The Amazing Escape (Indoors) Lower Parel
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The thought of being locked up in a room for 60 minutes and finding clues to get out opens an interesting mix of excitement and fear for the kids. My 10-year-old son Ammol has to earn his one hour on the iPad to play virtual games. But even for Vani, my 12-year-old daughter who loves to read and listen to music, the concept of a live game with us as participants captures her imagination, and the delight between the two is palpable. We pore over some of the 'escape' places in Mumbai, and shudder in glee and anticipation over the themes of a new set of entertainment places that have burgeoned in the city.
The Amazing Escape has seven-themed rooms you one can be locked when playing the strategic games with your team
For this outing, we rope in my 15-year-old nephew, Yash, so we have a teenager's perspective.
When we actually track down Trade House in the maze-like Kamala Mills, it feels like fun to know that The Amazing Escape (TAE) is located in the basement. "Nice! Totally undercover," says Ammol. Rules are shared with us as we go in and check out the options. TAE has seven themed rooms to get locked into - the Lost Kingdom, Prison Break, Bank Heist and more - but it's suggested that we try the Lost Kingdom, because it may be easy. I've already told the kids that I'm merely accompanying them, and the solving part is their business. We are told to keep our wallets, phones and anything else we have in lockers, and a key is given to us. We are also told - to comfort us, perhaps - that there is a camera watching us and we can press the buzzer anytime to get out. Anyone for the loo? We all line up and gulp in fear, delight, excitement. And then we are in.
As soon as the door is shut, the timer starts and the four of us find ourselves in a small room, not knowing where to start. There are objects, keys, photo-frames and other props, and no one knows which of these are dummies and which ones, clues. We turn in circles, very aware of someone watching us bumbling around, and of a clock ticking away. A blackboard and chalk are given to us to make notes and/or calculate.
After 15 minutes, there is intervention with a small clue as to where to start. We finally do and move to the next clue, and eventually to the next room. There is a sense of urgency in decoding the clues and I can no longer feign nonchalance. We don't want the behind-the-camera-goddess to have to walk in and help us again. Every time we crack a clue, we are whooping and high-fiving each other in jubilation.
The last 10 minutes are feverish. We know what we need to do to open our door, but nothing we do seems to be the last chip needed to click it open.
Much to our embarrassment (and even if we stoically did not ask for it) the behind-the-camera-girl appears twice more to gently nudge us to figure out what we should do, without showing it to us. Arrgh! And then, with one minute to go we are out, and whooping.
Fact File
Where: Trade House, Kamala Mill Compound, Lower Parel.
Best for: Girls and boys aged 10 years and above, in groups of three or more
How to reach: We took a taxi. By train, alight at Parel (Central) or Lower Parel station (Western) and hail a cab.
Timings: 11 am to 8.15 pm
Budget: Depends on how large the group is. Starts from Rs. 699 per person, per room, on weekdays.
Food: No eating while inside. But you are given juice and can nibble cupcakes.
Water: Yes
Rest Room facilities: Yes
Where else to go: Kamala Mills also has fun places like Smaash and Millk for kids.
Parent Poll: Place where you get to run around and use your brain.
Rating: ****
Kids' Poll: Let’s go and try the other themes.
Rating: ****
What's Good: Help was given in just the right amount
What's Not So Good: The rooms were too small and the props, plasticy
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