nmalik121
May 7th, 2007, 03:17 PM
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3569/bussh9.jpg
I have completed my one and half year in Mumbai. Before coming to Mumbai, I had heard a lot about this dream city (of course both -ve and +ve things). I had certain expectations from this city as well certain apprehensions that actually exist in this part of world. Few of them have got confirmed, and few others shattered. Personally an evolving experience, just sharing them with all my friends at Jatland.
Extremely Crowded: No prize for guessing, that Mumbai is a very-2 crowded city. Or I must say a frustratingly crowded city. I found visiting famous beach of Mumbai a good idea of getting rid of this crowd, but alas, even the beaches are attacked by countless numbers of people (seemed they were also there for the same purpose).
Time is Money: Utilizing time is a problem for you? Learn it from mumbaikars. Here, Time means money. In other parts of the world, especially Delhi, people will prefer to give their 20 minutes instead of 20 rupees. Here, Time scores over everything. Every one is hopelessly professional. This funda of "Time is Money" applies to every class of society here from high-profile corporate executive to our popular Dabbawallahs.
Biggest Strength of Mumbai, Its People: I have lived in Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Delhi, and Gujarat, but mumbaikars are the most cooperative, helpful and receptive people when it comes to one-to one interaction in the society. It is more important since they are living in a very-2 tough city, a city that never sleeps.
Nonstop Mad Run: Mumbai is on the move, literally true. The sense of hurry or say urgency is always in the air. Though, in this respect, Delhi is also not far behind. However for someone like me, who comes from a very small village in Haryana, it can feel awkward. I got habitual to this mad chase in Delhi itself so it really didn’t bother me much.
Mumbai Local: Known as the lifeline of Mumbai, its local trains are the one that helps this city move so fast in true sense. However, I must say that now, the system is falling apart. Local trains are just not trains; they are the backbone of city’s economic health. So, they need a re-look by the government.
Life is Too Cheap: Unfortunately, this is a city where I never feel safe. Especially, with the ever-increasing terror, a sense of insecurity is creeping in me. And this is happening not only with me, but every person who lives here, can sense that fear. I lived in Delhi for 6 years, moved in local trains as well as in badly managed DTC and Blue line buses (though here in Mumbai, BEST buses are better managed) but never felt threatened there though Delhi is also equally vulnerable city.
Poor Infrastructure: Unfortunately (I afraid I have to use this word several times while talking about Mumbai) people here are used to live a congested life. High rise buildings are coming-up without any proper planning. Open spaces are now history. Roads are dug incessantly and repair work goes on for years. Before coming to Mumbai, I have my own doubts about God’s existence but after watching this city functioning as it does is a strong proof that there is SOMEONE up there.
Too Pricey: Being the financial capital of India has its own pitfalls. More earning but equally extremely expensive city. A single tablet for headache is easily available in any other city but here you have to buy the complete pack of tablets. You can’t ask for quarter or half butter pack, only have to buy the full packet. There are so many things to pin-point the market mafia. Just ridiculous. It is official that Mumbai is a city that welcomes only rich people, not the poor ones.
Mumbai Spirit, A Myth: Mumbai spirit has become a sort of joke.And this is not a joke. Mumbai administration is the one that has misused this phrase to avoid the responsibility. No doubt that the mumbaikars are tough to crack but when your family members are killed on the roads, platforms, and the culprits gets scot-free, how can you expect them to keep their spirits soaring. Now, this phrase has become a laughing matter that mumbaikars will tolerate anything on the name of “MUMBAI SPIRIT”. God help us.
A Bright Future: For a financially secure future you need money, and Mumbai provides it in abundance. It provides you all the opportunities that you can believe only in fairy tales. No city in India comes near to Mumbai in that aspect. As we all know, money makes the world go, so Mumbai is the home for all the ambitious souls in the world.
Open Culture: People are open and accessible here professionally. Especially, the name culture (calling all your seniors or juniors by their name) makes lots of difference truly. Only someone who has worked in Delhi ’s beaurocratic corporate environment can feel the difference. I love my job and my helpful colleagues. Amit, Suman, Ankita, Deepak, Alvina, Shamshad and so many others have made it easier for me to work peacefully.
Rain: Most beautiful thing about this city is its RAIN. For me summers meant a very-2 tough time. In North India, rain is almost negligible as compared to Mumbai. You won’t believe but this summer has been the best summer of my life in terms of ambience, mood, physical comfort and so many other things that can’t be explained in adequate words. Within last 2 months, I fell in love with the city. Rain is now synonymous of Mumbai. Both are inseparable part. I can’t imagine Mumbai without rain.
Overall, I love rain and I love Mumbai. I won’t hesitate to say that rain has confirmed my belief that God compensates you in some or the other way for all that you may lack of. I know that I need to give myself more time to feel in tune with the city’s rhythm.
I hope I ll do it sooner than later.
I have completed my one and half year in Mumbai. Before coming to Mumbai, I had heard a lot about this dream city (of course both -ve and +ve things). I had certain expectations from this city as well certain apprehensions that actually exist in this part of world. Few of them have got confirmed, and few others shattered. Personally an evolving experience, just sharing them with all my friends at Jatland.
Extremely Crowded: No prize for guessing, that Mumbai is a very-2 crowded city. Or I must say a frustratingly crowded city. I found visiting famous beach of Mumbai a good idea of getting rid of this crowd, but alas, even the beaches are attacked by countless numbers of people (seemed they were also there for the same purpose).
Time is Money: Utilizing time is a problem for you? Learn it from mumbaikars. Here, Time means money. In other parts of the world, especially Delhi, people will prefer to give their 20 minutes instead of 20 rupees. Here, Time scores over everything. Every one is hopelessly professional. This funda of "Time is Money" applies to every class of society here from high-profile corporate executive to our popular Dabbawallahs.
Biggest Strength of Mumbai, Its People: I have lived in Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Delhi, and Gujarat, but mumbaikars are the most cooperative, helpful and receptive people when it comes to one-to one interaction in the society. It is more important since they are living in a very-2 tough city, a city that never sleeps.
Nonstop Mad Run: Mumbai is on the move, literally true. The sense of hurry or say urgency is always in the air. Though, in this respect, Delhi is also not far behind. However for someone like me, who comes from a very small village in Haryana, it can feel awkward. I got habitual to this mad chase in Delhi itself so it really didn’t bother me much.
Mumbai Local: Known as the lifeline of Mumbai, its local trains are the one that helps this city move so fast in true sense. However, I must say that now, the system is falling apart. Local trains are just not trains; they are the backbone of city’s economic health. So, they need a re-look by the government.
Life is Too Cheap: Unfortunately, this is a city where I never feel safe. Especially, with the ever-increasing terror, a sense of insecurity is creeping in me. And this is happening not only with me, but every person who lives here, can sense that fear. I lived in Delhi for 6 years, moved in local trains as well as in badly managed DTC and Blue line buses (though here in Mumbai, BEST buses are better managed) but never felt threatened there though Delhi is also equally vulnerable city.
Poor Infrastructure: Unfortunately (I afraid I have to use this word several times while talking about Mumbai) people here are used to live a congested life. High rise buildings are coming-up without any proper planning. Open spaces are now history. Roads are dug incessantly and repair work goes on for years. Before coming to Mumbai, I have my own doubts about God’s existence but after watching this city functioning as it does is a strong proof that there is SOMEONE up there.
Too Pricey: Being the financial capital of India has its own pitfalls. More earning but equally extremely expensive city. A single tablet for headache is easily available in any other city but here you have to buy the complete pack of tablets. You can’t ask for quarter or half butter pack, only have to buy the full packet. There are so many things to pin-point the market mafia. Just ridiculous. It is official that Mumbai is a city that welcomes only rich people, not the poor ones.
Mumbai Spirit, A Myth: Mumbai spirit has become a sort of joke.And this is not a joke. Mumbai administration is the one that has misused this phrase to avoid the responsibility. No doubt that the mumbaikars are tough to crack but when your family members are killed on the roads, platforms, and the culprits gets scot-free, how can you expect them to keep their spirits soaring. Now, this phrase has become a laughing matter that mumbaikars will tolerate anything on the name of “MUMBAI SPIRIT”. God help us.
A Bright Future: For a financially secure future you need money, and Mumbai provides it in abundance. It provides you all the opportunities that you can believe only in fairy tales. No city in India comes near to Mumbai in that aspect. As we all know, money makes the world go, so Mumbai is the home for all the ambitious souls in the world.
Open Culture: People are open and accessible here professionally. Especially, the name culture (calling all your seniors or juniors by their name) makes lots of difference truly. Only someone who has worked in Delhi ’s beaurocratic corporate environment can feel the difference. I love my job and my helpful colleagues. Amit, Suman, Ankita, Deepak, Alvina, Shamshad and so many others have made it easier for me to work peacefully.
Rain: Most beautiful thing about this city is its RAIN. For me summers meant a very-2 tough time. In North India, rain is almost negligible as compared to Mumbai. You won’t believe but this summer has been the best summer of my life in terms of ambience, mood, physical comfort and so many other things that can’t be explained in adequate words. Within last 2 months, I fell in love with the city. Rain is now synonymous of Mumbai. Both are inseparable part. I can’t imagine Mumbai without rain.
Overall, I love rain and I love Mumbai. I won’t hesitate to say that rain has confirmed my belief that God compensates you in some or the other way for all that you may lack of. I know that I need to give myself more time to feel in tune with the city’s rhythm.
I hope I ll do it sooner than later.