I slinked out of Changi Airport. Terminal 3 instead of the usual 2 this time, which to say is spectacular and is a "masterpiece of understatement" (thanks Simon). I arrived in India in the wee hours of a Friday morning. It was fairly hot on arrival, but the heat didnt seem to bother me much for some reason - few things in India bother me very much.
After 3 days in the capital and arrived in Bombay - a city where I was born. The first thing I did when I landed was take a walk down memory lane - and alas, the prices have changed. My impression is that things are different this time, as opposed to the other occassions that I have gone back. On previous occassions, I felt that Bombay was developing and changing and progressing. However this time I was struck by how degraded the ambient culture of Bombay has become. Arriving back, this popped out: the lout culture is getting worse. In fact, Delhi and Bombay seem to have been affected. Thankfully, I dont have to stay here for too long. I met some people that are difficult to stay with in the same room. It was nice seeing them anyway. It is most frustrating to come across people who hide behind a veil of tolerance, only to reveal a character quite far from it - India seems to be full of such people; moreso than I remember.
I met an old friend. He has a strange personality, in many ways he is isolated from the world, and does not make friends readily. I tend to trust people like this - people that take time to reveal all their layers. For all his oddness, I know that he is a very honest person, people like him tend to be, and I value that. Like me, he too had similar impressions of this city, although he said he had been thinking this for years and visitors had not noticed it...he is maybe correct.
Travelling in Bombay is an arduous task, one that left me very tired - I dont mind running for that amount of time!
As usual, the good outweighs the bad. The food, I dont need to say, was fanastic - I got some great pictures and a heart full of joy and memories. I guess the thing that I have learnt the most out of this trip has been that good things are always alot of hard work. I leave India in a day only to come back at the end of this year - for very different reasons - it is where, I once again, will begin life, only to share it with someone else :-)
P.S. My India has been: Atta Jalebis from Chandi Chowk, Karela chaat from Moti Nagar, Roshan di kulfi, Malai wala doodh, Parathe wali gali Chandi Chowk. Delhi food is bar none and I dont care what anyone else says. Bombay has been: chaat by Juhu Beach (from the thelas - the yuckier the better), Ram Shyam (thanks Mix!), I would marry Mr. Elco, and the copious amounts of bhel I have put away, kebabas at Noorani's (another someone I have a HUGE crush on!). The Dodha from Delhi is still close to my heart and I will always squeal with delight at the sight of Chandi Chowk and its very famous jalebis (I am my most lusty around jalebis!!). I hate to admit this, but the Dhokla stuffed with paneer (the gujarati in my family will be horrified) in Delhi was just unbelievable!
P.P.S My mother and my dress designer have been successful in getting me to put on weight. Sorry folks, the gluttony has to end sometime! I will run on Thursday, hopefully Wednesday!
No comments:
Post a Comment