B for Bombay

This city had been my home for a year besides the regular summer vacations. When my sister and I were kids, every year without fail, summers used to be spent in Bombay (now Mumbai). It is as hot and humid as Madras but our aunt and cousins lived there and mom and dad desperately needed to get us out of their hair for a few weeks; so these trips became inevitable. As we moved through college, we didn't travel much. And then, as fate would have it, I had to spend one year in Bombay and how.

Circa 2004, I moved to Bombay, the city of dreams (that my dreams shattered is beside the point). I lived in a small apartment in the western suburbs and used to commute to work by train - the lifeline of the city. There are times I have traveled by the local trains around midnight and have reached home safely. I don't know if I can say the same today. I would be worried.

Sometime in 2005, a crazy thing happened. It rained. Non Stop. For 24 hours. 99 cm. I was stuck at home, alone; no power, no water for 2 days. I couldn't step out of the house, nor could I stay in. After 3 days, when I stepped out, the city looked ravaged and destroyed. Milk sold at Rs 60 a litre. And after 3 more days, the city was back to normal. As if nothing happened. As if things were the same.The city is quite resilient that way.

Towards the end of 2005, I moved back to Madras. A few months down the road, there was a train blast near Mahim junction. And that was the same train I used to travel by. *Shudders* And years later, there was a terrorist attack at the Taj Hotels. Many lost their lives. And the city moved on.

While I talk about Bombay, there are 2 things that definitely need a mention. a. The local trains - the lifeline and backbone of this city. It's a carnival everyday. It's an art to navigate through the mob to either board or get off a train. b. Road side chaat - There's nothing to beat the vada pavs (fried potato balls, served with rolls) with the lasun (garlic) chutney and a couple of green chillies thrown in. And not to forget the yummy pani puris in the Jains Vada Pav shop near Kandivali East station.

Movies, malls, trains, food, night life, Festivals - the city has it all.

There are many more things about this super city. Bombay is not complete without mentioning Colaba causeway, Marine Drive, Siddhi Vinayak, Fashion street, Bandstand, Haji Ali, Crawford Market, Lokhandwala and much much more but one blog post will not do justice.

Want to know more about Bombay? Read http://mumbai-magic.blogspot.in/

Have you been to Bombay or do you live here? What's your most memorable experience? Feel free to leave a comment.

And just like this city, I have also withstood, sustained and bounced back in ways I couldn't have imagined. I don't know if I was ever this happy before. May be there is a little bit of Bombay in me?

Wishlist: Bahamas, Bali, Brazil

Vada pav #FTW Photo courtesy: Archana Seetharaman.