MUMBAI THROUGH MY EYES

I had been to Mumbai recently and I tried to bring you closer to the city in my words, through my eyes..

Mumbai !! I was so excited when I got my tickets booked almost three months back. With each passing day, I would plan my trip more elaborately. Finally the day came and I set off for my journey. Luckily, I managed to get a window seat on the flight. I could feel my adrenaline rushing high when the first sight of the high rises down below appeared at a distance. I knew we were there. It was Navi-Mumbai I guessed still tucked on to my seat. Few minutes later, as the flight descended to prepare for landing, the view was clearer. Innumerable beautiful high rises, flyovers, a sea of vehicles and then the shanties too. The shanties are an inseparable part of it and it has its own contribution in the wide spread fame of Mumbai. This was just an Ariel view. I was about to witness the city more closely. My sister waited at the airport diligently to receive me. We were obviously elated to see each other but I bet I was the happier one considering it was an all-expense-paid trip for me. My travelling expense was my Hubby’s liability and my stay was on my sister. Lucky me !

At the taxi stand of the Airport, my sister had a tough time convincing the drivers to follow the meter, but they were insistent on charging a few extra bucks. I was witnessing the whole drama standing on an adjacent footpath with my luggage. My sister finally managed to book an auto rickshaw on her terms with the help of a policeman who had intervened at the right time. My journey on the streets of Mumbai had finally begun.

In all the days that followed, I explored the city in awe. It was truly a strong and beautiful city. Each building standing tall showing off its structural beauty and elegance as if competing with the others around it. The roads were all well-maintained and well-linked. In all the places that I travelled through road in this city, three things were a common sight and I bet you cannot ignore them. Not because they are pretty attractive but because they are all over the city : tall and lean buildings, huge and highly-invested shopping malls and expensive, ultra-modern cars.

Mumbai also has its very own film producing unit which is the second largest in the world and most of the city’s economy comes from here. Bollywood has been an integral part of Mumbai ever since its very inception. It has given birth to innumerable superstars, blockbuster movies and continues to entertain the world even today with its treasure of talent. People of India swear by Bollywood. It is the Mecca for all Indian artists and performers. However, the people of Mumbai (men and women alike) are influenced by Bollywood a percentage more than the rest of the country, I assumed, considering their love for fashion. While the rest of the country will define fashion as “being comfortable in what you wear”, I am sure the Mumbaikars will blame it on Bollywood.

The street food of Mumbai is also very famous. The pav-bhaji, vada-pav, Usal and Missel pav are very popular among the Mumbaikars and also the tourists who will definitely not want to leave the city without bonding with all the uterine descendants of Pav. Also, the mouth-watering ‘pani-puri’ is a regular choice for the street-food lovers of Mumbai. It is similar in this aspect to Kolkata which I believe is the head quarter in this business. The only difference being in the way the business is conducted. While the phuchka-wallahs of Kolkata will stand-and-sell anywhere the customer demands, the pani-puri wallahs of Mumbai have particular stalls and counters wherefrom they quench the thirst of hundreds of pani-puri lovers ; while the phuchka wallahs of Kolkata will not mind compromising a little on the hygiene,  their Mumbai counterparts will offer pani-puri with gloved hands and distilled water. Sophistication ! Sophistication ! Around you everywhere/ In water as in air !!

My trip to anywhere in the world remains incomplete without some shopping. A small souvenir atleast. Returning empty-handed from the fashion paradise of India would be as degrading to me as to the city itself. So I set out for some local shopping along with my sister who is a good partner to shop with. Bandra and Colaba markets are the two must visit places if you are game for some fashion at a cheaper price which indirectly summons your good bargaining skills. And since we both enjoy bargaining, it was a right choice for me.

So shopping done, half of my trip was already complete. The other half is reserved for the beaches. Mumbai is situated along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea which gives Mumbai its many beaches. Some are very popular while there are many that remain unexplored due to their location and remoteness. I usually prefer beaches that are less crowded and yet playful. But, quite on the contrary, though the beaches of Mumbai had neither of the two to offer me, yet it was somehow successful in capturing my heart with its beauty and vivacity. While the beach at Juhu, commonly known as Juhu Chowpatty, is vibrant and colorful with innumerable stalls selling snacks and offering games and playthings for children, the view from Marine Drive is suave and glittering. Again, while the rocky beach of Bandra is a  favorite hangout for many loving hearts, young and old, a walk through the sea-side lane in the Shivaji Park area, brings serenity and peace to the evening walkers.

My stay in Mumbai has almost come to an end now but I have a very important place to visit before I leave the city. The temple of Shri SiddhiVinayaka or the wish-fulfilling Ganesha. It is believed that the kind-hearted Ganesha fulfills all the desires of his followers if sent through his agent, the Rat. There are seven big idols of Rat and it is also believed that if one whispers his wish in the ears of the Rat, it will definitely reach Lord Ganesha. After offering my prayers at Shri SiddhiVinayaka temple and at the Iskon, I was happy to conclude my trip.

I had a wonderful stay in the city and despite some sibling fight over terribly petty issues, my sister was otherwise very sweet. Its time for me to return to Kolkata now but some places in and around Mumbai still remain unvisited by me and so, I intend to return again with the same amount of hunger and enthusiasm. Good-Bye Mumbai.