MAYHEM IN MUMBAI...

I've just returned from my first trip abroad with work since I arrived in Singapore to present and collect briefs from one of our biggest clients.

Mayhem. I can only describe Mumbai as mayhem.

The city of dreams, undoubtedly the most dynamic city in India is a great paradox. From the moment you land here, it grabs you with its multiple facets. There are approximately 17-18 million people living in Mumbai and by 2020 it is slated to be the most populous city in the world. The weather is warm and humid, so at least I didn't have to adjust to that. The only thing I have to get my head around are the extreme scenes that I am about to witness.

Matt and I arrived in Mumbai at 10pm. As we land I look out of the window and the wing of the plane looks as if we are going to land on a housing estate. People live that close to the runway. We’re greeted by our driver and taken straight to our hotel. The roads are carnage. There are cars coming at us from all angles and all I can hear are car horns. I immediately decide that are no traffic rules here. The bigger your car is the better! Rickshaws zip past us chugging away and are literally millimeters away from the car. How we don’t collide I have no idea.

The hotel isn’t actually far from the airport except the traffic makes the journey four times longer. Security is tight. The car is stopped on entry to the hotel and screened by guards and a sniffer dog. Everyone is searched before the enter the hotel in a similar way to that of an airport. Steve joins us in the bar and we have a few drinks but it’s not long before I head off to bed. I have a feeling the next couple of days are going to be very intense! 

First thing the following morning we have a driver to take us to our meeting. Again, the office isn’t actually that far but the traffic is incredible. After a very long but very productive meeting and we travel back to the hotel on rickshaws. Kaushik (our Indian Client Servies Director) and myself in one, Steve and Matt in another. The drivers are racing! It’s literally like the wacky races. They swerve in between the cars and they want to get to the destination as quickly as possible. I hold on for dear life! 

Our first port of call is the pool bar where a few Kingfisher beers are needed. I’m a little bit gutted I didn’t bring my bikini as I’m so tempted to jump in the pool right now just to cool down and refresh myself! But we decide to take a wander out onto the main street outside the hotel. Steve assures me he’s done this before lots of times and it’s fine. What Steve fails to mention is that I should cover my legs! I’ll remember for next time! 

The streets are crazy. People everyone. Not just people. Animals. Goats, chickens and cows. Laden with fruit and vegetables there is no clear distinction between the road and pavement. It’s basically just dust and dirt. Everyone is staring at us. Both Steve and Matt tower above everyone at 6 foot 2 and then there’s me. The only western woman in site. I don’t necessarily feel intimidated, more shocked that there are people sleeping on the streets. That is what they call home.

After exploring for a while, and witnessing scenes that truly are mesmirising we end up walking down a residential street full of families and hundreds of children. I turn around and those children are following us. I couldn’t even tell you want they were shouting at first but they all seem so excited. Laughing and giggling as if we are celebrities. At this point my heart starts to race. They’re now grabbing my arms and legs. “Money!” I finally realise...they’re shouting "money". We just carry on walking. Steve explains to me that if we give just one of them money we’ll end up with not 50 children but 500 following us.

Crossing the road became the hardest part for me, as three young girls who I stupidly make eye contact with start pulling my clothes. I ask them to stop but they persist and start to beg me for money. Even if I was to tell them at this point I actually have no Ruprees they blatently aren’t going to believe me. I look like I have millions of Ruprees! We stand out like a sore thumb and compared to what these children have we are millions. I start to feel really uncomrfortable as one of the girls thinks it’s funny to pinch my legs. I can’t tell whether she is playing or being nasty. But she starts to scare me. Steve can sense that I’m uncomfortable and asks her to stop. No. She carrys on and what was probably only two minutes waiting for the lights to change feels like I’ve been stood on the corner for hours.

My saving grace is a four star hotel that we swiftly escape to for a drink. Yes, I have the luxury of being able to walk along a dirt track where people live on the side of the street straight through the doors of a plush air-conditioned hotel. How lucky am I right now? I feel a massive sense of realisation run through me. I have an incredible life compared to the people here. I knock back three vodkas which calms me down a bit. People had warned me that I would be shocked but I don’t think I had expected it to be this crazy. This is the most extreme travelling experience I have had so far.  

Our second day is equally as intense. This time it's research groups. But not as I know them! I’ve not previously done any research groups in houses before let alone houses in India. We are driven to a house and taken into a room where there is a double bed and a few chairs set up in front of a TV with headsets. Six hours later we have sat through three consumer groups watching a screen, listening to what consumers have to say about our design work. As a lot of the groups spoke in the local dialect, Marathi, not only do you have to listen to them talk but also to a translator who was sat in the room with us also. I’m now not only physically, but mentally exhausted.

I ned to put all my remaining energy into my trip home as I fly from Mumbai to Chennai to connect to Singapore. I found being the only western female in the whole of Mumbai Domestic airport extremely intimidating this time round....everyone is staring at me. But I settle myself down and read my book, a slight delay on the flight makes me panic that I'll miss my connection. I have every right to panic as I reach Chennai, my flight is closed and the lady behind the desk is reluctant to let me pass through security. I think she takes pity on me as I probably look like I am about to cry! Managing to grab a few hours sleep I finally made it home at 8am the following morning and head straight to bed. I need to recharge my batteries for the ANZ AusCham ball that Jill and I have been looking forward to. But first...sleep!