Rediscovery of the blog & of self
Totally forgot about the blog that I created 3 months ago... but time for some serious posting now.
Been in Bombay for the last 2 months doing my summer internship with Starcom. The summer has been good in general... the days ranging from exciting to utterly insipid.
What stands out is the brilliant combination of learning, awakening, fun and lessons in survival that Bombay gave me. The city just gained a new lover.
It's alive for more than 20 hours a day & perpetually abuzz. It's amazing that it can absorb so many people and still run the way it does.
Some memories of summer that will always remain with me are:
1) Traveling on the local trains. I hated it at first... but two months later I've realised that it's just a way of life. The pushing, the scramble, the groping (!) and sitting with half-a-posterior on the fourth seat... it's actually enjoyable when you get used to it. Also picking up earrings for Rs 5 from the vendors, counting the stations as they passed, trying to learn Marathi from passing conversations & reading the ads for downmarket products like Churan (raat ko lo aur subah free), Rupa lingerie (aisa support aur kahan) and weight loss clinics (ek mahine mein 5 kilo, do mahine mein dus).
2) The DNA researchers in their purple shirts, the Bombay Mirror researchers & the HT Response kids. A ubiquitous sight all through the summer. A lot of symapthy went out to them... they were on every railway station & most neighborhoods trying to get a largely indifferent public to sign up for their publications.
But the newspaper battle in Bombay looks very interesting. I find TOI to be very low on content, gimmicky and over-priced (I've read two newpapers a day for the same price as TOI in Bombay). TOI goes overboard with property ads. For someone who's years away from buying property in Bombay - these pages featuring ridiculously expensive apartments in Madh Island, Kadivili & Thane seemed pretty worthless.
Midday is an entertaining read... I saw a copy of Bombay Mirror, but found Midday scores over it, at least in presentation. Will check out the first issue on 30th for a better idea.
But it's good to see TOI getting some competition. Does good for both readers, advertisers & media planners.
3) People in Bombay. They're always short of time & always look harried. But the city seems to be a great leveller. Most people are unpretentious, they don't have hang-ups & are not pseud... unlike frosty-nosed folks in Delhi. They're willing to help, they don't mind walking on the road & even if they spit everywhere (!), they're at least nice enough to give (correct) directions when you ask.
4) Eating out. Lovely places for both food & great atmosphere. Tried both ends of the pricing spectrum & enjoyed completely. Colaba Causeway is a foodie's paradise... Picadilly for the best Lebanese food this side of the Arabian Gulf, Cafe Churchill for Italian food. Lil further away near Churchgate were Not Just Jazz By the Bay & Gaylords. In my side of town, I liked Cream Center, Smokin Joe's, The Grill for sizzlers and some small bakeries and chaat & wada pav joints.
5) Movies. At the Imax dome, multiplexes and single screen theatre with their old world charm (reminded me of Sangeet & Anand in Hyd). Saw White Noise, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Robots, Hitch, Kya Kool Hain Hum, Naina, Harry Potter and the something of something.
Skipped Kaal, Star Wars, Kingdom of Heaven, Waqt & whatever else I imagined I wouldn't be able to sit through. Love R-Adlabs at R-Mall in Mulund - a comfy, clean place where you'll invairably get tickets even 5 mins before show time. Sterling near CST with its caramel popcorn rocks. And so does the G-7 multiplex in Bandra.
Been in Bombay for the last 2 months doing my summer internship with Starcom. The summer has been good in general... the days ranging from exciting to utterly insipid.
What stands out is the brilliant combination of learning, awakening, fun and lessons in survival that Bombay gave me. The city just gained a new lover.
It's alive for more than 20 hours a day & perpetually abuzz. It's amazing that it can absorb so many people and still run the way it does.
Some memories of summer that will always remain with me are:
1) Traveling on the local trains. I hated it at first... but two months later I've realised that it's just a way of life. The pushing, the scramble, the groping (!) and sitting with half-a-posterior on the fourth seat... it's actually enjoyable when you get used to it. Also picking up earrings for Rs 5 from the vendors, counting the stations as they passed, trying to learn Marathi from passing conversations & reading the ads for downmarket products like Churan (raat ko lo aur subah free), Rupa lingerie (aisa support aur kahan) and weight loss clinics (ek mahine mein 5 kilo, do mahine mein dus).
2) The DNA researchers in their purple shirts, the Bombay Mirror researchers & the HT Response kids. A ubiquitous sight all through the summer. A lot of symapthy went out to them... they were on every railway station & most neighborhoods trying to get a largely indifferent public to sign up for their publications.
But the newspaper battle in Bombay looks very interesting. I find TOI to be very low on content, gimmicky and over-priced (I've read two newpapers a day for the same price as TOI in Bombay). TOI goes overboard with property ads. For someone who's years away from buying property in Bombay - these pages featuring ridiculously expensive apartments in Madh Island, Kadivili & Thane seemed pretty worthless.
Midday is an entertaining read... I saw a copy of Bombay Mirror, but found Midday scores over it, at least in presentation. Will check out the first issue on 30th for a better idea.
But it's good to see TOI getting some competition. Does good for both readers, advertisers & media planners.
3) People in Bombay. They're always short of time & always look harried. But the city seems to be a great leveller. Most people are unpretentious, they don't have hang-ups & are not pseud... unlike frosty-nosed folks in Delhi. They're willing to help, they don't mind walking on the road & even if they spit everywhere (!), they're at least nice enough to give (correct) directions when you ask.
4) Eating out. Lovely places for both food & great atmosphere. Tried both ends of the pricing spectrum & enjoyed completely. Colaba Causeway is a foodie's paradise... Picadilly for the best Lebanese food this side of the Arabian Gulf, Cafe Churchill for Italian food. Lil further away near Churchgate were Not Just Jazz By the Bay & Gaylords. In my side of town, I liked Cream Center, Smokin Joe's, The Grill for sizzlers and some small bakeries and chaat & wada pav joints.
5) Movies. At the Imax dome, multiplexes and single screen theatre with their old world charm (reminded me of Sangeet & Anand in Hyd). Saw White Noise, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Robots, Hitch, Kya Kool Hain Hum, Naina, Harry Potter and the something of something.
Skipped Kaal, Star Wars, Kingdom of Heaven, Waqt & whatever else I imagined I wouldn't be able to sit through. Love R-Adlabs at R-Mall in Mulund - a comfy, clean place where you'll invairably get tickets even 5 mins before show time. Sterling near CST with its caramel popcorn rocks. And so does the G-7 multiplex in Bandra.
posted by DeepBlueSea at 01:01
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