The cabs in Mumbai, what can I say? They're loud, they're proud and they're here to take you around. It's been almost three months now since I moved to this metropolis and that means I've taken approximately 150+ cab rides in this city.
I tried the train thing. It didn't go well. My borderline agoraphobia screamed out 'they're touching me, they're touching me' enough times for me to cave after just one uneventfully scary train journey (That's another un-story for another day I'm afraid).
Coming back to the cabs, they're now my one and only means of transportation in the city. I take them to work and back everyday and more often than less, something interesting manages to happen. The first thing that steals my attention always is the cab interiors. They come in all colours, fabrics, designs, states of un-hygiene and levels of stinky-ness. The seat covers vary from psychedelic prints, to carpet designs, to the more adventurous animal prints and there are even 'suave' ones made of velvet! The most annoying ones however, in my opinion, are the faux leather ones that heat up like an effing oven in the Mumbai heat! I get that this is the cab driver's baby in which he spends most of his day but please, spare a thought for my buttox, it really gets too hot to handle during the never ending rides! If the hot ass problem wasn't weird enough, there's the crazy blue/pink/red lights that some cabs have in them. I mean, what's with leaving these lights on during the day? It makes me feel like I'm in some strange 80s disco vortex gone wrong! Please sirs, as a request, spare a thought for the planet (and accept the death of disco) and turn the lights off during the day at least! After all these maniac thoughts have managed to distract my mind, I notice the (usually) numerous stains and holes on the seat covers. I also manage to spare a thought for the poor food (at least that's what I think that is) droppings on the floor vying for my attention. I can't bear to imagine whose boogers I must be sitting in and whose sweat I must be smelling! So, in order to distract myself, I usually make a few phone calls during the ride.
However, it's hard to concentrate on the conversation because it is now the cab driver's turn to grab my attention with his astounding driving skills. I've seen everything from wannabe F1 drivers to poor old men who are so tired that they actually fall asleep while waiting at a signal! There's also the question of the roads, the conniving drivers who see me for the sucker I am will try to take me the long way round but I've learnt my lesson and realised that sometimes you just have to fight your battle and be the GPS guide throughout the journey. One slip up might make the difference between paying what you ought to and having to shell out your spare coffee money.
The last thing I'm usually vary about is the fare in itself. If you don't ask to see the card, chances are, you'll most likely be conned out of a few extra bucks. At times, not having change becomes a problem and you'll end up being yelled at for forgetting to mention it at the beginning of the journey. There was one time when a cab driver even had the audacity to suggest that I was cheap because I didn't want to let go of the Rs8 he owed me in change! All in all, it's not all that easy when you have to do it everyday.
Reading this over, it looks like I've complained a lot about the Mumbai cabwallas and that's probably because ranting just comes easy. I must also mention how much I appreciate and admire these men. If it weren't for them, I'd probably be shelling out more money to see a shrink and get over my train phobia. But seriously, they battle the heat, manage demanding customers and manoeuvre the not-so-easy streets of Mumbai to put food on the table and a roof over their families' heads. It's not only commendable, it's endearing. So, as much as they trouble me sometimes by taking me the long way, charging me extra or just refusing to go, I must say kudos to the intriguing and entertaining Mumbai cabbies!
I tried the train thing. It didn't go well. My borderline agoraphobia screamed out 'they're touching me, they're touching me' enough times for me to cave after just one uneventfully scary train journey (That's another un-story for another day I'm afraid).
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| A pretty psychedelic cab seat cover |
However, it's hard to concentrate on the conversation because it is now the cab driver's turn to grab my attention with his astounding driving skills. I've seen everything from wannabe F1 drivers to poor old men who are so tired that they actually fall asleep while waiting at a signal! There's also the question of the roads, the conniving drivers who see me for the sucker I am will try to take me the long way round but I've learnt my lesson and realised that sometimes you just have to fight your battle and be the GPS guide throughout the journey. One slip up might make the difference between paying what you ought to and having to shell out your spare coffee money.
The last thing I'm usually vary about is the fare in itself. If you don't ask to see the card, chances are, you'll most likely be conned out of a few extra bucks. At times, not having change becomes a problem and you'll end up being yelled at for forgetting to mention it at the beginning of the journey. There was one time when a cab driver even had the audacity to suggest that I was cheap because I didn't want to let go of the Rs8 he owed me in change! All in all, it's not all that easy when you have to do it everyday.
Reading this over, it looks like I've complained a lot about the Mumbai cabwallas and that's probably because ranting just comes easy. I must also mention how much I appreciate and admire these men. If it weren't for them, I'd probably be shelling out more money to see a shrink and get over my train phobia. But seriously, they battle the heat, manage demanding customers and manoeuvre the not-so-easy streets of Mumbai to put food on the table and a roof over their families' heads. It's not only commendable, it's endearing. So, as much as they trouble me sometimes by taking me the long way, charging me extra or just refusing to go, I must say kudos to the intriguing and entertaining Mumbai cabbies!
