Crazy Mumbai

Me on the planet Mumbai.

For the vlog episode #3 video, see the end of this post...

ARRIVING IN INDIA - Welcome to crazy Mumbai.

What a culture shock. The contrast arriving out of Dubai into Mumbai possibly could not be bigger. From the clean streets, fancy cars, high rise skyscrapers, quiet streets and breathable air to Mumbai Streets - dirty streets, scooters, small old cars or tuk-tuks, slum huts mixed with blocks of flats, noisy honking, crazy driving and smog in the air...

So the shock was quite big. When I arrived at night, i was wondering for a second if i even should stay in the hostel in i've booked (without much research in advance...) - which seemed to be in the middle of a ghetto in Bandra East.

I'm glad I stayed! The people i've met on the streets and i've got to known were so open and friendly, it was amazing. I also never felt unsafe in this area.

Arriving in Mumbai

After a tasty and delicious first dinner one block away, i got invited on the streets to attend a wedding. Santosh was a good friend of the couple and showed me around the whole place and explained the ceremony to me - and gave me the chance to give my best wishes to the newly wed couple. After invitation to join the buffet and many selfies with the white guy, i returned back to the hostel. What a great welcome on the first night!

Me, the wedding couple and Santosh with friends

I got to know Arko at the hostel. A young energetic entrepreneur, who could sell everything to you. And he sold me Mumbai! He took me and Tyas, another guy from the Hostel to a 7h long tour throughout the secret places of Mumbai and showed us the charme of this city. And instead of only going sight-hopping, we were taking the train to see the real Mumbai, eating the best local street food, visiting hidden gems and places and riding on the train through the poor and rich areas of the city. He was a great tour guide and if you ever go to Mumbai check out his tour! (Ask for his tour at Arma Hostel or ask me for his number)

Fow now, I'll let the pictures and vlog (see below at the end of this blog) speak for themselves... It's difficult to put all these contrasts in a few words: colourful clothes, (toxic) smelling streets, deliciously scents of food, honking, people smiling at you, thin street dogs & cats, cows roaming the streets, tuk-tuks, Bentleys with drivers and homeless people in the slums...

School time

Colourful living block.

Bandra East's living blocks.

Sunset at dadar beach panorama.

Sunset at Dadar Beach

Kid begging in the streets.

Woman selling fabric at the train station

Feeling the breeze on a train ride

Brother & sister on the streets. 

In the last post I have unveiled that the "L." in L.O.V.E. stands for "LOCAL". And my Mumbai experience was as local as it could be. Except the  stay at the Hostel, as I could not find a couch surfing place this time...

I moved around the city by tuk-tuk, shared taxis or local trains. I only eat local food in the restaurants or on the streets and were shown how locals live and celebrate their wedding and roam through the city on this "Street Smart" Tour with Arko. And that's what i want my travel experience to be. Get in touch with the local lifestyle, (try to) avoid the main tourist spots, eat what locals eat,  travel like locals do and experience events in the town... The next letter "O." will be a little more difficult, as i've found out here in India - but more about that next time...

PS: if you want to find out about all the places i've been to so far, which are shown in the current vlog episode or if you want to see, where i currently am: Click on "WHERE I AM" on the top of this page to see the map and explore...

So these were my impressions of a short stay in Mumbai. See all summed up in my vlog Episode #3 below:

I really enjoyed my time here and i think this stay and culture shock prepared me a bit better for my trip through India. After Mumbai i'm heading south - the next stop will be GOA! See you there... :)