~~ Yeh hai Bombay Meri Jaan…..~~. Review on Mumbai

*Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan.

Zara hat ke zara bach ke, yeh hai Bombay meri jaan.

I kept on thinking what should be the first review all about. Movies? Music? Sleep? These all I enjoy and I love… But then it struck me… I should write about the City that inspires me, given me all. courage, dreams, strength and above all“experience of life time”

As a small kid I was always fascinated by Mumbai…. Loved the local trains that time… always used to feel Bandra and Nariman point are the best areas and always wanted aBunglow*(sea facing!) in Bnadra…(I still thrive on this dream hehehe :))… Envied all people who lived in Mumbai… The only city for dreams and their realisation …

When got chance to be in Mumbai because of work I was more than happy to come here…. But when I was in city and trust me I was scared to death. I was so confused in understanding the suburbs names… Always confused in which side is WEST and which isEAST…. Which train moves towards Churgate and which moves towards Boriwali… I still don’t know difference in Churchgate and CST(For me they have always been and always will be the SAME)…

I don’t know why you need a highway in a city?(Western Express Highway!)… Can you imagine a place where traveling makes major part of your day? .Multistory buildings…more than 40 flyovers…. Major corporate offices…. Film industry…. Every thing seems to be just found its base in Mumbai….

So following are those 5 things that I like about Mumbai and I hate about it….*

5 Things that I like

1. Energy** – This is one thing that I have not seen in any other city of India. I have been to many cities like Delhi, Chennai, Banglore, Pune Kolkata etc. But man the way city function is just awesome. This City has forgotten to sleep…. Always up and running… Some times I feel I m the only one creature in this city who is very lazy….

2. People – Well I bet u will never find that kind of passion, enthusiasm and courage like in people of Mumbai…. They work round the clock…. Manage office, home, social life… Still take out time for small window shopping…. J. They are very helpful. Will give guidance only if they know else simply will say NO…. Always prompt in any thing that they will do

3. Local Transport – Really hats off to BMC for handling these many people’s daily travel… I know many won’t agree to me but then imagine how massive Bombay is and still functions so smoothly on trains and buses….

4. Sea – I am out and out romantic person so I love sea… Though now Bombay sea has the worst Sea shore(DIRTY L!) but you still cant miss that small meeting on Band Stand or a nice stroll on Juhu….

5. Food –Bombay doesn’t have its own specialty per say but u will find all kinds of food in all possible price ranges. I must say u will get good food in even as mere as Rs. 20 in Bombay….

5 Things I Hate….

*1. Traffic Jams – I bet any one who has been in Mumbai and traveled by road they will hate it…Its so sickening when at 12:30 in night you are stuck in traffic jam for 1 hr… It happened with me… I never enjoyed it…

2. Distances – I hate them from bottom of my heart…. What the hell man u have travel 1 hr to reach to ur work place and that too in over crowded train or bus… Simply not happening…. We are still saved by our own LOCALS…. Else it would be 2.5 hrs to reach ur destination…I wish the METRO project will happen soon.

3.Property Rates – I m non Mumbai resident… I m paying such huge amount as rent u cant imagine. Its eating up 1/3rd of my salary…. Now tell me any city in India can beat that? People put their savings for life time to get a flat in Mumbai. i.e. A Space in air. U will never know when it was thr and when it vanished.

4. Pollution – The city is over crowded as well as over polluted. U will find garbage every where…. That’s what is pathetic

5. Slums – The only thing u will see when u travel through the Bombay is slum… U will feel very sorry for those who are staying there but…. Nothing can be done for them and what all will be done is so minuscule that it will be lost in the Sea……

That’s Mumbai…. Having an energy in it but also having flaws of its own…. If you look at this city as a living individual you will learn a lot. Its like a person having everything still searching for betterment…. It teached u a way to survive. A meaning of life can be drawn from this place.

Trust me if you survive in Mumbai you can survive in any part of the World.

This City is my favorite teacher. Contributed a lot to a person I am today.

This is my first review… Want feedback and suggestions both….

Seera