A city I will definitely return to. Mumbai is a city of duality – one side is photogenic, the other, undeniably raw and uncomfortable. The gap between poverty and wealth here is so immense that it’s fair to say, “to the moon and back – six times over.” Mumbai surprised me with its modern art (I visited countless galleries), fancy cafés, boutique shops, and, of course, sheer luxury. The latest luxury cars share the roads with battered taxis. The grandest hotels open their doors directly onto chaotic, noisy streets – no one’s yet invented a tunnel to bridge the gap between slums and opulence. Modern skyscrapers rise right next to sprawling shantytowns. But a diamond shines even in ashes – amidst this chaos of poverty, noise, trash, and honking madness, I managed to discover truly amazing spots to eat and feast my eyes. There’s an odd feeling when a modern, London-worthy café or gallery is nestled in such unexpected locations that you start questioning whether Google Maps is leading you the right way. From the depths of poverty to glittering golden luxury – the same country, the same city, the same people. It’s fascinating how a city can create both a wasteland and masterpieces, and most impressively, how they exist side by side.
