Having spent almost 9 years navigating the vibrant chaos of Bombay - a city that I love and love to hate at the same time, I've mastered the art of squeezing every drop of joy out of weekends. Why? Because any Mumbaikar knows how troublesome it is to actually make plans with people and not just that, beat traffic and heat to go anywhere. So to fight these traffic woes, I used to try and make the most of my day should I decide to 'step out'.
Now, I've taken a break from the city exploring & manifesting a new destination for myself, but I had to pass down my 'wisdom'. A friend of mine who also found herself lonely in the big city - something i am all tooo familiar with - and I helped her with a 'solo' guide to #SoBo - South Bombay.
Here's a curated itinerary (that I have personally tried & tested) that should be able to transform your average weekend into something more memorable.
A Morning In Colaba
Start your day, early at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India, basking in its glory with pigeons and some early risers and waiting for the crowds that will come pouring in throughout the day, head towards Causeway and enjoy a cold coffee and maybe a light breakfast at one of the iconic cafes Leopold or Mondegar. And advantage of being early at Colaba Causeway is that early birds often catch the best bargains of the day - when the shops are set up, the shopkeepers are usually keen on making the first sale soon for good luck.
You can then catch a morning show at one of my favorite single screens in Bombay that will give you the old world charm of Cinemas - Regal.
After that, take a kaali peeli (if you cannot walk in the heat) for a delicious Parsi 'Brunch' at Jimmy Boy. I absolutely LOVE that place. It's not easy to eat there alone, because how much will you eat but you can give it a shot. After that, stop by the famous Asiatic steps for a photo for your 'gram', I did, just before I left the city last year.
An Afternoon In Kalaghoda
After a morning adventure, you can literally retreat to the 'cool' lanes of Kalaghoda for a cultural afternoon. Explore the Prince of Wales (or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahlay) - it's a lovely place with some very nice collections that deserve the right eyeballs. The building itself is stunning.
Jehangir Art gallery is nearby and free, so do not forget to stop by to see some great art by current artists.
Spend the remaining time in one of the many coffee shops and cafes in the Kalaghoda square, request for a free wifi and 'chill'. It's nice to always keep a book in your bag on days like this.
Sunset At Nariman Point
As the day draws to a close, head to Nariman Point for a sunset over the Arabian Sea, but before you head to watch the sky turn golden or rather orange or 'Gerua' - stop by Rustom's Ice Cream to pick up an ice cream sandwich so you can enjoy while you watch the sunset and mutter a little 'thank you' for the day.
It's very important to be grateful for the little things, especially when you feel lonely, lost and left behind in the rush that is 'life'. I'm trying to teach myself and hopefully it will make a difference.
PS: If you want to do something more before heading home, try a play at NCPA (very closeby) or just a dinner at Pizza By The Bay.
So, embrace the rhythm of Mumbai or Bombay as it still is for those who have a little 'pyaar' for the city - like Aisha in 'Wake Up Sid'. We should keep days like this for ourselves. They are like I said earlier... important.
