Postcard from mumbai

An Indian product or service you can8217;t do without?
The delicious, cheap tiffin service and beer delivery at my door is amazing. This needs to be promoted in the West.

Any fashion tips?
I8217;m wearing dressy casual khaki and white linen and cotton to the office and in the classroom. It8217;s a quasi-safari look, I suppose.

Dared to try street food?
Often8230;never been sick yet. It8217;s some of the best food out there.

A phrase you8217;re bound to hear?
8220;Achha, achha8221; and in hawking zones when I say 8216;nay. Nay. NAY!8217;. The response is: 8220;Maybe next time?8221;

Your road experiences?
I take the train. It8217;s fastest and easiest. But crossing the street is always an exciting experience as I take my life into my own hands.

What is sexy about Mumbai?
Bollywood8217;s over the top attitude and influence here8212;you8217;ve gotta love it.

Have you been conned yet?
Yes, the cabbies can be some of the worst. I8217;m getting better at dealing with it as I learn some Hindi.

Truly, madly, deeply, Mumbai8230;
I8217;m yet to experience those kinds of emotions for this crazy city, but I8217;ve heard I8217;ll feel that way after about six months.

What are the similarities or differences between Mumbai and your hometown?
Since I8217;d been living in Sweden for four years, I still struggle to find similarities. I think the most notable differences are the noise, the heat, the crowds and the expensive cost of living in Mumbai for those of us who are middle class here.

Mumbai, the cultural capital?
I was out in the middle of a street off Grant Road during the Ganapati Festival mixed in with the deafening drums, clanging bells, Mumbai8217;s masses, teeming compassion, splashes of colour.
It was amazing.