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We arrived in Delhi at 0300hrs and slightly ahead of our scheduled arrival time......we have seen huge changes at the airport since we were here last.I guess since all the developments done since the Commonwealth games preparations this was to be expected. As it was a bit early we hung around at the airport till 0600hrs before catching a taxi to my cousin Saraswati's house in Gurgaon.....It was wonderful to see the "Rikhye" family again after three years including Dina, who we missed out on catching up with previously as she was overseas......The city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi is probably one of the fastest developing areas in India and in the three years that we have been away it's easy to see why they call it "Millenium City".....New super shopping malls,hotels and the increasing extensions on the metro rail system are telltale signs of this rapidly growing city.....We rested most of the day on Tuesday & caught up on some much required shuteye having not had any sleep since leaving Heathrow the previous morning......Wednesday saw us spend the day out with cousins Dino & Dina at the "Select" super shopping mall....We invested in a Nokia mobile phone for the incredible price of $30...It is certainly the most economical means of communication in India with landlines now being a phone of the past...."Another few years & this country is going to leave us way behind" it's quite hard to believe at times but the progress is moving at an amazing pace....I am looking forward to the world cup cricket that starts on the 19th....lots of hype & excitement around the country as these guys are crazy about the game and probably more so 'cause they are the top favourites this year.... We set off on the first of our train journeys on Tuesday (47hrs to Cochin in Kerala) where we are for ten days.....We look forward to sharing our memories of the trip down once we are there....
Friday the 18th....I think I may have a touch of the dreaded "Delhi Belly"..!!..Dr.Songhi seems to have got away with it,though she is making sure I am dosed up with everything appropriate so I am ok to travel on Tuesday...We took a trip out to sort out the new phone with a Sim card thru "Airtel"...25rupees & an hour later we are now connected for both internal & o'seas calls.....It's times like this,after the amount of what we feel is unnecessary paperwork (Father's & Mother's names,addresses, o'seas & here,with two passport pics) a considerable amount of patience and then to top it all,my left "thumb print".....You can't help but wonder how this country is aiming to be one of the super powers of the future..!!!..Life does kick along though,and at the only pace most Indians tend to know...What's the hurry..??.."tomorrow is another day"... Changes are slowly on the way though....fines for spitting,on the phone while driving etc...even urinating in public.Though good to see these changes, it's the India familiar to anyone who has travelled here and these habits are going to take a while before we see a difference....
It's the wedding season at present,which means lots of loud music & bands through the streets..Songhi's been invited to an Indian equivalent of a hens night on Saturday & the two of us are guests at Dina's friend's wedding on Monday evening...no doubt the camera will get a good workout..!!..
Sunday 20th...We ended our five night stay at Mr Gupta's across the road and moved into my cousin's house for the last two nights before we leave on the first of our train journeys on Tuesday afternoon....After initially not minding the place we realized there was an uncormfortable energy about the room which I still believe added to my ailments...Unfortunately,we are still waiting for confirmation of our mobile phone connection,which we hope to have sorted out by tomorrow, including the opening of our bank account which we hope will not be as long a task....."Be positive Henry..!!..as Songhi would say"... It will be a nice relief to get out into the countryside and take in some fresh air & sunshine after all the dust & smog of Delhi....
Monday 21st....."Yipeeeee... High 5's"..!!!!!..Bank account & mobile phone is all done.....Now we are counting down to spending 47 hours on our first train journey to sunny Kerala...Look forward to keeping you all up to date for the next few weeks.......
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