India talkie 5

I am now sitting in the airport at Chennai (Madras) waiting to board our plane for Colombo Sri Lanka, where we will meet the others who have flown direct from Bangalore. Irfana and I had to come via Chennai because Irfana was only able to enter and exit the country from certain points. This has meant that we have been lucky enough to see another part of India and we haven't been disappointed! Chennai is bigger than Bangalore and it feels more westernised as well. However there is a real buzz here and of course being by the Bay of Bengal gives it a different flavour. The heat is perhaps the only bad point, at nearly 40 degrees yesterday it would test the stamina if you were here for a longer time. We visited St Thoma's Basilica and his tomb with Reeba who we met at the conference and became our guide. The church was beautiful made in white stone and lit up to give it a bit more atmosphere. After a spot of shopping we then went to the beach. This coast of course was hit by the Tsunami and apparently hundreds died. This memory was still fresh enough for Reeba to bring it to mind. She herself was at church that morning and didn't know anything about it until she got home and switched on the TV. Reeba said that for a while lots of people were afraid to go down to the beach but it seemed that that fear was now subsiding. Even though it was dark the beach was absolutely packed with families and young people. Children were flying kites and lots of lit up stalls were dotted around the beach selling food and offering fairground type attractions. Only a few boys were in the sea, all fully clothed and  there was a real party atmosphere. This was the perfect end to say goodbye to India. It sums up for me the mood and spirit of this amazing country. It seems that in spite of all the pain and suffering which is all around the people simply love to celebrate what they have.

Comments

[debbie]

Really looking forward to hearing more now you're back Dave. Sounds like you've had an amazing experience. See you soon!