I had been wanting to go to Mumbai since I arrived in India. Mumbai (Bombay) is known across the world for being one of the largest cities on earth (current population: 12.5 million). I had heard so many stories about its sweltering heat, its fast-paced lifestyle, and its overpopulated slums. A couple I had met that took me around Pune a few times and had me over to their apartment for dinner (they always made pav bhaji!) offered to take me to Mumbai (they go every other weekend) and we ended up going the weekend after my semester ended.
We took off for the four hour drive to Mumbai from Pune. The drive was beautiful, but my favorite part was the sound of the horns of trucks - each one makes a whole new musical sound and I think it's hilarious. Here's an example of one of the most utterly ridiculous ones we heard:
We had great discussions about minimum wage in India and specifically Maharashtra, after I asked about the wages of the drivers driving those ridiculous trucks. Apparently truck drivers are paid about 300 rupees a day, which is about five dollars.
When I bought my plane ticket to India back at the beginning of the summer, I purposely only bought a one-way ticket, to see where my experience would take me, and leave a few doors open. I had toyed with the idea of WWOOFing somewhere in India, or traveling around with some Indian friends I had made, but nothing quite worked out. Plus, I had to keep in mind, unfortunately, that although I had become very comfortable in Pune (not to the point of walking home alone at night, but, ya know), it was still India after all and I had to stay safe above all else.
In the end, my Mom ended up coming to visit me from the U.S! She is a child psychiatrist who is trying to get kids off of medication (she's a pretty amazing human) and wanted to come see schools and orphanages in India to see how things work over here.
Anyway, the plan turned out being that I would go to Mumbai for the weekend, meet up with my host mom's 22 year old niece named Shloka, and she would show me around Mumbai. It turned out to be a stellar weekend that I will never forget. I took a boat ride around the Gateway of India,
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| the Gateway of India |
Shloka and her friends took me to some of their favorite bars and other hangout spots, we went through the most crowded shopping area in all of Mumbai, and we went to cool record stores and ate fantastic food (some of the best I've ever had). It was a glorious weekend and Mumbai will always hold a special place in my heart.
On Monday, I got to see my Momma after four months. I was dying of anticipation as I sat fidgeting in the Mumbai International Airport with Shloka, her brother, and her dad, awaiting my Mom's arrival. When she came tears immediately burst from my eyes and I ran to her to give a big huge bear hug. It was beautiful. I said my goodbyes to Shloka and thanked her family profusely for letting me stay for the weekend.
My Mom and I went to our hotel, had a glorious dinner on the water, and I made a small dent in telling her about my semester. Being reunited with perhaps your favorite person on earth is a beautiful thing.
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