Mumbai Local Custom Tips by mariocibelli

BOMBAY DUCK (yuck!)

In 1997 Bombay Duck was banned by the European Commission (EC) of the European Union. Bombay Duck is a delicacy eaten as an accompaniment to curry. It is dried fish that is usually served fried. It has an acquired pungent taste adored by curry lovers.

The EC admitted that it had no "sanitary" evidence against the product and the UK Public Health Laboratory Service confirmed that there are no recorded cases of food poisoning, or bacterial contamination, associated with Bombay Duck. It was been banned because the EC only allows fish imports from India from approved freezing and canning factories. Bombay Duck is not produced in factories.

Party at Maratha Mandir Cinema at 11 AM

Maratha Mandir is part of Mumbai's film history, where some of the industry's greatest hits have been screened. In this theatre, the 1995 hit film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge has been running successfully for ten long years!

Twenty-four-year old Nathu Ghorpade, a porter at Mumbai Central station, does not subscribe to the view that his city is one of the costliest in the world. Over the past few years, he, along with his friends, has, at least once a week, been spending four hours in air-conditioned comfort, munching popcorn and watching a hit movie for just Rs 14 (till recently it was Rs 9).

If you don't believe this, refer to the Guinness Book of World Records. Yash Chopra's hit film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) arrived at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir theatre in October 1995 as a morning show and is still running to packed week-end houses and semi-packed week days.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

This is the BOLLOYWOOD movie experience of all time, with full audience participation at the Maratha Mandir just across from Mumbai Central, it is the most fun I have ever had at the movie, and have now seen it 10 times.

It costs like 15 Rupees for a seat in the stalls and has been shown every day for 10 years at 1130AM.

Taxi Ettiquette

If you are alone (and a male) it is the custom to ride in the passenger seat next to the driver. I like this as you get a better view and might have a chat, the downside in the Mumbai taxis is that the motor causes the front seat to stay at an average temperature of 40 degrees / 103 F, this is without considering the outside temperature. It is also OK to smoke (99% of the time).

In Mumbai after about 30 taxi rides only twice was there a discussion as to the cost and this was in taxis I had picked up at CST at odd times of the night/morning.

Mumbai is much easier to get around in then Delhi!

Taking the Train

Learnign how to get on and off the local trains from Churchgate station was an education. I have to thank Aadil for my first lessons, afterwhich I believe I mastered the art of running and jumping, not to mention hanging out and breathing!