For those of you who didn't know, I landed safely in India. The travel guide said that India smiles on those who go with the flow, and I thought I was prepared for anything, but I hadn't prepared for Amsterdam. Our flight had a three hour layover in Amsterdam, and after spending 15 Euros on a egg biscuit and a beer ($30) I started to realize how much I didn't really like Amsterdam. Long story short, my Visa check card might have been put on hold as an identity theft device. My fault for not letting my company know. What wasn't my fault was the overcomplicated phone systems in the airport along with the inability to dial an 800 number.
But we landed safely in India, just in time to see a mad rush at the airport as some popular Indian wrestler had arrived with us. Our connection, the wonderful awesome Kate who Andrew was good enough to put me in touch with, was there to greet us with a friend of hers and had arranged a taxi and hotel for us. Now, if India was a person, it would be one of those vivid charismatic folks you meet who you know everything about, whether you like it or not, within about five minutes. And for every redeeming quality he might have there's a clashing character flaw. India is that guy, but unlike "that guy" India is somewhat endearing. But "clash" is all too appropriate a word as India embodies the very idea of clash. The old and new, the pungent and repugnant, the sweet and the salty, et al.
If there's one thing you can guarantee, it is that every taxi/auto ride is an adventure. "Life or death" might be an exaggeration, but it is a hell of a ride. Through experience, attentiveness, and lots of beeping of the horn our driver navigated us safely to our hotel. While in the U.S. a horn honk might mean a derogatory or profane exclamation, a horn honk in India doubles (almost exclusively) as a "hey there, I'm right here" or "excuse me, I’ll be turning left now" (speaking of left, that's what side of the road they drive on).
India has a strange smell to it, but I quickly got used to it. Have I fallen in love with it? Well, it's a great first date, but probably only because I knew what was coming. I mean, where else do you have to scour every shop for toilet paper? Speaking of toilet paper, being left handed is somewhat unfortunate as it is for unclean purposes and I have already handed some money to people with my left hand. Long story short, it’s not polite.
We managed to pace our sleeping to overcome jetlag, and Kate has been wonderful. Today we went shopping for fabric to have clothes made for Brittany (seriously, 3 salwar kameses cost like $60 max). We had the best Pizza Hut EVER for lunch (not a lot of Indian restaurants in our area) and then for dinner Kate took us to a nice little Indian place (and by nice and little I mean: really little and great food). Afterwards we went to her apartment for chai, where she was kind enough to allow me to use her computer and there was a small group of her Indian/South African/Australian friends fellowshipping with us as well.
Brittany and I have taken great care to start spending a great deal of time in prayer and in the Word. Spiritual warfare is extremely prevalent in India and we are constantly on our guard. Our plans are to spend a bit more time here and then travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Eventually we'll see Rajasthan (dessert state), Karola, Calcutta, and Darjeeling. Who knows what else? Tomorrow we go to Kate's church, try and find a cheaper hotel (money isn't tight...yet), and try and plan the remainder of the week. I will have pictures as soon as I find a way to get them onto a computer. Delhi is not as beautiful as the rest of India (from what I understand) and I'm looking forward to some time in the north.
Please link this blog to anyone and everyone who would care. I will try and update it frequently.
But we landed safely in India, just in time to see a mad rush at the airport as some popular Indian wrestler had arrived with us. Our connection, the wonderful awesome Kate who Andrew was good enough to put me in touch with, was there to greet us with a friend of hers and had arranged a taxi and hotel for us. Now, if India was a person, it would be one of those vivid charismatic folks you meet who you know everything about, whether you like it or not, within about five minutes. And for every redeeming quality he might have there's a clashing character flaw. India is that guy, but unlike "that guy" India is somewhat endearing. But "clash" is all too appropriate a word as India embodies the very idea of clash. The old and new, the pungent and repugnant, the sweet and the salty, et al.
If there's one thing you can guarantee, it is that every taxi/auto ride is an adventure. "Life or death" might be an exaggeration, but it is a hell of a ride. Through experience, attentiveness, and lots of beeping of the horn our driver navigated us safely to our hotel. While in the U.S. a horn honk might mean a derogatory or profane exclamation, a horn honk in India doubles (almost exclusively) as a "hey there, I'm right here" or "excuse me, I’ll be turning left now" (speaking of left, that's what side of the road they drive on).
India has a strange smell to it, but I quickly got used to it. Have I fallen in love with it? Well, it's a great first date, but probably only because I knew what was coming. I mean, where else do you have to scour every shop for toilet paper? Speaking of toilet paper, being left handed is somewhat unfortunate as it is for unclean purposes and I have already handed some money to people with my left hand. Long story short, it’s not polite.
We managed to pace our sleeping to overcome jetlag, and Kate has been wonderful. Today we went shopping for fabric to have clothes made for Brittany (seriously, 3 salwar kameses cost like $60 max). We had the best Pizza Hut EVER for lunch (not a lot of Indian restaurants in our area) and then for dinner Kate took us to a nice little Indian place (and by nice and little I mean: really little and great food). Afterwards we went to her apartment for chai, where she was kind enough to allow me to use her computer and there was a small group of her Indian/South African/Australian friends fellowshipping with us as well.
Brittany and I have taken great care to start spending a great deal of time in prayer and in the Word. Spiritual warfare is extremely prevalent in India and we are constantly on our guard. Our plans are to spend a bit more time here and then travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Eventually we'll see Rajasthan (dessert state), Karola, Calcutta, and Darjeeling. Who knows what else? Tomorrow we go to Kate's church, try and find a cheaper hotel (money isn't tight...yet), and try and plan the remainder of the week. I will have pictures as soon as I find a way to get them onto a computer. Delhi is not as beautiful as the rest of India (from what I understand) and I'm looking forward to some time in the north.
Please link this blog to anyone and everyone who would care. I will try and update it frequently.
2 comments:
But...what does that have to do with hating amsterdam
re-read the first paragraph. it was overpriced and a hassle. i'm sure it's a wonderful place, we just didn't get along.
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