Day 5: 19th May 2011 Mumbai City and Dharavi Slum

We woke up a little late than before taking our maps and walking around Mumbai City. In fact, we walked so far that we reached Crawford Market and Textile market after a whole 30-45mins.
We saw how the early crowd queued for their bus to work, experienced the mad rush and the immense honking of the taxis and cars on the roads of Mumbai.


Going to work


Women lining up for bus



Mumbai, a city, filled with the locals and the migrants. Clearly, overcrowding is an issue. Poverty is also a major issue. and the Rubbish and filth that people have to live in is something that's not solved for years. The govt, in my opinion, should really do something to improve the hygiene of the living conditions. The rich-poor gap is obvious. On one side of the road, are high rising buildings and offices. On the other side of the road, are slums and poor people. Child beggars at around 2-3 years old start to beg alongside with their parents.

In the afternoon, after taking our lunch, we met up with the guide from Reality Tours, for a tour into Dharavi Slum. Some background of the slum...this place was made famous after the movie "Slumdog Millionaire"..although the movie wasnt directly filmed there..Dharavi is routinely called "the largest slum in Asia"..Slums are the cheapest option for migrants to Mumbai to live in..the residences were very small and dark and in very poor hygiene conditions..and within these slums, some industries like recycling plastic, aluminium, glass were carried out in the midst of where they live..toxic gases being released but they have to live with it...they only have 1 public toilet and the number of people living in this slum is stated to be more than 1 million to date...imagine that! how on earth to share the toilet? how to bathe?

We walked through the slum with our guide. We saw people sewing clothes, basically is like a factory..they sleep there..work there..leather products and baked food items were made there..we cannot imagine how is it like living there..is life..despite all these negative sides, the annual turnover of business there is estimated to be more than $650m (£350m) a year..imagine that!

Dharavi Slum
(taken from NGM website)

Photos were not allowed to protect the privacy of the residents there..many of them smiled at us and asked where we were from as we walked through the slums.. little children stood around..excitedly waving their little hands at us..they gave me the most beautiful smile despite the adversities they live in..something which I dont think a city person..like us is able to imagine and live in the kind of conditions they are in..The revenues earned by the tour company is given to develop the community centre and the kindergarten which children over there will benefit from. It comes with a purpose. a purpose to help the slum dwellers. I feel that although there is a lot of hardship there, the people live with pride, dignity and hope..they enjoy simple pleasures of life..nothing expensive..a game of cricket makes their day..a gentle smile brightens their day too..even from a young kid 2-3years old exhibit such radiant smiles...much thought-provoking moments that day...I strongly encourage people in Mumbai to visit the slums..you know what I mean when you are there...

After Dharavi Slum, we made our way back to the hotel. From there, we walked to Marine Drive and had our dinner at this restaurant, Pizza by the Bay.


At Marine Drive


It was a great way to spend our last night in Mumbai, watching the cars go by us..absorbing the last bit of Mumbai..We saw the lights up at Marine Drive, which mimic the Queen's necklace..and took some pics..before going back to our hotel..it was an interesting day..something to reflect upon in each of us..to be contented with what we have in Singapore :)