In many South Asian cultures, particularly in India, the concept of maika refers to a woman’s parental home, where she was born and raised before marriage. It symbolises her family of origin and is often associated with fond memories, love, and support. On the other hand, sasural is the term used for a woman’s marital home, where she moves after her wedding. It represents her new family with her spouse and in-laws. The transition from maika to sasural is a significant cultural shift, as it often involves adapting to new family dynamics and roles.

In my case, the two places I call home, Mumbai and Singapore are my maika and sasural respectively. My city of birth, Mumbai and the city and country I now am privileged to call home, Singapore, both celebrate their independence in August. So here’s a toast to both of them – of photos from the air. Some of you may have already seen them while for my newer subscribers, this is the first time you may be seeing these photos. In both cases enjoy Singapore and Mumbai from the air.