Friends have told me so many times in the past week that I look tired. They’ve been wondering what’s wrong with me. Unfortunately, I’ve been feeling just as exhausted as I look. I don’t feel like I’m coping very well with India at the moment.
Frequent travelling and working 12 hour days has drained me. Constant loud noise from the festival season is irritating my ears. Only getting water for a few hours three times a day, due to the ongoing water shortage, is testing my patience. It doesn’t help that my husband can’t seem to remember to turn waterless taps off, so when the water does come and we’re out, it floods the floor. I’ve also been worrying that we’ve been spending too much money socialising. Our Indian budget doesn’t extend as far as the frequent consumption of exorbitantly priced 300 rupee drinks.
The list could go on. What it all means though, is I’ve been feeling a little bit mental. Unbalanced. Pareshan. I’m ashamed to admit, I’ve been missing the easiness of my “old life”.
So this afternoon, in an attempt to regain some peace of mind, I bundled myself into a rickshaw and headed to the Mindspace garden behind InOrbit Mall in Malad. I’ve known about this garden for quite a while, and am now ruing the fact that it’s taken me so long to visit it.
I was really surprised by how beautifully laid out and peaceful the garden is. The best thing though, was the absence of India’s usual crowds. The garden is big enough to provide plenty of room for everyone. The majority of people there were couples, enjoying some quiet and private time alone. It was strangely comforting to see such rarely seen displays of affection. I laid down under a tree and let the earth’s energy sooth and recharge me.
Of course, a man decided to hang around, wait for me to leave, and follow me out of the garden. It was a familiar scenario. I don’t think I’ve been to one garden or park alone in India, and not received unwanted attention from a man. Fortunately for him, when I abruptly turned around and shouted at him, he suddenly realised that he should be heading in another direction.
I’m not letting the incident cloud my experience of the garden though. I think I’ve finally found my patch of paradise in this crowded and chaotic city. I’m already looking forward to going back there. What’s more, for once I’m grateful that I live all the way out in the suburbs, so close to it!
Mindspace garden, behind InOrbit Mall in Malad, is open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. Entry cost is 5 rupees. There’s free entry on Tuesdays.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so sorry you feel all bent out of shape. Long periods of total immersion in India can do it to you. Its a bit about being homesick too. I know my husband used to be emotionally exhausted after a few weeks/months of living and working in India. It helped that he worked on projects in rural India and was able to turn to his somewhat sylvan surroundings to recharge and come to terms with the challenges of daily living and social interactions in India. The only words he could use to describe his mood and affliction was.. emotional exhaustion. So you are not alone! You also seem to have found a similar path to recharging… nice place with greenery and even more importantly ALONE time!
Hope you feel better honey!
And to help you cope with any homesickness on your part, I made Aussie Meat pies for dinner tonight. The kids licked thier plates clean!
I couldn’t help but laugh at the man following you out and you turning around and shouting at him! I guess the peaceful moments you experienced were only as long as you stayed IN the garden! In my experiences, these slumps go away after a day. I hope tomorrow you are feeling re-energized and refreshed. You are one strong woman!
Oh bugger! I think you handle living in Mumbai better than anyone I know and it doesn’t seem to have made you ‘hard’ or ‘cold’. I think you need to congratulate and not be so hard on yourself.
It does look like a great park though.
Cathy is in Mumbai now…she landed today…she even brought her fab Aussie accent with her if you want to listen.
Haha! Reenu you’re hilarious! It is a good idea Sharell, you should meet Cathy. Should help you, especially the fab Aussie accent of her’s! That looks like a pretty garden. Wonder if they have any of those in Delhi too. I’m sure they do, just that ol ignoramus me doesn’t know…
Ramit, i think me you and Cathy should go kidnap Sharell and cheer her up.
ha ha!
yelled at the man seems so funny!
you should have told him…not to hit on women in the park….bookstores are ok
besides not to hit on foreigners…they always leave
ha ha!
Ah, you’ve all brought a smile to my face, especially you Mr Chamko (but Kiran, every time you tell me about making meat pies…and there have been a lot of times!… I feel more homesick than ever!! Moreover I want to come to the US and eat them all. I love how the pies are such a hit). I think I rather frightened the man, it was kind of amusing. I stopped walking three times to give him the opportunity to pass me and go on his way, but every time he stopped as well, including waiting for me at the exit gate. The fourth time I turned around, crossed my arms, shouted “kyaa hua?”, and glared at him. He was so stunned, he uncertainly repeated what I said and scuttled away.
Seriously though, thank you all for the reassurance. It really does help to know that how I’m feeling is normal. It’s not easy because my husband can’t seem to understand my problems (which I guess is natural because he doesn’t have to deal with the things I do on a day to day basis) and then we end up fighting.
But you’re all right, I will bounce back. And I do seem to be good at that. I’ve always like rollercoaster rides. 
Ramit, have you been to garden of five senses, or Lodhi gardens?
Sharell….Yeh hai Mumbai meri Dost or should I say Yeh hai India meri dost
I don’t blame you coz I can now relate your situation with mine. There is lot in India to do and enjoy…but in certain things it lacks from the other countries like US, Uk or may be Aus too and that is to have time for yourself and only yourself to do any and every thing. And the best part is that you can do any and everything you want to which becomes little strict and restricted in Indian lifestyle…that is my personal feeling.
But anyways, there is always a way to retire momentarily and give your muscles and brain a halt to feel for themselves and I am glad that you found this park to bring you that comfort…Cheer up…
Ramit: Have you ever been to Kalindi Kunj, Buddha Jayanti Park(a notorious one but how it makes a diff to you if you wanna just relish nature), Lodhi Gardens, Lotus temple, Japanese park in Rohini Sec-11…I’m sure you must have been to most of them
Reenu: Great idea! Must do!
Sharell: You know about the garden of five senses? Amazing! I am an ol ignoramus! Hehe! I’ve never been to the garden of five senses. Honestly. Must go on of these days I guess. I’ve been to Lodhi gardens a long time ago, a really long time ago and don’t find anything in the Lodhi garden to be worth going back now.
Apoorv:I’ve been to Kalindi Kunj ages ago. And wouldn’t want to go back there either because now the charm of the place is completely finished. I seriously doubt if the water fountains even work now. Buddha Jayanti is a strict no no. It’s too much out of the way from South Delhi and much much notorious now. Rohini is like on the other end of the planet for me from where I am. But I must say Japanese garden sounds exotic. The only Japanese garden I’ve been to so far is the one in SFO. That was something.
Oooh and what are meat pies?
By the way, where have Ronny and PGB vanished?
Hey Ramit, it’s my job to know these things.
Hopefully Ronny and PGB are off doing something constructive!
Meat pies are typical Aussie food. It’s a pie with minced meat (usually beef) in gravy inside. Google it.
Ramitji, Meat pies are a disgusting Australian specialty. Right up there with Vegemite.
LOL Nik…
Ramit: Japanese garden is the name given to it just because of the way it has been constructed. Japanese follow an architectural concept of constructing the way terrain allows which means not to change the land much rather design the construction the way land is. So this garden in Rohini is constructed the same way, where the land was like a pit, they made a lake out of it and so on so forth. Moreover now since Appu ghar is closed, Rohini is hosting the place for amuzement park along with a giant mall called Metro Walk.
Parks in India are lovely and empty, because everyone wants to be on the streets. Humans, cars, cows, dogs and cats. Aint we glad we have some parks??!
Its the opposite here in Denmark…no one on the streets and everyone in the park. I WANT AN EMPTY PARK!
Hi Sharell,
I happened to fall on your blog few weeks back, been reading it quiet often these days… My name is Marie, I’m french and I just got married this summer, to an Indian!
He stays in Mumbai as well. I’m in France right now but coming back to Mumbai in November, and I’ve been staying there on and off for the last 3 years. You really do a good job keeping your blog updated! I love reading about your adventures, and identifying myself in a lot of the situations! 
keep up the good work!
Cheers
Marie
Sharell what photo I would love to go their and see that. I do know what you mean about getting home sick that has happened to me few times where I lived. I have been living in PA now for about 7yrs and I get so home sick for Texas cause I have loved their for over 12yrs. It will pass sharell sometimes you even have to find hobbies,just an idea that has worked for me or even going some place quiet peaceful like you did. About that guy too funny! I don’t blame you thought you never know any more anywheres
Hi June, I’ve actually been to Copenhagen so I know what it’s like over there! Such a contrast to Mumbai!!
Hi Marie, welcome!
I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the blog and can relate to it. Congratulations on your marriage. Do let me know when you’re back in Mumbai and maybe we can meet. I treat my blog like a job, in that I put as much effort into it as work. Plus India always gives me so much to write about. It spares my husband from having to hear about it all the time. 
nickki, thanks so much for your kind words. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who goes through this. I have a friend from Texas who’s living in Chennai with his wife (from Colorado Springs) and I think they’re rather homesick too!!!
I have to commute to my college in town everyday and it’s a draining experience to say the least. I can barely stand the pollution and the heat. It must be even more difficult for you, because you must be used to less than 3 people per square kilometre in Australia.
The population of Mumbai is 18 million, only 1 million less than that of the whole of Australia!
Here in Nerul we have 6 pretty large gardens. And fortunately the corporation does a good job of maintaining them. Overall I can say the pollution situation is a lot better here, and there is a lot of greenery.
Having grown up in New Bombay, I feel like an outsider whenever I’m in the city. I don’t think I can ever live in a place like Andheri or Kandivli. The noise on the Western Express highway itself would kill me.
Try to take 10 days off and make it to a Vipassana meditation camp in Igatpuri (just a couple of hours drive outside of Mumbai). It sure is a liberating experience and totally free of cost. More details can be found at http://www.dhamma.org
Namaste.
Thanks for the tip Eskay! I actually did the 10 day Vipassana course years ago when I was living in Melbourne.
Although I’m yet to forget the distinctive sound of Goenka ji’s voice, unfortunately I haven’t been very good at keeping up the practice. Maybe it’s time I went back again.
Oh June you’re so sweet and hilarious!
Nik: Thanks for the tip. Pray, what is vegemite? (I know I’m dumb and too lazy to google) Besides, what are friends for? Enlighten me oh great sires all over the world!
It’s a spread that’s dark brown/black in colour and contains a lot of yeast/vitamin B. Hence people’s disgust towards it. Just for you Ramit, I’ll write an amusing post about it (with pictures).
Thanks! I saw it!
This garden is really beautiful. I’ve come here several times and I even once held a ritual here. But the all-pervading reek of rubbish floating in the creek behind the garden doesn’t allow me to forget that this place used to be a garbage dump about 10-odd years ago
Wow, I’m thrilled that you’ve been to the garden!
It’s amazing how much development has gone on in Mumbai — from garbage dump to garden! I agree that creek is so horribly filthy and polluted.
Oh, I just had a look at your website. When you said you conducted a ritual in the garden, it was a Wicca ritual? How fascinating. I’ve read quite a bit about Wicca, and saw that article in the Mumbai newspaper too.