Ten things I like about Mumbai

As the weeks roll by and I come to terms with my departure from this city slowly, I look out of the window into that distant horizon, those umpteen buildings, the winter fog that throws a white veil over them, and recall what exactly makes my heart ache at the mere thought of leaving Mumbai. Ten things I like and love about this city:

• Vada Pav - you're not a Mumbaikar if you have set foot here and never had the Indian burger that comes for as less as Rs 4. The closest it got to a burger was at Jumbo Vada Pav joint that I relished, near Malad station. Jumbo joints are of course spread all over Mumbai.
  
• Salad Carts at Bandra, Sandwich vendors by the roadside at every other suburb - no other city can boast of such quick snacks that cost less, to fill their hungry tummies
• Local trains - need I say more? For all the trouble in veering through those crowds, fighting to board that Ladies bogie, walking the length and breadth of the platform in the hope of a less crowded coach, and the accidents I hear of every other day. I love. Sorry, I adore the local train network here, just as I love the bus feeder system too
  
• Autorickshaws - don't be surprised. They are rickety. You jump when they ride over potholes. They could kill you with their reckless speed too. But guess what, I can hop off on the Western Express Highway at 4.30 am and be sure I can find a guy who will drop me home safe. Not an extra penny. I've lost count of how many times I used autorickshaws for commute here, but can recall hardly once or twice when I fought with the rickshaw guys. At Bangalore, I'd have to flag down a 100 rickshaws before getting one at night. Chennai, forget it. Delhi....don't ask me.
• My suburb - Yeah. I love my suburb Goregaon. It's the greenest den in the concrete jungle out here. It's a place that made me get overwhelmed at first with the city, then hate, and finally love the city. It made me move from calling Mumbai, the Godforsaken, to My Mumbai.
  
• Marine Drive - that necklace of lights with the distinct promenade...one place in the mad city where you don't need to pay to perch yourself for hours! The most memorable moment here was when I walked nearly the entire stretch from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty beach (that spans two stations on from Churchgate) and felt `Freedom'.
• Crawford Market - It's true Mumbai is an expensive place. A trip to Crawford Market will defy that notion. It reminds me of City Market and Chickpet in Bangalore. The golden rule: Don't step into the fancy looking shops on those streets. Stick to smaller shops, the pavement stores, and bargain hard. Some of my best buys have been from Crawford.
• Colaba Causeway, Fashion Street, Elko Market - Colaba Causeway and Fashion Street, the two reasons you won't mind a long journey to town, and Elko Market, the shopper's heaven for clothes at Bandra besides the overdone Linking Road and Hill Road (Elko is on Hill Road though). Colaba Causeway is a visual treat with its old world feel and new world clothes, Fashion Street is where you get tired shopping for Western Casuals. Elko, my recent discovery is where I want to keep returning to.
• Chembur to Vashi ride - for Navi Mumbai residents who must travel to Churchgate, it's hell - the sheer distance of the commute. But that ride on the bridge over Thane Creek, with sea stretching out on either sides while you approach land, is bliss. It's lovely.
• Safety - I feel safe in Mumbai.Promise. Am saying this in spite of that nagging fear at times on the local train platform or on a local train (terror threat?!) or Raj Thackeray's goons. It's a city with an active underworld. That doesn't matter to me as much as, when I don't have to pray non-stop on my auto-ride from the Goregaon station to home. I can go to any goddamn part in the heart of the city and hop into a taxi at 10 pm without fear. I can return to Goregaon station at 12.30 am and not have the least doubt about flagging an autorickshaw. Try that in Bangalore or Chennai. Autorickshaw drivers will demand the moon out of you and still make you feel they did you a divine favour by ferrying you home at that `devil's hour'. That's besides your doubt if you'll reach home at all.
  

I've lots more about Mumbai on my platter. But these things kind of sum it up.