I have arrived
Here is my first entry from India.
You may be wondering what I've been doing since last Saturday.
I left Montreal for Paris on Saturday, July 28 and then took a plane from Paris to Mumbai (Bombay) and arrived at 10:30 P.M. Sunday night Mumbai time. Rather than the luggage going straight to Combatore as the Air France check-in suggested, it was necessary to claim luggage and transfer to the domestic airport. After clearing customs and finding the domestic shuttle and checking the luggage, the bus finally arrived at 12:45 A.M. Monday morning. We arrived at the domestic terminal around 1:30 A.M. only to find the money exchange closed and no ATM in sight. So, I never made it to the hotel which had been reserved by the school. It was a long night until 8:00 A.M. when we could check in for the Mumbai Coimbatore flight. The flight left at 8:55 and arrive in Coimbatore at 10:45 A.M. Monday.
I was met by Val, South Africa, and Tim, Australia. We had lunch in the Nilgiris shopping centre?!?! A chicken burger heated up in the micro wave. The road from the airport to the centre was crowded with traffic - all on the wrong side of the road. The school bus driver wove the bus between cars, trucks, motorbikes, cattle, and pedestrians. One hand out the window, one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand blowing the horn. Quite an experience! The visual contrast is quite something. There are new elaborate buildings next to ramshackled ones that would probably fall down in a strong wind. The bus driver could not park near the centre so we thought we had lost him after lunch. He stayed on the bus. Fortunately Val had a cell phone and was able to contact the school and eventually the driver turned up without the bus!
We worked it all out and then went back to the airport to greet Joy and Andrew and their 3 children, and Nicola. Then the 3-hour journey up the hill! Again the traffic was cars, trucks, buses, bikes, and goats as well as cattle. After many mountain passes we made it to Hebron and supper of fish and chips with pears and hot custard for dessert.
After supper Nigel, England, showed me a quick route to the showers ( 3 times per week) and let the water run until it gets warm!
By 8:30 P.M. I was in bed and tried to sleep. And so ended Day 1 in India.
The firm mattress was hard!!! Sleep did not come easy. The dampness is all pervasive. Finally 7:00 A.M. I had had enough and went off to find the showers. The water was hot enough, thanks to the solar panels on the roof, that I had to add some cold. Back to my room without shaving as there are no mirrors anywhere and then to breakfast with the Principal in his quarters at 8:30 and then orientation at 11:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. and so ended Day 2 in India.
More later.
You may be wondering what I've been doing since last Saturday.
I left Montreal for Paris on Saturday, July 28 and then took a plane from Paris to Mumbai (Bombay) and arrived at 10:30 P.M. Sunday night Mumbai time. Rather than the luggage going straight to Combatore as the Air France check-in suggested, it was necessary to claim luggage and transfer to the domestic airport. After clearing customs and finding the domestic shuttle and checking the luggage, the bus finally arrived at 12:45 A.M. Monday morning. We arrived at the domestic terminal around 1:30 A.M. only to find the money exchange closed and no ATM in sight. So, I never made it to the hotel which had been reserved by the school. It was a long night until 8:00 A.M. when we could check in for the Mumbai Coimbatore flight. The flight left at 8:55 and arrive in Coimbatore at 10:45 A.M. Monday.
I was met by Val, South Africa, and Tim, Australia. We had lunch in the Nilgiris shopping centre?!?! A chicken burger heated up in the micro wave. The road from the airport to the centre was crowded with traffic - all on the wrong side of the road. The school bus driver wove the bus between cars, trucks, motorbikes, cattle, and pedestrians. One hand out the window, one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand blowing the horn. Quite an experience! The visual contrast is quite something. There are new elaborate buildings next to ramshackled ones that would probably fall down in a strong wind. The bus driver could not park near the centre so we thought we had lost him after lunch. He stayed on the bus. Fortunately Val had a cell phone and was able to contact the school and eventually the driver turned up without the bus!
We worked it all out and then went back to the airport to greet Joy and Andrew and their 3 children, and Nicola. Then the 3-hour journey up the hill! Again the traffic was cars, trucks, buses, bikes, and goats as well as cattle. After many mountain passes we made it to Hebron and supper of fish and chips with pears and hot custard for dessert.
After supper Nigel, England, showed me a quick route to the showers ( 3 times per week) and let the water run until it gets warm!
By 8:30 P.M. I was in bed and tried to sleep. And so ended Day 1 in India.
The firm mattress was hard!!! Sleep did not come easy. The dampness is all pervasive. Finally 7:00 A.M. I had had enough and went off to find the showers. The water was hot enough, thanks to the solar panels on the roof, that I had to add some cold. Back to my room without shaving as there are no mirrors anywhere and then to breakfast with the Principal in his quarters at 8:30 and then orientation at 11:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. and so ended Day 2 in India.
More later.
posted by Bill at
9:01 AM
4 Comments:
Sweet! You made it! Looking forward to lots of details.
Good to hear from. Don't forget to write often. Some of us had to stay behind!!!
Good times. Things never go as we'd expect them to.
Don't worry about shaving until you get back to Switzerland!
Good to hear you made it safely, Mr. T. I look forward to hearing about your time in India. Could you try and write your entries with an Indian accent?
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