It is the new year and new business travel trips. The last I visited Mumbai was in early September 2022 and with a colleague. That was my 1st ever trip to India and I have to say that I don't like Mumbai. Maybe I wasn't used to the city or it was an exhuasting work trip. I didn't enjoy it and was constantly counting the days to go home.
Time flies and 5 months had passed. It is long overdue and I know I should be back. This time, I would be alone and I wasn't at all looking forward to it. I am scared. Alone in Mumbai didn't sound interesting or exciting. Ok, maybe exciting but the wrong kind of exciting.
My flight was on Monday morning 7.45am. I was up at 4.45am and at the airport at 5ish. Yawnz... the only thing that excites me about the trip is the shopping at the airport. Hoho. My chance to stock up my cosmestic and skincare.
The last I flew for business, after clearing the immigration at T3, I had to take the skytrain to T1 for the flight. I found out a little late and had to rush. This time, after immigration at T3, I also had to take the skytrain. Why didn't they just let us check in at the right terminal? At least I have plenty of time bcos I already know SQ's "trick".
The flight took off on time. I had the famous middle seat but fortunately had very cordial fellow flight mates, who didn't infringe into "my space" or did weird antics. I caught 1.5 movies, had inflight bfast and took a short nap towards the end of the flight. I know I had to sleep, it was a long day ahead.
The fear of being stuck at the immigration is real. I was reminded times and again that India is where all documentations need to be in hardcopy. Bring everything, bring extra, just bring and there is this lingering anxiety that I might have forgotten something until I finally successfully cleared immigration. The passenger in front of me (sounded like Singaporean) was stuck bcos he was asked for his boarding pass and he misplaced that. We were in the airport, clearing immigration, where else can we come from lah? I don't know how long he was stuck, he was still there when I moved to another counter and cleared immigration. Good luck!
I booked a car from Booking.com. The driver was early, whatsapped me and called me. I cannot do anything lah, not like if I can rush the immigration officer. Fortunately, he was still waiting when I finally exited the airport.
Welcome to Mumbai!
I started my hour long car trip to the office in Aroli. The familiar traffic, the honking, the messy landscaping, the dusty roads... I didn't really mind the traffic actually, bcos that was my last bit of idle before starting my work day.
Oh ya, I was told that these small little shops do not come with toilet. Public toilets are built x distant away. I can imagine the hard conditions, especially during the hot months, yet these small shops lined so many of the city streets.
Work started as soon as I arrived in the office with my 大包小包. My colleague nicely took care of me and ordered me Chinese food for lunch. Nice.
I didn't leave the office until the sun had come down. By then, I was exhausted from the early morning and long day. Uber works well in Mumbai and I Ubered to the hotel. It was interesting sights on the way. I passed by some markets and parks
.
I chose to stay in Turbhe this time, which is about 30 mins away from the site office. It is the industrial area and my India colleagues were not very approving of the area, They had nicely advised that I should stay in BKC area, which is the Financial Center area and more "accessible". I am not sure what accessibility are they talking about bcos the last time I stayed in BKC, other than offices, eateries and hotels, there is nothing else. No shopping mall, no convenient shops. We were shuttling between the hotel and office, which isn't different from this time. BKC would require an 1 hour traveling time to the site office and in the last trip, we lengthened our work day bcos we had to leave the hotel early to miss the traffic.
The area is indeed a little daunting but I was assured that it is actually very safe and the Vivanta Hotel is very safe. The hotel does look safe, with high walls, like a fortress. It is a good hotel and the room was huge!
Got bathtub somemore.
I was exhausted and had to finish a little more work. Dinner was therefore comfort food.
I usually don't sleep too well on the 1st night but I must be very tired. Hoho.
Mummy Lim
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