India - Bombay (My Hometown Yo!!!)

Why is Imran visiting Bombay?

While I was purchasing my Round the World (RTW) tickets I had the option to either fly to Dubai or to Bombay.  Since I had not visited home in 4 years (last visit 2008) I thought it would be a good idea to skip out on Dubai and go to Bombay, this ways i could get to spend some time with family, meet old friends and of course do my laundry (I think getting my laundry done for free was the biggest seller for my routing to Bombay). 

This was my third stop in my first Round The World Trip in 39 days.

A little background information on Bombay

What can i say about this great eclectic city, Bombay or Mumbai as it is officially called now.  I was born and brought up in Bombay and spend the first 20 years of my life in Bombay, leaving to pursue my higher education when I was 20.  Bombay is the greatest city in India and has a population of about 1 gazillion trillion billion and it feels like such more or less, it is the fourth most populated city in the world after Shanghai, Istanbul and Karachi.  No matter how much of the world you see your hometown will always have a soft spot in your heart and it certainly is the case for me with Bombay.

What I did?

Having being born and brought up in Bombay i didn't intend on doing on any touristy stuff but rather rest, relax and hang out with friends and family, neither did i go out to eat as i ate the most yummiest home cooked mom made food at home (I love my moms cooking). 

Me with Karan my homeboy since 6th grade he was also my movie buddy, we would go see movies during our exams all the time.

Me and Pooja.

Celebrating my 28th (gosh I am old) birthday.

Me with Kesariya aka JP, he just admitted after 12 years he has a man crush on me.

Me with Avni.

Me with Abhishek aka Sheky.

Anant in the back had never seen a digital camera before hence the astonishment.

Me acting touristy in the club.

Clearly Sheiky wanted a self portrait instead of a group shot.

This is what happens when you give some girl your camera.

Palm Beach School Boyz breaking it down you know what I am saying.

L-R: Avni, Sasha, Pooja, Payal & Niki.

Sheiky with his Sister in Law.

Turning Payal into a tourist with the camera bag.

Turning Kesariya aka JP into a tourist with the camera bag.

L-R: Kesariya, Payal & Karan

Why are you so Constipated Imran?

Not sure what he is doing?

Throwback Hindi Joint Yo, We heard this song pretty much every day in 6th grade.

Rishabh in his new R8 asking for directions.

Me with Mihir Da Shah who was also my movie buddy.

Me with Rishabh perhaps my oldest friend I have known this kid since Kindergarten (Pre-School).

Palm Beach school boyz, we have hung out with each other since 6th grade.

The Masala Paav Pact (We have promised to eat Masala Paav (bread with spices)  with each other at least once in every 10 years no matter where in the world we are.  This takes care of this decade.

This is what we did all throughout school, highs school, college, work - pretty much our whole lives.

Just bum around and talk about inane stuff in the garden.

Till we get a complain from the apartment residents.

Or till when Kesariya farts.

Kesariyaa taking a picture of the Chic Choc ice cream.

Me with sober Anant aka Capital O-T-I-AAAAAAYY

Me with Shrenik aka Khajuriyaaaaa - mom let me listen to Jimmy Ray.

Conclusion: Ahhh Bombay the most polluted, crazy, dirty, corrupt, rude and expensive city for any tourist but for me it is home.  It is definitely not a city for the faint of heart or an uberly westernized person.  The city will eat, chew and spit you up if you are not cut for it.  It is the New York of India with its glitz, glamour and fortune.  Like every major city it has a vibe which words can't describe and one just needs to experience this feeling first hand.