B.E.S.T.

For the first time in the past 2 years in Mumbai, I spend considerable amounts of time herded in the be(a)st, busses as I helped Junk get to her TOEFL exam centre at SakiNaka

A new experience for me because the number of times that I have boarded the fume belching, spine crunching PMT busses in the past 15 years can be counter on one hand, and those experiences too were nothing to write home about, unless you are interested in corporal mortification.

My feelings about the Mumbai locals are now in the public domain. I love them, I hate some of the people who travel in them, I love the system, and as an Engineer I am fascinated at the near clockwork efficiency that the software programme that controls the locals works with.

My first experience of the BEST busses was at Ghatkopar railway station was a clear board indicates that there are 4 bus stands, and the busses from each of the stands are clearly labelled. For those who do not know the bus numbers / routes, another adjacent board explains that too. Junk who hates Mumbai was pleasantly surprised by this, and as she spends about 2 hours a day in the wretched PMTs she was also pleasantly surprised by the punctuality and the cleanliness in these busses. Ghatkopar to SakiNaka was a breeze, in fact was spent looking for a breeze that would help alleviate the streams of sweat that threatened to drown me more than the pre-monsoon showers that chose to grace Mumbai yesterday.

SakiNaka to Kurla was real nice, Double Decker bus (LOVE IT) front seat on the top. Awesome view and the breeze, is to kill for. Saw the airport and had the luck of seeing a plane touch down after passing a few hundred feet above my head. Love all things aeronautical. And my first experience of a landing from the outside will be remembered for ever. All the videos that we watch cannot show the sheer magnificence of the machine as it forgoes its wings and touches down. Truly awesome.

Another thing added to the list of things I love in/about Mumbai, the BEST busses comes in after the Mumbaikars and the locals, and displaces vada pav/roadside sandwiches, to grab the third place.

b.t.w Naturals Icecream Litchee and Tender Coconut mixed together is devine. Try it if u get a chance. I generally prefer micing a white icecream with a brown one, but this combi of white with white is delicious. *yumm*