Mumbai Mayhem: A Drummer's Dizzying Dive
okay, so. mumbai. wow. just…wow. i’m still buzzing, honestly. landed here for a touring gig - a weird indie band from Iceland, can you believe it? - and it’s completely scrambled my brain in the best possible way. i’m a touring session drummer, you see, so i’m used to chaos, but this is a whole other level.
I just checked and the air feels like a warm hug that’s slightly too enthusiastic. It’s hovering around 37.19 degrees, which, honestly, is pretty standard for me after a sweaty set. The humidity is low, though, which is a blessing. Pressure’s at 1008, whatever that means. I’m just trying to keep up, you know?
My hotel is in *Bandra, which is apparently the place to be. It’s a whirlwind of street food, vintage shops, and people just…existing. It’s incredible. I spent yesterday wandering around, trying to absorb it all. I stumbled upon this tiny little cafe - check it out on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-milagrosa-bandra - and had the most amazing chai. Seriously, life-changing chai.
“Don’t trust the auto drivers near Bandra station,” a guy with a seriously impressive mustache told me while I was waiting for a cab. “They’ll rip you off faster than you can say ‘namaste’.”
He wasn't wrong. I ended up paying double what I should have. Lesson learned. Always negotiate. Always.
Speaking of lessons, someone told me that the Gateway of India is packed with tourists. Like, shoulder-to-shoulder, selfie-stick-wielding tourists. Apparently, it’s worth seeing, but be prepared to fight for a decent photo. I’m thinking of checking it out tomorrow, but maybe early.
I’m trying to find some decent vintage gear while I’m here. My snare drum head is looking a little worse for wear, and you know a drummer needs their tools. I’ve been browsing some online boards - https://www.thebetterindia.com/135687/vintage-shops-mumbai/ - but nothing’s really jumped out at me yet. I’m hoping to find something unique, something with a story.
“The best vintage finds are in Colaba,” a woman selling chai on the street whispered to me. “But be careful. Some of those shops are…questionable.”
Questionable is an understatement, I think. I saw one place that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since the 70s. Still, you never know what treasures you might find.
If you get bored, Pune and Nashik are just a short drive away. I’m thinking of taking a day trip to Nashik - apparently, they have some amazing vineyards. A little wine tasting after a few days of intense drumming sounds pretty good, right?
I’m also trying to find some good street food. I’ve heard amazing things about Vada Pav, but I’m a little intimidated. It looks…messy. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? I’m going to brave it tomorrow. Wish me luck. I’ll probably need it. TripAdvisor has some good recommendations: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g297604-Mumbai_Maharashtra.html
My gear list so far:
Noise-canceling headphones (essential for touring)
Portable charger (because outlets are scarce)
A really good water bottle (stay hydrated, people!)
A phrasebook (my Hindi is…nonexistent)
Wet wipes (for everything)
A sense of adventure (absolutely crucial)
I’m heading out to explore Marine Drive* now. Apparently, it’s beautiful at sunset. I’ll let you know if it lives up to the hype. And if I survive the auto drivers.
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