.. for the Barrett family.
Its been quite a hectic build up to an eagerly awaited trip. As we leave our flat in a freezing cold Bristol morning in Bristol, i step over a frozen puddle of water on my doorstep and contemplate that it will soon be swapped for a hot hot climate. Time to embark on India 2012 !!
So 8 hours later im on the plane and its really been a plane trains and automobiles affair with typical troublesome UK taxis and National Express service (lack of). The plane trip thus far has been Jay time really. He eventually fell asleep 11:40 pm UK time. So after a couple of hours of broken sleep through typical airline discomfort i make a point orientating myself to our location and peer out the window for the view ofAfghanistan/Pakistan..... WoW !... a HUGE vista of endless snow capped mountaines and endless barren rocky valleys eventually give way to a MASSIVE straight fault line, like nature had built its own great wall to the plains beyond. The trip really started for me at this sight.
As we roll into the Indian plains and decend into Delhi, im fixated on the details of the terrain that awaits me. I can already taste the dry fine dust of India through the Planes aircon 10 mins before we land. As we decend a Huge statue caught my attention, it must be 100ft tall .
As the airstrip closes in i notice scores of children playing football games in the dry dirt wasteland outside the airport fence. Childhood, wherever in the world, its just GOLD!
Its not long before we are greeted at Delhi's modern furbished airport that im told resembles nothing of its former self. A truly Indian warm welcome awaited us from Nana and Nani Dube, Mausa Ji and Kamya. Received as guests we were cordially priveldged with such warm hospitality and quite frankly sublime Indian cuisine curteous of Maasi Ji and Kayma. Jay spent no delay in making himself at home and enjoyed throwing himself down the childrens slide in the playpark.
As a first impression of india can be given, it couldnt be given better. But my first impressions were also formed out of the backdrop. The fleeting details passing by me on the minibus ride through Delhi. The chaotic civil suburb landscapes adorned with the brash bright indian billboards. Scores of characters bustling about their bisness with a casual disregard and easy negligence. In no amount of time is it made clear that accountability for your safety lies solely on your own shoulders in a free for all where the constant chorus of car horns is the main vocal to the frenetic pace of Delhi.
Its the human face of this aspect that probably gets the abrupt attention of the outsider. I could write a list of examples i witnessed with fascination from just two short car trips. But there is only one that only when i was caught unawares at a crossroads, a sharp tapping at the window and i was looking into the eyes of an impoverished mother with an infant wrapped in a dirty shawl, she begged for food by way of her empty fingers mimicking feeding her mouth... and my response was to look away.
Very quickly you see that Delhi is full of new civil development . The Cranes and the concrete of its new apartment blocks. There is seemingly something of a self aware irrepressible march to modern development by a nation teagerly awaiting to embrace the changes it promises to bring. At its current position on this tangent, it is a mesmorizing clash of old and new. For the outsider it is the old that is infinately more fascinating in EVERY way.
Its been quite a hectic build up to an eagerly awaited trip. As we leave our flat in a freezing cold Bristol morning in Bristol, i step over a frozen puddle of water on my doorstep and contemplate that it will soon be swapped for a hot hot climate. Time to embark on India 2012 !!
So 8 hours later im on the plane and its really been a plane trains and automobiles affair with typical troublesome UK taxis and National Express service (lack of). The plane trip thus far has been Jay time really. He eventually fell asleep 11:40 pm UK time. So after a couple of hours of broken sleep through typical airline discomfort i make a point orientating myself to our location and peer out the window for the view ofAfghanistan/Pakistan..... WoW !... a HUGE vista of endless snow capped mountaines and endless barren rocky valleys eventually give way to a MASSIVE straight fault line, like nature had built its own great wall to the plains beyond. The trip really started for me at this sight.
As we roll into the Indian plains and decend into Delhi, im fixated on the details of the terrain that awaits me. I can already taste the dry fine dust of India through the Planes aircon 10 mins before we land. As we decend a Huge statue caught my attention, it must be 100ft tall .
As the airstrip closes in i notice scores of children playing football games in the dry dirt wasteland outside the airport fence. Childhood, wherever in the world, its just GOLD!
Its not long before we are greeted at Delhi's modern furbished airport that im told resembles nothing of its former self. A truly Indian warm welcome awaited us from Nana and Nani Dube, Mausa Ji and Kamya. Received as guests we were cordially priveldged with such warm hospitality and quite frankly sublime Indian cuisine curteous of Maasi Ji and Kayma. Jay spent no delay in making himself at home and enjoyed throwing himself down the childrens slide in the playpark.
As a first impression of india can be given, it couldnt be given better. But my first impressions were also formed out of the backdrop. The fleeting details passing by me on the minibus ride through Delhi. The chaotic civil suburb landscapes adorned with the brash bright indian billboards. Scores of characters bustling about their bisness with a casual disregard and easy negligence. In no amount of time is it made clear that accountability for your safety lies solely on your own shoulders in a free for all where the constant chorus of car horns is the main vocal to the frenetic pace of Delhi.
Its the human face of this aspect that probably gets the abrupt attention of the outsider. I could write a list of examples i witnessed with fascination from just two short car trips. But there is only one that only when i was caught unawares at a crossroads, a sharp tapping at the window and i was looking into the eyes of an impoverished mother with an infant wrapped in a dirty shawl, she begged for food by way of her empty fingers mimicking feeding her mouth... and my response was to look away.
Very quickly you see that Delhi is full of new civil development . The Cranes and the concrete of its new apartment blocks. There is seemingly something of a self aware irrepressible march to modern development by a nation teagerly awaiting to embrace the changes it promises to bring. At its current position on this tangent, it is a mesmorizing clash of old and new. For the outsider it is the old that is infinately more fascinating in EVERY way.
It is a well written post. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVidya