Getting through Customs and Immigration at the airport was actually a breeze. I was happy to see that my knife was not confiscated and the document camera I brought for Babu Simon Louis was not damaged. Yes, I brought my pocket knife. At some point I want to buy a mango in a market, peel it, and eat it. India smells like bread. In fact, it smells like the bread we were served on our flight from Frankfurt to Bengaluru. It is hard to see from the bus that took us to our hotel because it is in the wee hours of the morning. However I did notice some things. There are huge billboards. Slightly taller than they are wide, three of our billboards could fit in the space. The advertising on them is all in English. Many of the buildings have balconies – this includes stores as well as apartments and homes. The stores I have seen so far tend to be two story strip malls of a sort. The balcony railing is used for advertising. Some of the buildings I think might be homes or apartments have different levels reached by stairs which have a Dali-esque quality about them. They seem to rise, twist, and turn in the most unexpected places. Very charming, actually. The hotel has a buffet which features Indian, American, and Continental food. For my first breakfast I had scrambled eggs, bacon, olives, and a mango lassi. For lunch I had mutton in some sauce, chicken soup, fruit, and rice. Dinner was potatoes au gratin, fish in a spicy sauce, grilled chicken, and channa masala. On our first day our schedule was light. We had an interesting talk about the history of India, and some of that information will be used in my next post. I did talk a walk around the neighborhood and made some interesting discoveries. Some auto rickshaw drivers are very forceful, other are friendly. Beggers are quiet and respectful of your space. I found this surprising since it is the opposite of what I had been told to expect. Cows wander the sidewalks. Watch where you step. Vegetation abounds, and the effect is very cooling and soothing. |