Picture Credit
A Sunday Morning Adventure (AKA 'Operation Nostalgia')
Guess who's back, back again? This girl, stepping into a Mumbai train after seven long years!
But hold up, this ain't your grandma's local - we're talking AC, baby! No more sweaty armpits and crush-hour crowds. Back in my college days, I was all about that daily commute life. It was my jam, you know?
But hey, times change, people change, and apparently, so do trains.
But Bombay? Nah, it's still that same old charmer.
Bombay's Soul (Where Dreams and Reality Have a Cup of Cutting Chai)
There's something about this city that just hits differently.
It's like Bombay's got its heartbeat, a rhythm that keeps everything moving in perfect chaos.
I wanted to dive back into those memories when Bombay made me feel like I could conquer the world (or at least make it to Churchgate without falling off the train).
A Coffee Break at MAG St. Café (Because Adulting Requires Caffeine)
First stop on my blast-from-the-past tour? Coffee, duh!
Google Maps played matchmaker and hooked me up with MAG St.Café, chilling right behind the Taj like it's no big deal.
Had to wait a hot minute, but the service was faster than you can say "one vada pav, please!" Check out these pics of my breakfast - it's not just a meal, it's art!
Mag.St Breaky Time :-)
Walking the Streets of Bombay (AKA 'Getting Lost on Purpose')
iPhone 13 ( a.k.a My camera) in hand, I hit the streets like a total tourist (no shame in my game).
Colaba, Kala Ghoda, Churchgate, Marine Drive, Jehangir Art Gallery, marine drive - I did it all!
My time in Europe turned me into a bit of an art snob, but Jehangir Gallery? Well it made me appreciate art even more. It had me daydreaming about picking up a paintbrush again.
Streets of Bombay
Street Photography (Or 'How I Pretended to Be the Next Steve McCurry')
Let me tell you, Bombay's streets are like an all-you-can-shoot buffet for photographers.
Every nook and cranny's got a story, and every face is like a mini-movie.
I went trigger-happy with my iPhone 13 my mini camera, losing track of time faster than you lose your patience in Mumbai traffic.
Here are some of my shots - not to brag, but I think I nailed it!
My Clicks
Lunch at Pizza By The Bay (Time Travel via Pizza)
Next up, lunch at Pizza By The Bay - the spot where my bestie and I used to hang out back in the day.
Man, the memories that came flooding back!
We used to park ourselves there for hours, yakking away about everything and nothing, completely losing track of time. It was like our little time warp.
Gotta say the pizza tasted different this time around. Maybe my taste buds have gone all fancy on me, or maybe it's just change doing its thing. And whoa, those prices! They've gone up a notch (or ten). But you know what?
Sitting there, soaking in the view, just being in that space again - it was worth every rupee. Some things change, but the feeling? That stays the same.
Conclusion (The Part Where I Get All Mushy)
You know what? Bombay's got this knack for making you believe in yourself. It's like the city whispers, "Hey you, yeah you with the camera and the big dreams - you've got this!"
Walking these streets again, I remembered why I fell head over heels for this crazy, beautiful mess of a city in the first place.
So here I am, at the end of my little adventure, feeling all the feels.
Bombay, you sure did it again. You've made me fall in love with you all over again. Your crowded streets, your relentless spirit, your ability to make a small-town dreamer feel like they belong - it's all still here, waiting for anyone who's willing to listen to your stories.
As I stand here, watching the sunset over Marine Drive, I can't help but feel a lump in my throat. This city, man, it gets you right in the feels.
It's a place where every street corner holds a memory, every local train carries a thousand dreams, and every vada pav tastes like home.
So here's to you, Mumbai, Bombay, Aamchi Mumbai - whatever we call you, you'll always be home.
You've reminded me that no matter how far I go or how long I'm gone, your arms are always open, ready to welcome me back with a warm vada pav and a "Kay re?"
Till next time, keep dreaming, keep hustling, and keep being you.
I'll be back sooner than you think because let's face it - once
Bombay gets under your skin, there's no shaking it off. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.