Mumbai - Things I Liked

Two months at Mumbai do warrant a critical appreciation of all that make Mumbai what it is. Though "they" have changed the name, i still prefer calling it Bombay.
Before I start with the list, the Standard Disclaimer - the views are my own, and are representative of what I observed and felt during my two month stay .

Things I Liked

1. The City Never Sleeps - You can always find people hurring down the road at all times of the day and night.
2. The Ubiquitous Autowallahs - You will find them everywhere, engaging customers in the most matter of fact way, as if it were not a business but a 8 hour regular job. They insist on meters, and unlike other cities are not that eager to con innocent passengers. maybe they are better off otherwise.
3. On Time Local Trains - Yeah, most of the times they are, and the fact that they are on time does indeed make a hell of a lot of difference to the way as Mumbai is.
4. Pleasant Summers - Maybe it was because of me staying very close to the powai and the vihar lakes, but all in all the summer experience was pleasant.
5. BEST buses - Yes, they rock. The build, the drivers, the conductors ... Much underrated among all the public transport systems in mumbai.
6. The Common Man/Woman - There's something about mumbaikars. Its strange, it always seems as if they have sense of good or bad perhaps, some intrinsic knowledge ... some vague things that actually comforts you and convinces you that the struggle they take up everyday ( read life ) has some purpose... its the understanding perhaps... but there is something ...
7. The Uncommon Man/Woman - Oh yeah, the city is full of them. The party hoppers, the filmstars in huge cars, the brokers ... its a melting pot of some sorts
8.Vada Pav - Half the mumbaiya snacks are a pav ( bun ) combination ... pav bhaji, misal pav, usal pav ... and the king of them all the vada pav. Its a divine combo and its gets better as u go into the interiors
9. The Sea - Do I need to say anything???
10. Goan/Mumbai Music & The Party Scene - We had this huge company sponsored party, a dance floor with 500 people . People all dressed up for the occasion. And dressed up like anything. It was an 'eye' opener. Literally.

Mumbai , the Maximum City, is all about people. It has transformed me in some ways. The crucible that brought out the best in some and the worst in some.

Saludos. Mumbai.

~Rossos

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