Incredible India!
Well here I am in India - and what are my thoughts? Firstly, the weather is wonderful! I don't think I've ever seen it like this - overcast with the threat of rain. It has really kept the temps comfortable. The daily max is around 30 C - but the houses are built of thick concrete so you don't fel that hot inside. In fact, 30 C here feels cooler than 25 C in Melbourne!!!
Secondly, it is as crowded as ever! People are hustling and bustling everywhere and it's easy to see why my cousin thought Australia was deserted when he visited Perth last year!! My grandparents live two house away from the busiest shopping district in Chennai - think of it as Chadstone and Chapel St combined! There are so many shops within walking distance - ranging from platform shops selling things under Rs 100 ($3) to gigantic multilevel Myers style shops. These shops are generally open from 8.30 am to 9 pm. Another thing you notice is the excess of personnel everywhere. In Australia I am used to walking into Myers and finding a few staff only at the coounters. But here, there are staff everywhere. When you ask someone for help, there's usually two or three sales people coming to your assistance since they have nothing to do! Recently we went to a store to buy a gift, and I was really surprised that they gave us all some free coffee while we were browsing - and I thought that Indians were cheap!
Even the petrol station is not short of staff - one person at every bowser. Whne we wanted to fill our tyres with air, there were two men waiting to help!
(Next section is for family - so you may not understand!)
Anyway, as I told you on the phone, I saw VVS at Bharath's college. He seemed very happy to see me and elly wants to get in touch with you, Dad. He was teling me how you never used to let Chittapa play because he was a 'chota boy'! I gave him your email and he asked me to ask you to email him some photos of us! (I don't know why he wants our photos!!) He's into biotechnology and is working with plastics as well so he started taliking about Chem eng. I was worried he'll ask me something technical and I wouldn't understand but he didn't!
I videotaped Bharath's college for you Shweta - and we sort of got nto trouble because we weren't allowed to take it inside!!! But Bharath lied and said that we had permission!!!
Sanjay came home today and said that he had a good Darshan. He's relly busy thogh and has to start working for Ma'am straight away. This evening we are going to Dolly Athai's house. Patti is coming also because she wants to see Tuffey! (Na innu parkeve illai. Sandhay o Viji o bike li ay pora. So yena ashind e po maata. Yenaku thania auto la po pudikardu - so nee yena ashind poriyi a?)
They are all missing you Shweta, and want you to come aftr your exams. good luck by the way. Tiger is really friendly and keeps wanting me to pat it. But it gets so ferocious when strangers come! I'm glad it remembered / recognised me straight away. it's really amazing!!!
Anyway, that's it for now - keep in touch!
Secondly, it is as crowded as ever! People are hustling and bustling everywhere and it's easy to see why my cousin thought Australia was deserted when he visited Perth last year!! My grandparents live two house away from the busiest shopping district in Chennai - think of it as Chadstone and Chapel St combined! There are so many shops within walking distance - ranging from platform shops selling things under Rs 100 ($3) to gigantic multilevel Myers style shops. These shops are generally open from 8.30 am to 9 pm. Another thing you notice is the excess of personnel everywhere. In Australia I am used to walking into Myers and finding a few staff only at the coounters. But here, there are staff everywhere. When you ask someone for help, there's usually two or three sales people coming to your assistance since they have nothing to do! Recently we went to a store to buy a gift, and I was really surprised that they gave us all some free coffee while we were browsing - and I thought that Indians were cheap!
Even the petrol station is not short of staff - one person at every bowser. Whne we wanted to fill our tyres with air, there were two men waiting to help!
(Next section is for family - so you may not understand!)
Anyway, as I told you on the phone, I saw VVS at Bharath's college. He seemed very happy to see me and elly wants to get in touch with you, Dad. He was teling me how you never used to let Chittapa play because he was a 'chota boy'! I gave him your email and he asked me to ask you to email him some photos of us! (I don't know why he wants our photos!!) He's into biotechnology and is working with plastics as well so he started taliking about Chem eng. I was worried he'll ask me something technical and I wouldn't understand but he didn't!
I videotaped Bharath's college for you Shweta - and we sort of got nto trouble because we weren't allowed to take it inside!!! But Bharath lied and said that we had permission!!!
Sanjay came home today and said that he had a good Darshan. He's relly busy thogh and has to start working for Ma'am straight away. This evening we are going to Dolly Athai's house. Patti is coming also because she wants to see Tuffey! (Na innu parkeve illai. Sandhay o Viji o bike li ay pora. So yena ashind e po maata. Yenaku thania auto la po pudikardu - so nee yena ashind poriyi a?)
They are all missing you Shweta, and want you to come aftr your exams. good luck by the way. Tiger is really friendly and keeps wanting me to pat it. But it gets so ferocious when strangers come! I'm glad it remembered / recognised me straight away. it's really amazing!!!
Anyway, that's it for now - keep in touch!
posted by Sandeep at 2:22 PM
1 Comments:
Hey Jase!
Yay!! you are the first to reply!! This was my first time flying alone so yeah it was a bit weird! You and Cangie weren't there for me to annoy!! Guess what? They didn't have vegetarian meals on Singapor Airlines!! I'm pretty sure I told them early, but they said I hadn't given them enough notice. But they were nice and dug up some pasta for me!
So far I've had good internet access because my Grandparents live on the first floor of the house, while the ground floor has a few shops. One of these is an internet cafe!!! So I ust need to climb down the stair for access!!
Hope your trip to sydney goes well! What's the occassion? But sounds good! Check out the aquarium - I think it's better than Melbourne's! Also the caves are meant to be really good!
Have fun, and I'll see you in Singapore! Told you we may need thermals... the offer is still open!!!
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