smittenbyu (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
smittenbyu) wrote2007-02-22 10:58 pm
smittenbyu) wrote2007-02-22 10:58 pm
Adventures in Mumbai
I enjoyed Mumbai this time around. I am not very sure why, but I did. The roads are better. The driving is a tad bit more organised (alright compared to Bangalore anyhow) and people actually wear seatbelts. Oh wait...the cars actually come with seatbelts now. But that's not why. It's the people. Maybe before in the comfort of being constantly insulated by family members at all times I hadn't taken notice or I just didn't want to see it. But really the people that I ran into and came in contact with were just amazingly wonderful. Mumbai is a huge cosmopolitan mess yet it has a small town feel. I could see myself enjoying it again. Although it hasn't come down to wanting to live there just yet.
Arrival
Our journey began on a day many call Valentine's Day. Traffic began in KL early as expected. But not so much because of V-day but because of the New Year (for the Chinese) coming up. There was a constant buzzing of people doing their shopping for the year, celebrating lunches together with colleagues and other things people do during festive seasons. We reached Mumbai International expecting a mess. But were pleasantly surprised with a clean airport. Of course, the smells of Mumbai still penetrate through. But change comes slow and it's come at least. We went through the immigration, got our luggage and then came the customs. There were two machines to scan your luggages as you exited. That was the "green channel" of customs. "Red Channel" meant physically opening everything up.
But we got lucky. We could have smuggled in a whole bunch of stuff but no one would know. The V family knows how to pick queues. It's not a skill that can be taught. You just follow us. There were two machines on either side of the exit area. The queue on the left was orderly. Really, it was. A longer queue but it was a perfect queue. Then there was the other one on the right where the V's ended up. It was a congregation of many. 5 "queues" converged into a crowd. Everyone was in a rush to catch a train and get that one seat on that train. Well, with the amount of rush that's the only reason I could come up with. Oh I know we were at an airport. But let me tell my story.
Everyone went stuffing the X-ray machine with two luggages at a time. Now there were two options, well maybe three. Quit the mess and join the orderly queue on the left however long it was. Option 2: join in and stuff the x-ray machine. Afterall India has discovered technology and this particular machine might be capable of doing wonders. Option 3: be the typical NRI (Non-Resident Indians - yes we have a label) who will take up every and any opportunity to discuss and in this case with the customs officer on how they should better run their country.
Majority chose Option 2. Some chose Option 1. And 1 person in his frustration and wanting to save the world, well India, chose Option 3. Which really was wonderful for the rest. The customs officer got completely distracted and was arguing back. At the end, V's chose option 2 and got out of there. Leaving that 1 poor soul having to open up his luggage for greater scrutiny. Afterall, he had a right argument of how could they find anything in the mess. I hope he made it home/hotel well that night.
But we had fun. I have come to realise that there will always be things in life that will annoy you, ok drive you mad. You can react to it by getting mad yourself or just smile and go on. And so we did. We had a good laugh. We were met up by my uncle who came with his car & driver to pick us up. Did I say the airport parking lot is rather nice and impressive? Oh did I also mention that our flight had to fly around Mumbai as we were in queue to land? We were surprised the Malaysian pilots didn't use their skills of cutting queue without shame in that situation. sigh. But is ok. It's Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and we have to be good! As we are told every day!
Duration
The next 5 days in Mumbai flew. Here's just a few things...
That's me in control on the left, but the right is how I looked most of the time.
Return
Our return was uneventful. oh wait. As there were 5 of us plus the driver we all couldn't fit in the car. So two would need to take the autorickshaw! Guess who was crazy enough to volunteer to go along with uncle? ME of course!! That was a ride of my life! Forget any rollercoasters! Nah..it wasn't so bad. But I made uncle promise me to keep me occupied the whole time. And he did. I believe though chiropractors in India must make good money!
oh 50% of my luggage was filled with Indian snacks! yum...some for office and some for home! I bought a few more salwar kameez and sis & I purchased the Mahabharata (modern rendering) and some music CDs! I believe we never really returned with this many goodies! Now which salwar-kameez should I wear tomorrow!? oh the dilemmas that puzzle us each day!
* Aarey Milk Colony - One of the most modern milk colonies in the world is Aarey Milk colony of Mumbai. Located at a distance of 32 kilometres from main Mumbai city, it falls on the main Ghodbunder Road. Aarey makes a must visit in Mumbai not only for its sophisticated dairy and the many well fed cows but also for its surrounding natural beauty. A visit to the observation pavilion here on a hill near the colony's entrance also gives you an enchanting view of the surrounding areas. But the main feature of the colony is the 4000 acres of parkland with fine gardens. You can also try the fresh milk and snacks in the colony's canteen here. (http://www.hotelsmumbaiindia.com/attractions.html)
Arrival
Our journey began on a day many call Valentine's Day. Traffic began in KL early as expected. But not so much because of V-day but because of the New Year (for the Chinese) coming up. There was a constant buzzing of people doing their shopping for the year, celebrating lunches together with colleagues and other things people do during festive seasons. We reached Mumbai International expecting a mess. But were pleasantly surprised with a clean airport. Of course, the smells of Mumbai still penetrate through. But change comes slow and it's come at least. We went through the immigration, got our luggage and then came the customs. There were two machines to scan your luggages as you exited. That was the "green channel" of customs. "Red Channel" meant physically opening everything up.
But we got lucky. We could have smuggled in a whole bunch of stuff but no one would know. The V family knows how to pick queues. It's not a skill that can be taught. You just follow us. There were two machines on either side of the exit area. The queue on the left was orderly. Really, it was. A longer queue but it was a perfect queue. Then there was the other one on the right where the V's ended up. It was a congregation of many. 5 "queues" converged into a crowd. Everyone was in a rush to catch a train and get that one seat on that train. Well, with the amount of rush that's the only reason I could come up with. Oh I know we were at an airport. But let me tell my story.
Everyone went stuffing the X-ray machine with two luggages at a time. Now there were two options, well maybe three. Quit the mess and join the orderly queue on the left however long it was. Option 2: join in and stuff the x-ray machine. Afterall India has discovered technology and this particular machine might be capable of doing wonders. Option 3: be the typical NRI (Non-Resident Indians - yes we have a label) who will take up every and any opportunity to discuss and in this case with the customs officer on how they should better run their country.
Majority chose Option 2. Some chose Option 1. And 1 person in his frustration and wanting to save the world, well India, chose Option 3. Which really was wonderful for the rest. The customs officer got completely distracted and was arguing back. At the end, V's chose option 2 and got out of there. Leaving that 1 poor soul having to open up his luggage for greater scrutiny. Afterall, he had a right argument of how could they find anything in the mess. I hope he made it home/hotel well that night.
But we had fun. I have come to realise that there will always be things in life that will annoy you, ok drive you mad. You can react to it by getting mad yourself or just smile and go on. And so we did. We had a good laugh. We were met up by my uncle who came with his car & driver to pick us up. Did I say the airport parking lot is rather nice and impressive? Oh did I also mention that our flight had to fly around Mumbai as we were in queue to land? We were surprised the Malaysian pilots didn't use their skills of cutting queue without shame in that situation. sigh. But is ok. It's Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and we have to be good! As we are told every day!
Duration
The next 5 days in Mumbai flew. Here's just a few things...
- Malls - they have sprouted everywhere!! You will find a brand new mall next to a few hundred years old house or some form of complex! Once you are inside these malls you could just picture yourself to be anywhere on this planet! Oh globalisation does wonders to the imagination. oh and security is everywhere. You have to walk to through metal detectors everywhere!
- Coffee - Indians know how to make a good cup of coffee! And I drank plenty of it (well, ok...more than I usually do)
- Convenience - my aunt and uncle never really go grocery shopping. They go just to see the new hypercity market close to their place. All they need to do is make a call and the shopguy down the street will deliver anything from medicines to milk to your house at NO CHARGE!
- Languages - in a matter of a day you will at least hear 5-6 different languages. Talk about confusion for me. Everytime I tried speaking Hindi I would switch to Kannada!
- Tea - oh tea is just delicious. Even with the lack of sense of smell I can smell tea when it's brewed. And I made some for this massage guy who comes to my uncle & aunt's apartment. And being the kind man he is he offered me a foot massage in return for the cup of tea made. If there is one thing I can't take that is people touching my feet. It drives me nuts. But he insisted that he has to "clear the debt".
That's me in control on the left, but the right is how I looked most of the time.
- My aunt's hanging garden - it runs in my family. Other people's balconies were bare. Or they were redone to become part of hte living room. Windows were grilled and had room for the windows to open but often were left empty. Not my aunt. Every nook and opening had a plant or 5 of them! Indoors was no exception. It was rather nice. We believe she is the only one in the whole area with an orchid plant.
- we headed to Aarey Milk Colony*. At the lake below one can take out paddle boats for half hour or so. But the queue was just too long & so we went up to Royal Palms hotel up on top of the hill and watched the sunset.
- And lastly, I played the sitar. A completely out of tune one with a few strings missing as it's more a decorative piece at my aunt's place. And I realised all that I remember to play is the Indian national anthem! hmmmm
Return
Our return was uneventful. oh wait. As there were 5 of us plus the driver we all couldn't fit in the car. So two would need to take the autorickshaw! Guess who was crazy enough to volunteer to go along with uncle? ME of course!! That was a ride of my life! Forget any rollercoasters! Nah..it wasn't so bad. But I made uncle promise me to keep me occupied the whole time. And he did. I believe though chiropractors in India must make good money!
oh 50% of my luggage was filled with Indian snacks! yum...some for office and some for home! I bought a few more salwar kameez and sis & I purchased the Mahabharata (modern rendering) and some music CDs! I believe we never really returned with this many goodies! Now which salwar-kameez should I wear tomorrow!? oh the dilemmas that puzzle us each day!
* Aarey Milk Colony - One of the most modern milk colonies in the world is Aarey Milk colony of Mumbai. Located at a distance of 32 kilometres from main Mumbai city, it falls on the main Ghodbunder Road. Aarey makes a must visit in Mumbai not only for its sophisticated dairy and the many well fed cows but also for its surrounding natural beauty. A visit to the observation pavilion here on a hill near the colony's entrance also gives you an enchanting view of the surrounding areas. But the main feature of the colony is the 4000 acres of parkland with fine gardens. You can also try the fresh milk and snacks in the colony's canteen here. (http://www.hotelsmumbaiindia.com/attractions.html)
no subject
yes, they did create a mess. perhaps a few channawallah and icecream wallahs would be fine! :-)
no subject