Mumbai...

In a battle against Pune and Mumbai, I have always been a loyal supporter of Pune. But after my recent trip to Mumbai, there is one thing for sure, I’m no longer against Mumbai.
There’s something about Mumbai that always scared me. The busy roads, fast trains, mobs, snappy life etc. But there is fun in it and I got to taste every bit of it. Usually I visited Mumbai just to attend weddings, visit relatives or spend vacation at grandparent’s place.  But this time it was all about exploring the place and I absolutely loved it.

With two best friends and a back-pack…life had never been better. With railway schedule applications and google maps to the rescue, things were pretty much easier. I love trains, but local trains make me anxious.  Flock of people rushing in and out of trains is really a scary sight. For a highly disoriented person like me, the words central railway zone, western railway zone are almost like Greek and Latin.

But all this was just until I actually boarded a local train…and then the fun journey began!

I am always told, ”You learn better about a place when you actually walk through its streets.” Marching from CST to Gateway of India to Colaba, it was completely a whale of time. Afoot we led towards Marine Drive to watch the sun dissolve into the widespread ocean. It was indeed mesmerizing. I know now why people are so fond of that place! With hundreds of people around you, it still feels so calm and peaceful.

Then came the second day, when we again hit the Mumbai streets! Pu. La, Deshpande’s “Mumbaikar’s” description kept ringing through my ears. Those Victorian and heritage structures, that fast pace of life, delicious street food, friendly people, sea-link, street shopping, fast local trains, etc.  all this undoubtedly make Mumbai the happy place it is! A two day trip is definitely not enough to know a place. But it is certainly enough to make you want to explore that place even more!