A Tale Of Two Cities
Well, let me put it straight why I named this post ‘A Tale Of Two Cities’ – because I am like a pendulum hanging between Mumbai and Hyderabad. Four months ago, I moved from Delhi to Mumbai. Now I have moved from Mumbai to Hyderabad.
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| Mumbai |
I always had a fascination for Mumbai – I always found it extremely charming! So, when I finally got a chance to live there, I was thrilled. To be honest, initially, I was perturbed by certain things about Mumbai – its traffic and long distances. But, gradually I got pretty much used to it. And once you get used to Mumbai, there is no city like it! That’s why I call it an ‘enchantress’.
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| Hi-tech city, Hyderabad |
Since my family had to move to Hyderabad, it had to be my home town. But, I wanted to live in Mumbai, at least for some time. Four months later when I had to leave Mumbai, my heart was heavy. Although I was happy about moving into a new house in Hyderabad, I wanted to experience more of Mumbai. I had struck a chord with the city of dreams.
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| Powai Lake, Mumbai |
Mumbai wanderings
I spent a fabulous day at South Mumbai – it was one random day, but it turned out to be an awakening for me! Yes, I heard a clear voice from inside of me that I want to live this way – explore places, make photographs, meet new people and gather experiences. Well, I was already aware of what I wanted and to a certain extent, I have achieved that too. But, there are times when you get a clear confirmation that you don’t need to run after things which are not for you. Rather, delve into your dreams without reservations.
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| Rajabai Clock Tower |
One of my recent posts, South Mumbai Wanderings, showcases my ramblings. I started walking from Nariman Point to Church Gate – Rajabai Clock Tower was the first architectural wonder that I spotted followed by Mumbai High court and University of Mumbai. I have always been intrigued by British architecture. I enjoyed capturing the beauty of the Clock Tower from every angle.
More wandering and I discovered National Gallery of Modern Art and David Sassoon Library. I walked a little bit more and I reached Colaba – Mumbai’s eminent commercial causeway, which has many vintage restaurants and cafes.
It was an unusual day – a Parsi lady bumped into me chirpily. Seeing me clicking pictures, she exclaimed, “Good, very good! Keep doing what you are doing. I am with you!” She said many other nice things to encourage me and also nudged me to take her picture. After a boost from a random local, I thought to grab a cup of coffee.
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| Random Parsi lady |
I checked in at café Mondegar at Metro House. It’s a seasoned café with lots of buzz. I happened to sit in a corner, where next to me was sitting the café’s manager with his laptop. When he saw that I was taking pictures with a SLR, he wanted to know if I were a journalist. He just wanted to make sure that if his café is written about, he should know about it. I told him that I was a travel blogger and a photographer. I built a brief, but interesting acquaintance with him.
My wanderings continued till the evening – Colaba to the back lanes of Taj, Marine Drive and finally back home with my tired feet, but a happy heart!
Hyderabad – Let’s see what’s in store for me
I am still not sure whether I want to stay here in Hyderabad or find an opportunity to return to Mumbai. I feel a little nomadic at the moment – I lived in Mumbai for four months, which allowed me to explore it like a local – know its people, food, culture, the feel of the city and subtle nuances, which we fail to discover as a tourist. Even though I could not continue living there due to whatever circumstances, it is still a great achievement as a traveller.
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| Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad |
Since my current city is Hyderabad, I want to make the most of it – live here like a local, explore its hidden gems, absorb its essence and enrich the traveller in me. When I thought about writing this post, I went back to my old trips – pictures of Hyderabad, which speak about my perception about the city.
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| Charminar, Hyderabad |
My initial experience with Hyderabad was not too good. I didn’t find anything exciting here. I didn’t want to revisit it. But, I did because my sister was here in 2010. I came down to Hyderabad to spend a few days with her. It was a beautiful time – monsoon had just knocked, weather had turned blissfully pleasant and I got to see some nice glimpses of the city. I told myself, Hyderabad is not too bad.
Hyderabad does have a character, a heritage and a certain kind of uniqueness. I am keen to explore more of it. I know that Hyderabad and Mumbai, except for somewhat similar weather, are totally different cities. I know that I am not staying in my favourite city anymore. But, I also know that I have an eye for beauty. I have the ability to coax out something interesting out of a particular city.
So, here I am – nomadic and happy!
Have you ever felt stuck between two cities? Do you think I should stick to Hyderabad?
