Mumbai is the most populous city in India & the 4th most populous in the world. And that's the main reason that l had avoided going there for years. And l had been cheating myself out of an awesome experience.
Whilst in Goa, a young local man was surprised that l had never read or even heard of the book 'Shantaram.' He knew the Australian author & owned a signed copy of the book. And he insisted taking me to a book store & buy it immediately. A bit wary of the size of the book (930 pages) l hesitated because as a backpacker, every ounce counts. And l was already toting a Lonely Planet India which I was sure weighed a couple of kilos. But l am pleased that l did & it became my favourite book ever & inspired me to go to Mumbai.
Travelling on the over-night train, the gothically grand Victoria Terminus is the entry point into Mumbai. Renamed the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996, it is still mostly called VT (Victoria Terminus) by the 20 million people that sprawl through the cosmopolitan metropolis of Mumbai. VT is a UNESCO World Heritage site & it epitomises everything about Mumbai. A combination of Victorian gothic, palacial Indian architecture, the affluences of the British Raj, the influences of the rennaisance, the hub of Indian rail & the throng of the Mumbai masses. They say over 100,000 people pass through VT every day bit l am sure that they let off a zero.
The city was once known as Bombay & it is grand in its British architecture. The Gateway to India is the iconic symbol of Mumbai. The bold basalt arch was built to comemerate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. It became the ceremonial entrance into India by sea. A monumental memento. Also a top spot for a leisurely walk, to catch a sea breeze & people watch. Directly opposite the imposing & prestigious Taj Mahal Hotel.
Mumbai is a vibrant city of contrasts. An ancient seaport with a modern flair. It is the financial centre od South Asia & yet almost half the population lives in poverty. Centuries old markets sit along side of air-conditioned malls. Skyscrapers alongside slums. It's like it has its feet in two worlds. Once you embrace the chaos & traffic, the heat & the overcrowded trains, you notice the space & occasional places of tranquility.
'Shantaram' captures Mumbai perfectly with his poetic descriptions & analogies. He describes sweetly & vividly the smells, the flavours, the colours, the noise & the feel of Mumbai, every sense is conscious. The book became my best travel companion & is a wonderful talking point when you notice someone else reading it. The movie rights were sold to Johnny Depp but so far the production still has nit begun. An Australian should be playing Gregory David Roberts not Depp. And l doubt if a movie could ever capture the feeling & essence of the book or of Mumbai.
Best thing to do is go there, it is an exciting & exotic city. Definitely a place to embrace & not to be avoided.
www.shakespearestravels.com
.PNG)
No comments:
Post a Comment