Singapore – Chennai

I have been waiting for this point in time for a long time. To actually arrive in Chennai. I had been trying to prepare myself by thinking and imagining the differences, the smells, the tastes, the language, the behaviour.

Lynn and I have travelled a fair bit since our first overseas trip in 2000 – we were seasoned travellers able to negotiate our way through all sorts of places but nothing had prepared me for the Lounge at Gate 43 at Changi Airport. About 200 people sitting waiting and among them only 2 non-Indians.

I have thought about minorities before and felt I had been in a minority in lots of situations but this was different. It was chaos as we sat in the glass case of gate 43 much like a fish bowl with thousands of people wandering by outside on their way to their own adventure or returning from it. The fish bowl was about 30 metres by 15 metres and it was loud with everyone thinking they had to share their conversation with the person at the far end of the bowl. Those who were sitting alone were not left out as they quickly grabbed their mobile phones and shouted at them. I was tempted to get mine out and shout but Lynn restrained me.

I sat and smiled at Lynn as I heard the jumble of noise invading my life. All I could do was what I always have done and looked for the funny side of things. There was no order as I knew it and yet there was.

All people in rows 24 to 28 please board now. Nearly everyone except us (row 13) stood and moved towards the gate. I got mad – didn’t they hear the announcement? But all was OK. The hostess just shouted louder than all the others “ONLY ROWS 24 TO 28!!!!!” There was a noticeable grumble but they stopped in their tracks. I got angry again. Why didn’t they move aside? They just stopped where they were and forced all the row 24 to 28 people to push through them.

All people in rows 19 to 24 please board now. Everyone except us (row 13) pushed towards the gate. I got mad – didn’t they hear the announcement? Once again there was the shout from the hostess and once again they stopped in their tracks.

We eventually got on, and inside the plane it was chaos. People moving forward and back down the aisles making it impossible for anyone to achieve anything. I am a relaxed person but I would like a bit of order. I felt like mutating into a hostess and shouting “EVERYONE SIT DOWN!!!!” but I restrain myself. I find a place for our hand luggage and sit while around me the chaos/new order continues.

As the plane pushes back there are at least twenty people still wandering back and forwards talking to others. There are still about fifteen pieces of hand luggage left in the aisle because people cannot find a place to put them in the overhead lockers. I do a quick check, can I see any cameras? Am I a participant in an Indian reality TV show? No sign of cameras, no sign of stress on anyone else’s face so I sit back and relax in the new order of life.

A meal was served (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) - NON-VEGETARIAN please. I did not fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian! Is this the next thing in my life to dissolve? The curry was hot but after the yoghurt was quite pleasant. There were three pieces of sliced fruit, pawpaw, and two I have never seen before. I politely asked the guy next to me what they were but he just shrugged and said he had never seen them either. Was this a good sign? I ate one, took a bite of another and put it down. Decided I did not need to try everything new at once!!?

We landed with several people wandering up and down the aisle as soon as the plane hit the tarmac - didn’t seem to make any difference that the stewards were shouting for them to sit down. No one seemed to be too upset at this so neither was I.

You will be all pleased to know that we have now had 2 flights and our luggage arrived safely to both destinations (although it took a long time in Chennai). We met Cornelius (our in-country supervisor), Paul (an Aussie but not a gnu) and Robert Moses our driver who were standing among hundreds of Indians, waving a welcome sign. We were given the traditional Indian welcome – flowers for Lynn and a garland for me.

The story of getting out of the car park is a story in itself as is the trip to the guest house.

Stay tuned!

Singapore - 02

Second day of relaxing and walking the streets of Singapore. We visited St Andrew's Cathedral. The original St Andrew's was destroyed by lightning strike and fire in the 1840's and rebuilt in the 1850s-60s by Indian convict labour. During the war it doubled as a makeshift hospital.

At the pulpit is the 'Coventry Cross',



made of nails from the former Coventry Cathedral, England. The Coventry Cathedral was decimated during World War II, and from the rubble, nails were recovered to form crosses. They were sent to the main Anglican churches all over the world as a symbol for the need for reconciliation. St Andrew's received theirs in 1950.

Bruce Johnson spoke about the Coventy Cross during his address when he was inducted as Moderator of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church. It was good to recall the need for reconciliation through this powerful symbol.

As well as the restored Cathedral

they recently built an underground 800 seat worship centre

used by their charismatic congregation. From the underground chapel you can look up and see the main Cathedral

We then travelled by train and bus to visit the Changi Chapel and Museum. We spent a quiet 90 minutes wandering through the exhibits reading about the atrocity of human behaviour and the bravery of people. Too much to mention happened here. Following on from St Andrew's it was a very worthwhile day.

Singapore

Well Qantas let us on with two grossly overweight bags and we are here in Singapore for a few days of rest before flying to India.

As is usual with the Wallis family flying, it was not a 100% smooth effort although it did effect everyone and not just us.

40 minutes late departing because a fridge in one of the galleys was not working.

In the air and only 7 hrs 40 mins to go and plenty of movies to watch - WRONG!!!

Again the Qantas attention to detail came to the fore. Movies kept jumping and missing bits then freezing. The head steward was very inventive in his comments as he informed us it would be a 30 min delay while he rebooted the system. After the third time in five hours when a few of the less patient travellers must have given him a mouthful about it, he proudly announced to all, "What do you expect me to do, my mother was a pastry cook and my father a real estate salesmen" I believe he thought his attempt at comedy would quieten the crowds but he was very wrong. System turned off to avoid further passenger dissapointment.

We had booked a hotel by the name of Hotel Re via the web before we left. Arrived to discover that it was short for Retro and the whole place was decorated in 60's style. One of Lynn's favourite colours is lime green so imagine her delight whan we reached our room and it is lime green and hot pink. She was delighted.

We have spent the day walking and looking. Both exhausted - good resting before India. Two days to go. Some retro photos for you to enjoy.

We are ready

Long night of packing and cleaning.

Lynn entered frenzy mode and scrubbed everything that did not move. Luckily I had enough energy to keep out of the way.

The bags are packed and are too heavy so we will have a discussion with the Qantas staff at the airport.

Singapore for a few days to sleep and prepare then into Chennai on Friday night.

No Miracle but we have our Indian Visas

Well the smooth transition of our passports from the Indian Embassy in Canberra to home was about as smooth as the skin on a pineapple.

• Arrived when noone was home so they were returned to the depot
• Rang and arranged for delivery next day - given new delivery number
• No worries someone has to be there between 8 and 1 to sign for them
• Daughter 2 offers to stay home for that
• Phone her at 12 - no sign of them
• Phone her at 3 no sign of them
• Arrive home at 4 - phone the delivery company
• Oh no - they don't do second deliveries I was given the wrong information. What about the new number I was given?
• Delivery company very, very sorry but there was a mistake on their part.
• Remedy - I had to drive all the way to the airport at 7:30 Saturday morning and pick them up.

Happy ending as we now have our passports back with Indian Visas attached for the correct dates.

Maybe that is still a miracle?

Indian Travel Visa

According to the Travel Visa web site our Visa's have been processed and are on their way by courier to our home address.

This is only two days after the applications were logged.

I will wait until they are in our hands before declaring it a miracle.

Friends

To be with friends is an amazing experience. You don't have to do or say much but by being there you are enriched and energised.

Last night we spent some time with friends - catching up before our departure to India. We have been pretty flat out with things and to be able to just arrive and sit down and accept the hospitality offered was enriching for us.

They have blessed us in this way for about 35 years - a precious gift.

Why don't you call some friends you havn't seen for a while and go and spend some time with them.

Daughter 2 arrived home last night after seven weeks travelling. It was good to arrive home from a great night out and sit with her to hear about her travels and see some photos.

One week of work to go and 260 hours to takeoff

Most things are done. We have our three boarders lined up which is great.

Just the Indian visa application to be processed now and we have all we need.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people supporting us in so many ways.

Just received photos of accomodation and it is great. Have to provide our own sheets, pillows etc so Lynn will get to do some early shopping.

Nearly There

Time is passing fast. Under 500 hours until takeoff (Only 479 really)

The car has been sold, most things are in place.

A few medical things to get done + letters from doctors as to why we are transporting a small Chemist shop with us.

I have a couple of days off to move stuff into storage then we should be set to go.