The Adventures of the Little Indian Girl

in Mumbai...



I thought NY subway can get packed and crazy..until I stepped afoot the local Mumbai train. Mumbai local train (subway equivalent, just above ground) tracks are not as extensive as NYC's, but carry about the same number of passengers in a day...inside, above, and on the side.

N got me to take the local trains several times during our stay. The first time was on a Sunday and it was relatively quiet and empty. That was it. The next few times were not during the rush hours but they did get filled at times. Ladies get their own compartments and I tell you it's worse; they push, shove and trample over each other without a care if you are with a child or old or young. It was quite scary and maddening really. And what's weirder is that this madness occurs only at the moment of getting on and getting off the train. As we would prepare to get off, it seems like we were preparing for some battle! Once people are on the train, they are the best of friends and the most helpful. just wow. and then you can do your shopping for many knickknacks while you are riding the train, be it hair clips, snacks, earrings. Locals play on this so much and make it all so charming but I just couldn't get over the whole madness that ensues boarding and disembarking the trains. My apologies if I just don't understand.

There were moments that were fun and some moments that I absolutely abhorred the city. It also reminded me of how romanticized the city back in 2007; I wanted to get back online and take it all back! I think I was just glazed over then cause I was meeting N for the first time then! Riding the trains made me such an ugly side of people in the city. ughh....But the trains are a lifeline of the city and get so many people around.
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4-7 December 2008

While Mumbai was in chaos and fear, we headed out to Pune, as our tickets were already booked. MIL had tickets for the three of us to celebrate a well-known Bharatnatyam performer's 60th birthday - Dr. Sucheta Chapekar. It was a mesmerising 3 days. The first day had performances by her disciples; second day by other well-known performers in other Indian classical dances (Kathak, Mohini Attam, Manipuri, bharatnatyam) and third day was by the birthday girl herself!

Four of us: in-laws, N and I headed to Pune by train. It was 4 hours by train (small black squiggly line on the map) around 220km southeast of Mumbai. During the day we visited a few friends and family we both have there in Pune. FIL returned to Mumbai that first day evening itself and the three of us started our attendance at the festival. During the day of the second and third day, we spent it with family/friends in the city and evenings we were at the festival.



I will leave the critique to the more experienced and share a bunch of pics. All pics were taken by my hubby and so no individual pics are shown - just a collage of pics.

I really enjoyed the Mohini Attam by Deepthi Bhalla (in white saree). It moved me so much! And then to see CV Chandrashekhar perform was just wow. I don't think words could describe the art that was seen. It's an experience to live by! Pictures of Sucheta Chapekar will come next.