Friday, May 16, 2008
Notes from Mumbai
He's going on a business trip to India.These words elicit many but not at all varied reactions from people. Concerns ranging from
the genuine
"Be careful, you can get food poisoning even in the hotel." - officemates
the sly
"Hope he doesn't get assigned there permananently. *wink*wink*" - well-meaning friends
to the brutal
"MY GOD, ANG BAHO SIGURO DUN! KAWAWA NAMAN SIYA. NAALALA KO NUNG MAY D.I. NA INDIAN NA SUMAYAW SAKIN DI AKO MAKAHINGA. MY GAHHHHHDD!!!" - my mom
To which I would become slightly defensive and say "Well, he likes it there. In fact, he says it's so much like Manila."
Hot, crowded and not exactly the cleanest city in the the world, Mumbai is certainly similiar to Manila - just with more colorful clothes and leering men.
On my first day here, I got ripped off an overall total of 70 rupees by 2 taxis. I'm pretty much used to being ripped off the first day in any country so considering the exchange rate, that's not so bad. I spent the whole afternoon in a shop called FabIndia which sells organic everything and ended up with only a silk see-through spaghetti strap blouse hidden at the bottom of a secluded corner near the toilets. I guess it's not one of their most popular items which figures because...
The men here stare. Well, not in the hotel, ok sometimes even there. Their gazes automatically zone in on any part of the body that is not covered. This is why I'm grateful I have an oversized bag that can cover a third of my body. (yes that's pretty big)
On the other hand, I have never had to open a door when an Indian guy is within a few metres from me. This is staff or non-staff. Believe me, coming from Japan where the guys batok the women as a joke/ sign of affection, this is quite the wonderful gesture.
We usually eat in good restaurants in and around the hotel. Nothing truly fantastic though except for this one complimentary appetizer from Masala Kraft. It was kind of a fried dough, hollow in the middle and stuffed with pickled vegetables. Anyway, of all the horror stories of diarrhea, stomachaches, food poisoning , dysentery, etc. of tourists in India, I'm probably the only one who got constipation. Just wonderful.
On the most important question of amoy: At it's best, Mumbai smells exotic, from-a-far-away land incense. At it's "worst", it's a generous helping of cumin and a jar of garam masala. Mixed with sweat. So really it's not as bad as you see in Amazing Race. If you eat curry, which I love, then some times (and a bit more often in the elevator), you'll get to be reminded of it. As for me whenever I get a full blast of it, I can't help but wish I had a naan in my pocket to munch on.
P.S. Today, I got recruited for a Bollywood film shooting tomorrow. They'll pay me a grand total of ... 500 rupees. Clearly one of the most tempting periods of my life.
P.P.S. I'm flying home tonight.