What is it like to stay in Mumbai? I have heard people like to stay there even though the standard of living is low.?

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What is it like to stay in Mumbai? I have heard people like to stay there even though the standard of living is low.

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Updated July 23, 2017

How does it feel to live in Mumbai?

Never having properly lived in Bombay, I’d visit once a year throughout my childhood. Fueled by a combination of rose-tinted childhood memories and gorgeous Instagram pictures of the city, I decided to rediscover it as an adult.

48 hours in, I was completely disillusioned and wanted to go back home.

Bombay for pedestrians

When I booked my flight, I dreamed of wandering the city by foot – losing myself in cozy alleys while feasting on street food. The reality is that it’s impossible to walk in a straight line on the sidewalk for longer than five minutes. The sidewalks are coated in organic matter (leaves, branches, mounds of dirt) and crowds of people either selling anything from vegetables to flashlights or living under a tarp. This forces you to stray away from the sidewalk and stroll down the street and almost get run over.

The traffic is ridiculous, not because of the massive population but because most drivers have zero respect for either their own safety or the safety of the people around them. There’s a complete lack of lane discipline and people aggressively honk their horns like it’s a national sport. Crossing the street, even when there’s a clear zebra crossing, is pretty impossible.

Bombay for tenants

Both colonial buildings and modern ones are crumbling, just like the city’s sidewalks. A shocking number of hotel rooms and apartments come without an AC, which is outrageous given how scorching the city gets in the summer and early monsoon. I hear housing societies make quick judgments based on a tenant’s race, religion, and nationality. Depending on how much a housing society cares about its building, you can expect anything from a well-maintained property to a paan-smeared shithole covered in cracks and squalid stains.

Bombay for hygiene

There’s a nation-wide initiative called Swacch Bharat that aims to get citizens involved in keeping the city clean. Sadly, despite this, Bombay still needs some major work. Expect an occasional waft of putrid stench, probably a combination of pollution and open sewage. Pedestrians and drivers usually pause to proudly spit a red splash of chewed betel nut on the street and walls. Candy wrappers and cigarettes are flung into oblivion, instead of pocketed until the person finds a suitable trash can. If you hear a strange sound, like bees in a blender, it’s probably someone preparing to hawk the biggest damn loogie you’ll ever see.