna, wandering the streets with my Leica. I wasn't there as a journalist on assignment and had no editorial angle. My experience was that of a wandering traveller, with a love of urban culture and desire to explore. On our anniversary, we slept on the 10th floor of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower. Each day we decompressed with big bottles of Kingfisher beer at Leopold's Cafe and marveled at the beautiful structures, among them Victoria Terminus station. All targets of the heavily armed group of lost souls who stole the world's attention on Wednesday November 26th.

After last week's terror attacks, I began reflecting on my own experience in an amazing metropolis that left me craving more. It saddened me to know that the majority of the world, having never experienced Mumbai, may now forever associate the city with the images of last week's senseless attacks. As a tribute to Mumbai and the people who shared their city with us, I put these images together.

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