In honor of the feedback received on the previous post, I am titling this one by the co-ordinates of the place I will be at in a week's time. That would be the city of Mumbai. I am heading over to the land I came from after a period of two and a half years. As always, I need to reintroduce myself to the place. The gap has been long and the changes must be plenty. So back to the shores of Versova, and the rickshaw rides. Back to the visit to the in-laws across town, and time spent with the outlaws, my parents. Back to tracing the evenings on the face of that city with my wife, retracing what we drew when we were dating each other, fresh out of college into our first jobs. Back to the meetings with friends of yore, reunions that have to be diligently set up. Back to watching cricket as it happens in broad daylight, and the movies that need to be seen in theaters close by.
The trip is long overdue. The house beckons, family beckons, city beckons. In the midst of this beckoning is the challenge of adjustment, the challenge of inquiry, the challenge of attachment. I am excited by it. To add to the excitement, I'll be making a stop en route. I am going to London to see the, err, Queen's palace? This is the touristy version of the trip, and I hope to do it all, the key attraction being a trip to Lords.
The outlaws are technophobes and promptly gave away my PC when I left the building. That opens up an interesting possibility for me. No internet access on the trip. I have done this on a previous visit and it is strangely therapeutic. I'll be getting my news the old fashion way, and I'll be taking along a sheet of paper with everyone's phone numbers on it. Its charming, to me (until I lose that sheet). That will imply a vacation from blogosphere. After a few days this week, I'll be away and won't be here, or there, on your blogs. I do promise to catch up once I get back. Till then, consider me latitudinally and longitudinally relocated.
The trip is long overdue. The house beckons, family beckons, city beckons. In the midst of this beckoning is the challenge of adjustment, the challenge of inquiry, the challenge of attachment. I am excited by it. To add to the excitement, I'll be making a stop en route. I am going to London to see the, err, Queen's palace? This is the touristy version of the trip, and I hope to do it all, the key attraction being a trip to Lords.
The outlaws are technophobes and promptly gave away my PC when I left the building. That opens up an interesting possibility for me. No internet access on the trip. I have done this on a previous visit and it is strangely therapeutic. I'll be getting my news the old fashion way, and I'll be taking along a sheet of paper with everyone's phone numbers on it. Its charming, to me (until I lose that sheet). That will imply a vacation from blogosphere. After a few days this week, I'll be away and won't be here, or there, on your blogs. I do promise to catch up once I get back. Till then, consider me latitudinally and longitudinally relocated.
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25 comments:
wow! i was home (mumbai) last year around same time and it was one hell of an experience (including less or no internet..:P), orderless driving in havoc traffic, innovative roadside food (spring dosa, chinese bhel puri), queen's necklace, fashion street, local train, siddhivinayak temple visit (it looks totally diff. now with fort wall around..:P), are just to name a few.
i can go on....but
have a safe and fun trip.
Have fun on your holiday!
I visit bombay every year and yet I find things different every time i'm there...so be prepared to see a completely different city from the Bombay of 3-yrs ago.
On the other hand, Bombay will always be Bombay....Some things never change :-)
Have a great trip. I think you will find that a lot has changed in Mumbai. Strange: I was discussing a trip to London with someone here the other day and I told him the same things: My main attraction to visit London is to see the Lords!
Fun! I bet you'll observe a lot more things this time since you've been away for so long, lot of interesting material for the writer in you :)
Also, scary to spend time without internet connection but am guessing it will be an interesting/amusing experience!
Have a safe journey!
@Pallavi: Thanks. I am sure I am going to encounter most of what you listed.
@Radha: Every year! Well, that's what you get when you are a few hours away as opposed to a day and a half of travel.
@SD: I'll let you know how the Lords experience goes, but I am charged up about that. I am hoping to make a trip to SPCE as well during the stay. Might be tough to digest but I haven't gone back since I graduated!!!
@RS: I am sure the material will be good. I just hope I still can retain it in the time that I get adjusted back to my routine here. I don't think not having internet is scary. You should try it sometime.
A common thread. Though my family's roots are tied in the South, I was born and raised in Bombay as well. It was strangely comforting for me to return there this past summer as well. You'll indeed see that there are plenty of changes.
Shall we look forward to some pictures?
Hey Parth,
Have a great time @ Mumbai. With highs in the upper 80s, it would be a welcome change from the perpetually dark Redmond skies...
Have a safe trip. Oh, and say Hi to the Queen Mum for me.
@Vi: My last trip was duing a summer. This one will definitely be much more bearable. Thanks for the wishes.
@Sridhar: Thanks for the wishes. I sure will pass your hello :-)
@Vi: What part of Bombay did you grow up in?
Ah! Versova :-). I sure envy you. Will be redundant to wish you a happy trip (can it be otherwise?). I do look forward to the chronicles post-trip, and a snap with the rock beach in the background :-)
your trip sounds quite good even before it has started...have a good one...
@Niranjan: Another Rock Beach fan! Here's something to turn the clock back: http://parthp.blogspot.com/2004/08/achingly-perfect.html
@Frissko: Thanks :-) I hope it lives up to its top billing.
Nice post.. and have a great trip back home :). Anyways internet at my place is so frustratingly slow that I dread the thought of being online :D
@Rags: Thanks! Yes, I can imagine how frustrating working with modems can be.
@All: Signing off before I head over the oceans. Wish you all a happy new year in advance. See you in 2008.
I was born in Thane (West), have lived in Dombivili, some parts in Koliwada/Sion. In the heart of Bombay, really.
I think I have forgotten what Mumbai looks like, its been a long time.
Hmm, would the list accommodate some blog-"friends" number, I wonder? :-)
I really hope you have a lovely time... Versova changed some and remained reassuringly the same in other ways. And the weather is beginning to be really lovely now... welcome home!
ahh I so envy you!!
Have a nice trip!
well that alerts me of a new post on my blog too....abt my trip last month :)
Hey hope you have the best time ever...Bbay has indeed changed much, but still retains the same old charm, specially versove as extempore rightly pointed out! Hope to read a purely Versova post once you're back on the other side of the planet! ;-)
Damn, I know I have missed it. Wish I could have had the chance to show off some bit of touristy London. I hope you have a super time in Londres - it is a fab place. Have a wonderful trip home.
parth, when's your 'best hindi songs of 2007' post coming? eagerly waiting :)
Happy new year! BTW, waiting for the 'songs of the year' post!
@Vi: Different side of the city. My in-laws stay in Chembur, so the area is now familiar to me.
@Shreemoyee: Then your next trip would be interesting.
@Extempore: Sorry, I saw this really late. Perhaps the next time round?
@Stone: Thanks. I got to watch the entire India-Australia match. The result unfortunately was not favorable.
@Anand: Have you made that entry?
@Plain Jane: Didn't get much exclusive time in Versova, so that post might not happen.
@30in2005: I have to tell you I enjoyed your city. Vibrant and entertaining. Hopefully, I'll put together something from my trip.
@Dhruv, SD: Thanks for the reminder :-) Coming soon!
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