Mumbai, the city of dreams. Millions of people come to live here in hope of creating a new identity and making a big transition in life. It is truly a sight to behold during the rainy season. Sure there can be some inconveniences with travel and commuting in general, but the city livens up during the rains.
If you have ever travelled in Mumbai on foot, you need to know a couple of rules, first do not walk slow and block the path. Mumbaikars are usually in a hurry to reach places and you will end up with dirty looks from fellow pedestrians. Also if you are planning to stop, look behind you before doing it as the person walking behind you might bump into you.
When you are walking on the streets of Mumbai during the rains, it’s a whole another story. In case you are carrying an umbrella, there is a unique way how people make way through the rainy streets here, since the population are plenty, it’s hard to not bump umbrellas with other commuters. People will usually raise or lower their umbrellas to let you pass or they will tilt it in the opposite direction to allow passage so that you can make your way through.
The best part about Mumbai is that people do not judge you. I have travelled to quite a few Indian cities and I find this to be the uniqueness of Mumbaikars. They don’t expect you to follow the herd. Everybody comes here to build an identity for themselves so they are embrace your weirdness like nobody else. This gives you a strong sense of self and you feel incredible comfortable in your own skin.
There are a couple more differences that one will find in Mumbai. For example : a maid isn’t called a bai but moushi. A cigarette shop is called a tapri. Favorite breakfast for people here is vada pav. It allows them to grab something to eat on the go whether they are getting late for work or skipped a meal in the morning.
Getting used to the climate of Mumbai is also something many people find hard to adjust to. The air is high in humidity and you will find yourself frequently drenched in sweat. It’s advisable to carry a spare set of clothes when you are commuting and a bottle of perfume or deodorant to stay on the safe side.
When you are looking to travel, Mumbai has excellent connectivity in terms of autos, cabs, buses and trains. Local trains are truly the lifeline of Mumbai, you can travel from one end to the other on the cheap. Mumbai is also well connected via metro rail. New comers may be taken aback with the sheer number of people loaded into the limited standing space in a local train. So get ready to be used to being squished between people. People prefer standing on the door way to allow some of the sweat to vaporize. The commute can be confusing in the beginning, so there is a dedicated app called M-indicator for it. This app will allow you to locate the fastest way to travel, which bus, train to catch and even what how much time it would require to reach your destination. Truly a must-have app to have in your arsenal if you are trying to master travelling in Mumbai.
One more thing that you will find different in Mumbai is that when you have a birthday, you might expect to give your friends a party. In Mumbai, people understand that you are trying to survive on limited income and it will be a party where everybody pitches in and you don’t have to leave the party with a burning hole in your pocket.
One more thing which isn’t as apparent is that Mumbai people have a considerably smaller personal space than most cities. This may be due to them being habitual of travelling in crowded trains or due to the fact that there isn’t much space for people to move around. This can be intimidating for people when someone is standing too close to them while talking or making conversation.
Mumbaikars value art and creativity. You are likely to find several comedy clubs, art exhibitions and open mics around the city. It is true when they say Mumbai is an emotion. On weekends Mumbaikars like to go on treks, there are plenty of natural places near Mumbai where people can go for trekking.
They also visit Marine Drive or Bandstand. This is also the time people get to catch up on their sleep. Mumbai is the city that never sleeps and the night life of Mumbai that everyone should experience, with places that will fit your budget to places that will make you sell your kidney. Mumbai is a haven for people who like to party.
This is the city which is great for people who are obsessed with celebrities, Mumbai is officially the home for Bollywood, the Indian film industry. You can find people lining up outside homes of notable stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan.
I have just given you a bite sized taste of what this amazing city has to offer.
