First week in Mumbai

Mumbai is not kind on new comers. First, it’s the filled to the brim and over flowing local trains. A journey in these local trains will generally generate a desire among the first timers to get medical assistance for asphyxiation. And if anyone dare enter a Virar local to get off at Andheri, he/she are sure in for a long ride.

Then there is the whole question of getting a roof over your head. This task is not so easy as it seems. First, there are the exorbitant hotel rates. Yours truly has spent 3300 ruppees for 2 nights stay. Second, the endless search for a house on rent. There are various factors to consider here. The building, society, whether there are any shops nearby, transportation to office etc. Third, you come across a tribe known as the brokers. Somehow, the broker always seems to be earning your month's package in a half a days work. That too, tax free. As for me, it took 4 days of painful walks on this damm shoes to find a place to stay before my company put me in a limbo where I would be located.

Thankfully, I got a good friend of mine to mooch off on. I am presently living at his company's provided accommodation. The daily train journeys have turned less painful as I now proudly possess a first class pass and travel at 8 AM in the morning, a good one hour before the office time.

Today, it was actually a fun day. There was supposed to be training at Nariman Point at 10 Am but luckily it turned out be a 1 hour training instead of 6 and guess what, I took the rest of the day off. Watched the Ocean 13 movie and had lunch at Churchgate. The movie is quite good. It’s well edited with enough funny moments and at no point do you feel that the movie is dragging.