I still remember my first stint with the local trains in Mumbai and the subsequent nightmares and questions that would constantly linger in my mind often in the middle of the night as to whether I could even survive the first month in one of the largest urban agglomerations in the World. Certainly the transition from the laid back ‘susegaad’ life in Goa to the brisk life in Pune (once considered a ‘Pensioners Paradise’) was no match to the trauma of being literally woken up from deep slumber and made to sprint on the treadmill running at full speed in Mumbai. Though I had a glimpse of Mumbai in one of my trips to a cousin in Parel and my first reaction being “Maan life sucks here”, little did I realize that I would be sucked into it a couple of years later.
A first glance at the exodus of the crowd at Andheri station left a dumbstruck “What the ***?..HOLY MACARONI!!!” expression on my face and my mates Vishwadeep and Prasad grinning with an added insult “Welcome to Mumbai”. Seriously there is no better way to feel the vibrant City than spending a day in the Mumbai locals during rush hour, especially catching a Virar train. One of the most electrifying experiences to go through for the first time you travel by them. Though the insecurities tend to creep into your mind instantly, the spirit of the City and the daily struggles of the people here overwhelm you. But as time passes you do get used to it.
And it’s quite true that the City actually never sleeps. I remember seeing some one getting a haircut in a saloon at 1:45 in the night. Most of the hotels and pubs are open till 1 AM. The transport system in Mumbai is the best I have seen, you are unlikely to be stranded anywhere in the middle of the night. There has not been a single instance of any rickshaw/taxi driver bugging me for money anytime, including late night journeys. Most of them go by the meter and the route and some even have the courtesy to charge you 5-20 bucks less (strange but I did experience this a couple of times). Unlike the scums in Pune who’ll dupe a newcomer to the tunes of Rs 300 to Rs 600 for a 6 km journey from Swargate to FC road (it wasn’t me for sure though I did get duped to a smaller scale, the first time). The smart Shopkeepers and the Hoteliers or for a matter of fact any owner of an enterprise here knows the ethics of business quite well, I must say.
Another interesting peculiarity is the cultural diversity here. You are sure to interact with people from most parts of our country, not to mention the expats too. And this assorted mix gives you a chance to learn and get a taste of the various cultures that you had always be interested in and inquisitive about. I have lost count and names of the sweets and delicacies from all the states and regions that I have got to taste in office almost every other day that some one returns from his/her home trip. It’s a cool thing learning some Gujarati, Oriya, Rajasthani, Telugu and other accents. Most of the people are immigrants from other states or regions and I guess that’s the reason why the citizens here are liberal in their attitude and have learned to tolerate and respect each other even if the tolerance is broken down many a times by riots and other spats. The people here are not deterred by bomb blasts or terrorist attacks either. Time is indeed money here. If another thing that sets Mumbaikars apart is their absolute craze for the stock market. Every second or third individual is a share investor and is conscious of the proceedings on Dalal Street. You do get to hear many ‘rags to riches’ stories of people coming to the City with 30 rupees and working their way up to become Millionaires today.
Though I would run home frequently on weekends in the initial 1-2 months as an after effect of the cultural shock, I gradually learnt to adjust and seek ways to explore the city and the things on offer. There are a hell lot of shopping Malls in Mumbai with every sort of entertainment for the public. Inorbit, Raghuleela, Oberoi, Infinity, Nirmal Lifestyle and the list is endless. And if you are lucky enough, you’ll surely find the stars of our film industry or some celebrity in one of them. You can literally spend your entire day at the Malls if you wish. And of course there are the Multiplexes for the millions of cinema loving fans. But at one point you do get bored of it. If you are a trekking enthusiast there are quite a number of trekking clubs in the City. Trekking is the best way to get relief from the hectic week at work and then get fresh again for the routine. Join a club as Chakram Hikers in Mulund and you get a plethora of Trekking activities planned every weekend to Ratangad, Ghanchakkar, Rajgad, Rohida, Vajragad and plenty others. Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, Veermata Jijabai Udyan in Byculla, The Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel,Elephanta Caves, Worli Sea Link, Dharavi Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, Kala Ghoda, Mahalaxmi Race course, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Haji Ali, Essel World, Water Kingdom, Juhu Beach and many many interesting places are worth a visit in Mumbai. The City really provides a sea of opportunities for any enthusiast. You just need to push your laziness away, open up your inquisitive minds and feel the City. You wont regret it anyway. Traveling across the length and breadth of the city with no planning at all is the best way to explore more.
The only things that I have an aversion for are the masses wherever you go, the ever increasing traffic and other problems and the awfully materialistic cum hasty life. Every day you hear the RJ on most FM channels cribbing about the ever-exploding population multiplied by the ever-increasing number of problems in the City. You tend to act like an android more than a human less. You strive hard to respect your individuality being lost in the crowds of faces at the railway platform/flyovers passing you by. The huge population in turn makes the gap between the rich, the middle class and the poor more distressing to watch. I remember my Dharavi trip and was appalled to see the life there. I wonder if God has left this place forever or this is our own mess for getting civilized.With the soaring residential property rates, housing in Mumbai has become too expensive for the middle class.An emotional fool has no reservations in a tough metropolis like Mumbai, where often there are people wearing masquerades who just don't give a damn to any sentiments until it’s too late for you to figure them out. You either get used to it or make yourself tough and learn to like it.
There are many pros and cons to living in such a cosmopolitan city as Mumbai. I as an outsider might not be able to point out all of them cos i am yet to explore every facet of this Big City. Perhaps a real Mumbaikar who has lived most of his life here can explain it better. Like my energetic and dashing cousins who have been born and brought up here who just cant stop talking about the City everytime i meet them. One thing i noticed is they do talk a lot.But the City sure makes a person tough enough to face any emotion or struggle in life. Mumbai is unlike any other city in India, “The City of Dreams”. It holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars. Mumbai truly Rocks in every sense!!
But I would still prefer the luxurious,calm and peaceful life in Goa. As they say, “Home is where the heart is…there’s no place like home”
A first glance at the exodus of the crowd at Andheri station left a dumbstruck “What the ***?..HOLY MACARONI!!!” expression on my face and my mates Vishwadeep and Prasad grinning with an added insult “Welcome to Mumbai”. Seriously there is no better way to feel the vibrant City than spending a day in the Mumbai locals during rush hour, especially catching a Virar train. One of the most electrifying experiences to go through for the first time you travel by them. Though the insecurities tend to creep into your mind instantly, the spirit of the City and the daily struggles of the people here overwhelm you. But as time passes you do get used to it.
And it’s quite true that the City actually never sleeps. I remember seeing some one getting a haircut in a saloon at 1:45 in the night. Most of the hotels and pubs are open till 1 AM. The transport system in Mumbai is the best I have seen, you are unlikely to be stranded anywhere in the middle of the night. There has not been a single instance of any rickshaw/taxi driver bugging me for money anytime, including late night journeys. Most of them go by the meter and the route and some even have the courtesy to charge you 5-20 bucks less (strange but I did experience this a couple of times). Unlike the scums in Pune who’ll dupe a newcomer to the tunes of Rs 300 to Rs 600 for a 6 km journey from Swargate to FC road (it wasn’t me for sure though I did get duped to a smaller scale, the first time). The smart Shopkeepers and the Hoteliers or for a matter of fact any owner of an enterprise here knows the ethics of business quite well, I must say.
Another interesting peculiarity is the cultural diversity here. You are sure to interact with people from most parts of our country, not to mention the expats too. And this assorted mix gives you a chance to learn and get a taste of the various cultures that you had always be interested in and inquisitive about. I have lost count and names of the sweets and delicacies from all the states and regions that I have got to taste in office almost every other day that some one returns from his/her home trip. It’s a cool thing learning some Gujarati, Oriya, Rajasthani, Telugu and other accents. Most of the people are immigrants from other states or regions and I guess that’s the reason why the citizens here are liberal in their attitude and have learned to tolerate and respect each other even if the tolerance is broken down many a times by riots and other spats. The people here are not deterred by bomb blasts or terrorist attacks either. Time is indeed money here. If another thing that sets Mumbaikars apart is their absolute craze for the stock market. Every second or third individual is a share investor and is conscious of the proceedings on Dalal Street. You do get to hear many ‘rags to riches’ stories of people coming to the City with 30 rupees and working their way up to become Millionaires today.
Though I would run home frequently on weekends in the initial 1-2 months as an after effect of the cultural shock, I gradually learnt to adjust and seek ways to explore the city and the things on offer. There are a hell lot of shopping Malls in Mumbai with every sort of entertainment for the public. Inorbit, Raghuleela, Oberoi, Infinity, Nirmal Lifestyle and the list is endless. And if you are lucky enough, you’ll surely find the stars of our film industry or some celebrity in one of them. You can literally spend your entire day at the Malls if you wish. And of course there are the Multiplexes for the millions of cinema loving fans. But at one point you do get bored of it. If you are a trekking enthusiast there are quite a number of trekking clubs in the City. Trekking is the best way to get relief from the hectic week at work and then get fresh again for the routine. Join a club as Chakram Hikers in Mulund and you get a plethora of Trekking activities planned every weekend to Ratangad, Ghanchakkar, Rajgad, Rohida, Vajragad and plenty others. Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, Veermata Jijabai Udyan in Byculla, The Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel,Elephanta Caves, Worli Sea Link, Dharavi Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, Kala Ghoda, Mahalaxmi Race course, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Haji Ali, Essel World, Water Kingdom, Juhu Beach and many many interesting places are worth a visit in Mumbai. The City really provides a sea of opportunities for any enthusiast. You just need to push your laziness away, open up your inquisitive minds and feel the City. You wont regret it anyway. Traveling across the length and breadth of the city with no planning at all is the best way to explore more.
The only things that I have an aversion for are the masses wherever you go, the ever increasing traffic and other problems and the awfully materialistic cum hasty life. Every day you hear the RJ on most FM channels cribbing about the ever-exploding population multiplied by the ever-increasing number of problems in the City. You tend to act like an android more than a human less. You strive hard to respect your individuality being lost in the crowds of faces at the railway platform/flyovers passing you by. The huge population in turn makes the gap between the rich, the middle class and the poor more distressing to watch. I remember my Dharavi trip and was appalled to see the life there. I wonder if God has left this place forever or this is our own mess for getting civilized.With the soaring residential property rates, housing in Mumbai has become too expensive for the middle class.An emotional fool has no reservations in a tough metropolis like Mumbai, where often there are people wearing masquerades who just don't give a damn to any sentiments until it’s too late for you to figure them out. You either get used to it or make yourself tough and learn to like it.
There are many pros and cons to living in such a cosmopolitan city as Mumbai. I as an outsider might not be able to point out all of them cos i am yet to explore every facet of this Big City. Perhaps a real Mumbaikar who has lived most of his life here can explain it better. Like my energetic and dashing cousins who have been born and brought up here who just cant stop talking about the City everytime i meet them. One thing i noticed is they do talk a lot.But the City sure makes a person tough enough to face any emotion or struggle in life. Mumbai is unlike any other city in India, “The City of Dreams”. It holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars. Mumbai truly Rocks in every sense!!
But I would still prefer the luxurious,calm and peaceful life in Goa. As they say, “Home is where the heart is…there’s no place like home”
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