The last time I was there, I hated it. But then, now that I stayed for atleast four days, I have been enlightened by my amchi-mumbai cousins. So, I can say I hate Thane but I love Mumbai :)
Mumbai is the best place for architecture fanatics like me ( actually, Delhi comes first). The VT is so BEAUTIFUL. It's grandeur takes your breath away. No wonder all bollywood movies starts with the overview of the area around VT and Churchgate, before zooming into the hero's or the villain's shoes (of course, the movies never did justice to VT!).
Apparently, there are heritage walks organized for those who are short of time and want to make the most of it. Otherwise, take leave for four days and explore every nook and corner of the city.
I didnt look at the Gateway of India :( But I will when I pass by next. I did have a good look at Kurla where the floods caused maximum damage. My cousin pointed to the "river" which flooded the district - a swamp that looks more hideous than coovum. I was wondering how more people didnt die purely from being poisoned by that "river". And this is the state of the river even after the floods. Wonder if the Municipality is listening? Or do they want a plague before they do anything about it?
Trivia
My cousin, a train fanatic, knows which train is passing by which station. Not the Mumbai Local ones, but the Gantok-Kanyakumari, Shatabdi types of trains! And apparently, the engines in different Zones also are built differently and look different.
In India, on your mobile phones, you get to see which part of the city you are in, like when i was in the Vashi-VT train, everytime I passed a station the info changed. But in Singapore, we dont have that service at all! It is the very basic element of a location based service :)
Mumbai trains are shockingly efficient. The only trouble being you not getting a seat.
Most people who live in the surrounding districts (like New Bombay or Thane) stay put there. Mumbai isnt an attraction (which I thought it would be!). Each suburb is very self sufficient with malls too!
Comments
2 years 37 weeks ago, antrix wrote:
VT? Surely you meant CST :-)
2 years 37 weeks ago, Ashwin Nanjappa wrote:
I was surprised that I had to "pay" for caller ID on cellphones in Singapore!
2 years 37 weeks ago, DIVYA wrote:
Well, I was shocked to see the number of services people get free in India! Sigh...that is the power of the masses! Singapore is simply not a good enough market for anything given how small it is!
2 years 37 weeks ago, divya wrote:
antrix: It is VT :) Built by the British, named by the British! :)
2 years 36 weeks ago, SloganMurugan wrote:
Mumbai is a railfanning paradise. Actually, you don't have to leave your desk to watch trains from across India. Visit www.irfca.org , tens of photographs are posted each day from across India for railfans to drool over.
If you spend some time, you can outsmart your cousin on your next visit.
Peace
Slo
2 years 36 weeks ago, geetha manian wrote:
divya,
you forgot to mention the frequent power shut
downs which caused untold miseries both to young and old alike because of the lifts not working.
it is a night mare one has to live with particularly the suburbs.
2 years 36 weeks ago, packan wrote:
Well..well..looks like someone has finally realised how great Mumbai is..
Mumbai Rocks!!
2 years 36 weeks ago, divya wrote:
mum: I dunno about powercuts in mumbai, thane was bad! :)
packan:It truly does!
2 years 36 weeks ago, divya wrote:
Slo: Wow! Didnt know! Thanks a ton! Perhaps, but I am not that passionate yet :)
2 years 36 weeks ago, _sahir wrote:
BOMBAY BOMBAY BOMBAY! Please, no Mumbai.
"Mumbai trains are shockingly efficient. The only trouble being you not getting a seat. "
Not to mention, you may not be able to get into the train either. You won't have enough space for your feet. You'll get closer to other passengers than you ever wanted to! :) Not so charming - they are efficient - but certainly not charming... just a rude reality.
2 years 36 weeks ago, divya wrote:
sahir: No way :) I am used to Mumbai now. What difference does it make anyways? :)
Of course, the trains arent comfortable :)