Mumbai

« When I had to go in the heart of Mumbai, and my mom decided it was time to wash my bottom. »

« Mumbai is truly amazing. It's insane! »

« "And now, my favorite topic in India: the bathroom situation or 'yellow in the front, brown in the back'. The illustration chosen for my story is no coincidence - it's a railway station. While in Bombay, any place can become a toilet when you really need one, the most popular spots are high pipes and the tracks. You're riding the train, and just two meters in front of you, someone is doing their business. At first, you think you imagined it, but then you realize the smell of excrement doesn’t just appear out of nowhere (I think I’ve already mentioned the urine situation). Finding toilet paper in regular restrooms is a real delight; Indians use a special bidet shower installed in the wall. Overall, it's a sensible approach, but two questions arise: do they manage to wash themselves with their hands, and how long does it take to dry afterward (and of course, there are no paper towels)? We even have to buy toilet paper ourselves in Goa, which costs about $1.50 for two rolls. We complain, but we endure." »

« I really liked Bombay for its architecture: in front of you is the university building. »

« There will be a reason to return to unparalleled Mumbai to see this magnificent sight in the daylight. »

« Mumbai left a fantastic impression on me. Just yesterday, I learned that the city's population is around 25 million people. It's unimaginable; that's about one-sixth of the population of the entire country! 🌆 »

« Mumbai is undoubtedly an amazing city. I've never seen this side of India before. Yesterday, I strolled around all day, trying to figure out what makes it so different from Bangalore, what it has that Bangalore lacks. And today, I realized: it's the legacy of British colonialism. Mumbai is an incredible metropolis, and this is just one aspect of it, but you can't miss it. In the historic center, where I stayed, this spirit permeates everything, from the architecture and city's appearance to the impeccable English and manners of the staff at my hotel. If you've read English novels from the Victorian era or even Agatha Christie with her retired colonels, or the adventures of a certain character, this is it. Something you won't find in the free-spirited and cheerful south.

In the photo is a local :) And indeed, there are quite a few examples of beautiful Victorian architecture here. »

« Mumbai in the center looks like an English city. But the Indian aromas give it away! 💩🙈👳🏾🇮🇳 »

« The Gateway of India, with an incredible number of people all around! :) Mumbai is the most unusual and shocking city for me; here you find beautiful buildings and palaces side by side with slums and poverty. Cows roam the streets, and traffic rules are a mystery – the main rule is to honk at everyone and always! Thus, the noise from the roads never stops for a second. The food is delicious, but you really have to choose your cafes wisely. Locals look astonished at fair-skinned foreigners, and they immediately want to take pictures! It’s an overload of impressions in just one day! »

« Here's a laundromat located in the heart of the largest city in India. »

« Mumbai is one of the largest cities in the world, the business hub of India, where Bollywood coexists with slums, wealth contrasts with poverty, and luxury meets garbage. We quickly checked out the bay, the famous Gateway of India, and Elephanta Island with its prehistoric Hindu monuments (just over an hour by boat). The morning buzz had faded, but a good mood had yet to set in. It’s still unclear, but this seems to be the sweatiest day of my trip. I only felt better after catching some brief sleep on the way back in the boat, sprawled on a bench (to the delight of seagulls and locals who took selfies with me).

Next up: we're heading to see the slums (Dharavi). This area covers just over 200 hectares and sits right in the heart of Mumbai, with a population density ten times that of the rest of the city. Estimates of the slum's population range from 1 to 4 million people. Dharavi is considered one of the largest informal urban settlements in the world. What could be better than a walking tour of this remarkable place? It looks like when I return home, I’ll have to burn my sneakers, t-shirt, and shorts 😂.

As for my impressions: they’re quite mixed. In Delhi, the area of Main Bazaar feels just as authentic, though I didn’t see any real manufacturing there (like here). Safety regulations and zoning laws seem to be mere words 😂; galvanizing, metalworking, and textile production sit right next to sweetmaking and a shop specializing in selling goats. And all this takes place on the ground floors, while on the second and third floors, they either live or rent out rooms.

Night falls: we boarded the train to North Goa (Arambol)... The seats are fixed, with no adjustments, upholstered in the finest artificial leather. It’s a 10-11 hour journey... »

« Day 2. Strolling through Mumbai! In the photo, the Gateway of India, the famous arch. It's hot, dirty, and the smells can be overwhelming, with crowds everywhere, but there’s another side to it: the women in colorful saris are simply amazing, and the food at Leopold Café is incredible. Now I realize I actually love curry! 😊 Yesterday, I was blown away by the national airline Air India - I flew for the first time on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the plane is just words can't describe! It's not even business class, but first class, with service like in a restaurant, and there are three windows in my row! The best part is that this pleasure costs just $275 on the Bangkok-Mumbai route for a 4.5-hour flight! For comparison, economy class is $204. And this is with the current exchange rate; a year ago the price would have been almost half! 💸 »

« Mumbai is quite nice in some places. »