When I first sat on a plane to fly to Dublin, I was carrying so many fears. But the biggest one was —
will I ever find my comfort again?

I have travelled to so many places in India — a girl from Mumbai who’s wandered through Shimla, Srinagar, Kashmir, Haridwar, Amritsar, Rishikesh, Nainital, Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa and the outskirts of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Mostly North India. You could say I have always been a bit of a traveler. Every place held hidden gems I uncovered, adored, left little pieces of my heart in — and carried souvenirs back from.

But after been to all those places, Mumbai still feels like home. If you have never been, let me paint a small picture for you. Imagine the soft winds at Marine Drive, an uncle nearby always calling out “Madam, chai?”, and me asking him, “Bournvita hai kya?” (yes, total chhoti bacchi hoon main vibes). Then late-night dinners at Sukh Sagar having Pav Bhaji.

I was brought up in Mumbai — my grandfather had his own store, my father ran his business, my uncles helped out, and I was the spoiled little one, loved by them all. My grandfather always said, “She’s to be treated like a queen. Food will only come from the famous places — and always ask her what she wants, never guess.”
Do I miss him? Yes. Hell yes. To infinity.
It’s always been about food for me, because I truly believe food is one of the purest acts of love and anyone who tells you where to find the best food is secretly wishing good things for you.

Now, let me tell you those hidden gems. There’s a place called Masjid Bandar, with a khau galli (street food lane) that serves the best pudla(snacks, basically). Right next to it, a bhaiya (vendor) sells roasted sweet potatoes, and dosas (Indian crepes). A little down the lane, you will find the uncle — selling goti soda(fizzy soda) for over 30 years now. While people chase five-star food, if you ever have true local food, you will know what real flavor is. As my grandfather used to say, “Only a true jeweler knows a jewel.”

When I boarded that flight, I was terrified of losing my comforts. Two years later, I am proud of the leap of faith I took. I have found my go-to spots for when I am angry, craving something, or just missing home. Though I don’t have a fixed list, trying different places has become so natural to me now — Indian at Wow Momos, Korean at Ramen Bar, Turkish at Chiya’s, and Lebanese at The Shouk. Each one feels like a little piece of comfort in a new place.

The girl in Mumbai is the same as the one in Dublin — only the geography has changed. Both places have equal space in my heart. And somewhere, I hope my grandfather is watching, saying, ‘I told you so.’

So here’s my little reminder to you — never stop dreaming, keep believing in yourself, and remember, the only limits are the ones you set in your mind. And when life gets too much, go and eat your favorite meal. It’s a simple kind of magic we often forget.

If you’ve felt the same waves of newness, homesickness, or excitement when you came here, or if you have a favourite food spot or hidden gem in Dublin that feels like home, share your story below in the comments or write to me. And if you know someone on the same journey, feel free to share this along — maybe they will find a little piece of comfort here too.