Mumbai Mayhem: Noodles, Ghosts, and a Whole Lotta Chaos
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and the sheer volume of chai. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. mumbai. seriously? it’s like someone threw a kaleidoscope at a Bollywood movie and then just… let it explode. i landed yesterday, and honestly, my brain hasn’t quite caught up. the humidity is clinging to everything - my clothes, my hair, my sanity - it’s a thick, sticky blanket. the air smells like spices, exhaust, and something vaguely floral that i can’t quite place. it’s… intense.
my hotel, the ‘Bombay Breeze’ (more like ‘Bombay Sweat’), is in Fort. it’s a maze of tiny streets, crammed with shops selling everything from antique cameras to ridiculously bright saris. i spent three hours just wandering, getting hopelessly lost, and buying a tiny, hand-painted elephant. it’s probably going to end up as a paperweight, but it felt right.
i was trying to find a decent place for dinner and someone told me that ‘Spice Route’ near Dhobi Ghat is supposed to be amazing. i checked Yelp and it’s got 4.5 stars, but also a comment about the waiter being ‘a bit intense.’ i’m leaning towards the intense.
last night, i stumbled into this tiny bar in Colaba - ‘The Rusty Mug’ - and overheard some seriously weird stuff.
“Don’t go near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus after dark,” a guy with a faded tattoo said, swirling his gin and tonic. “They say it’s haunted. By a railway inspector. Apparently, he didn’t like being late.”
seriously. a railway inspector. i’m not saying i believe in ghosts, but i’m also not not saying it. i did a quick search on TripAdvisor and found a few tours focused on Mumbai’s paranormal activity. maybe i’ll check those out tomorrow. or maybe i’ll just stick to noodles and try not to think about disgruntled train employees.
i’m trying to document everything, you know? i’ve got my camera, my notebook, and a rapidly dwindling supply of ibuprofen. i’m attempting to capture the feeling of this place, the sheer, overwhelming everything. it’s exhausting, exhilarating, and occasionally terrifying.
here’s the gear list, because i’m a sucker for a good list:
Camera (obviously)
Notebook (for capturing the chaos)
Portable Charger (because my phone dies faster than my optimism)
Wet Wipes (essential)
Anti-Diarrheal Medication (just in case)
Sunglasses (the sun is brutal)
A ridiculously oversized hat (for shade and general coolness)
A phrasebook (my Hindi is… rudimentary)
i’m also trying to find some good street food. i heard that the vada pav at ‘Ashok Vada Pav’ is legendary. someone told me that it’s the best thing you’ll ever taste, but also that you have to be prepared to fight for it. i’m in.
if you get bored, pune is just a short drive away. it’s supposed to be a bit more… peaceful. i’m not sure i’m ready for peaceful right now. i need more chaos. i need more spice. i need more chai.
i’m seriously considering investing in a sari. or maybe just a really, really big fan.
i’m going to try and find a decent coffee shop tomorrow. i need something strong to counteract the sheer volume of everything. i’ve heard that ‘Blue Tokai’ has some decent brews.
honestly, i’m just trying to survive. and maybe take some cool pictures. and definitely eat a lot of noodles.
check out this map:
ps. if anyone knows a good exorcist, let me know.