Arrival in Mumbai (Bombay) and Special Evening with Milan
Friday July 25th - 10 AM
Back to last nite…I am waiting for my massage and it is now 10, but being India, this means nothing….so I might as well get caught up on the computer…
The flight ended beautifully and as we landed, I started to cry - Aviva was quite surprised, and truthfully so was I. I did not expect to feel so deeply about coming back to India - But they were tears of joy, thankfulness, love for all those who guided me so lovingly back and who made it all possible and just plain excitement. I got off the plane, took my time, got through customs and, knowing Milan was already outside, was anxious to get out quickly and hoped my luggage wouldn't be the last out. Well....the last piece of luggage came around the circle, and ,mine was nowhere to be seen-turns out it had come out FIRST, before I got there, and someone had taken it off and put it off to the side. Soo...out I went and sure enough Milan was there with a big grin on his face. The weather was not bad at all.
ASIDE: The Bombay airport is much nicer than I expected. Wonderfully air conditioned, quiet, orderly and outside no touts like in Delhi - One guy asked me if I need a taxi, and when I said no, they all back away. (further aside: didn't realize just how nice the airport was until I got BACK to wait for my flight to Chennai-they have showers there (!) and bed sort of things to lay down and sleep on in the waiting lounge. And I did just that...I found an empty one and slept for 2 hours before boarding the next flight)...and security there is really strict-luggage is all checked...then hand luggage...then body search and then the same thing all over again for hand luggage and body search before getting onto the bus to the actual plane...which was also funny...2 bus loads had already left for the plane and we were waiting on the last bus when everyone was told to get off and go back inside since there was a problem with the plane and it could not take off...as soon as everyone got off the bus...everyone was told the plane is OK and you can now get BACK on the bus...it was actually quite comical and the Indians just shrugged and laughed it off...no one got angry or cursed or complained or shouted...and many were there with babies and small children in the wee hours of the morning...so different from Israelis)
Back to narrative...sorry....Milan took me to his car-a brand new VW station- Just like Judah’s (my ex) car I had just ridden in with Shlomit to the airport only a station wagon! We started driving and getting reacquainted-and we just drove and drove through tons of traffic...bby it seems is enormous-70 km. long from end to end! Well, we finally got where we were going and Milan says "You don't have to pay, I have coupons" Didn’t know what to expect from a coupon restaurant...Well, we wound up in the swankiest restaurant ,pub, dance bar in Bby where all the rich rub elbows...movie stars etc. But there was no one there at 9 PM or so as nite life apparently just begins close to midnite.
Now, it really was fancy-we had our own private waiter standing discreetly behind our table to refill water glasses, serve dishes on our plates etc.
Milan insisted I have cocktail (to go along with his FIVE gin and tonics) and I agreed-some vodka and fruit thing which was delightful...Then we started with courses-they suggest things and you agree or disagree-tell them how you want it prepared "Nayee spice" and then they go prepare it. We waited a 1/2 hour for each course like this to be served!
(To make along story short, since Ravin is hungrily waiting to use his computer)...we spent a few very pleasant hours there talking about everything from family to world politics...he is an amazing person......and in the end the bill came....I almost fell over backward when I saw it! Obscene is probably the best word for it...it was 4000 rupees!! Enough for a family to live on for a month!
(Well, it is now actually Saturday morning after breakfast, and a wonderful night's sleep, but I will get caught up to date and hope to stay up to date now at least for the time being. Today we have planned a small outing to change money and then at 3 my first ayurveda treatment.
back to narrative....
Let me continue...after discussing the problems (I am back to my short visit with Milan at the restaurant) of the overly wealthy in India, the new generation of spoiled youngsters, credit buying, proper home education and discipline and morals for children (he has a 15 years old daughter and 12 year old son), living beyond your means, the influence of cable TV and computers, children who no longer play outdoors and would not recognize a jump rope if it jumped up and bit them...we agreed that this is a truly global community and this latest generation is growing up in some ways with many advantages, but quite disadvantaged in many other ways.
Milan then took me back to the airport and then I sent that very first e-mail to all of you...checked in at Air India (they take your picture and put it on the boarding pass!) and then as you read in the last entry, found the bed "room" and slept for a couple of hours.
I will end here as I am tired and Ravin really wants his computer...more tomorrow in the continuing saga...
Back to last nite…I am waiting for my massage and it is now 10, but being India, this means nothing….so I might as well get caught up on the computer…
The flight ended beautifully and as we landed, I started to cry - Aviva was quite surprised, and truthfully so was I. I did not expect to feel so deeply about coming back to India - But they were tears of joy, thankfulness, love for all those who guided me so lovingly back and who made it all possible and just plain excitement. I got off the plane, took my time, got through customs and, knowing Milan was already outside, was anxious to get out quickly and hoped my luggage wouldn't be the last out. Well....the last piece of luggage came around the circle, and ,mine was nowhere to be seen-turns out it had come out FIRST, before I got there, and someone had taken it off and put it off to the side. Soo...out I went and sure enough Milan was there with a big grin on his face. The weather was not bad at all.
ASIDE: The Bombay airport is much nicer than I expected. Wonderfully air conditioned, quiet, orderly and outside no touts like in Delhi - One guy asked me if I need a taxi, and when I said no, they all back away. (further aside: didn't realize just how nice the airport was until I got BACK to wait for my flight to Chennai-they have showers there (!) and bed sort of things to lay down and sleep on in the waiting lounge. And I did just that...I found an empty one and slept for 2 hours before boarding the next flight)...and security there is really strict-luggage is all checked...then hand luggage...then body search and then the same thing all over again for hand luggage and body search before getting onto the bus to the actual plane...which was also funny...2 bus loads had already left for the plane and we were waiting on the last bus when everyone was told to get off and go back inside since there was a problem with the plane and it could not take off...as soon as everyone got off the bus...everyone was told the plane is OK and you can now get BACK on the bus...it was actually quite comical and the Indians just shrugged and laughed it off...no one got angry or cursed or complained or shouted...and many were there with babies and small children in the wee hours of the morning...so different from Israelis)
Back to narrative...sorry....Milan took me to his car-a brand new VW station- Just like Judah’s (my ex) car I had just ridden in with Shlomit to the airport only a station wagon! We started driving and getting reacquainted-and we just drove and drove through tons of traffic...bby it seems is enormous-70 km. long from end to end! Well, we finally got where we were going and Milan says "You don't have to pay, I have coupons" Didn’t know what to expect from a coupon restaurant...Well, we wound up in the swankiest restaurant ,pub, dance bar in Bby where all the rich rub elbows...movie stars etc. But there was no one there at 9 PM or so as nite life apparently just begins close to midnite.
Now, it really was fancy-we had our own private waiter standing discreetly behind our table to refill water glasses, serve dishes on our plates etc.
Milan insisted I have cocktail (to go along with his FIVE gin and tonics) and I agreed-some vodka and fruit thing which was delightful...Then we started with courses-they suggest things and you agree or disagree-tell them how you want it prepared "Nayee spice" and then they go prepare it. We waited a 1/2 hour for each course like this to be served!
(To make along story short, since Ravin is hungrily waiting to use his computer)...we spent a few very pleasant hours there talking about everything from family to world politics...he is an amazing person......and in the end the bill came....I almost fell over backward when I saw it! Obscene is probably the best word for it...it was 4000 rupees!! Enough for a family to live on for a month!
(Well, it is now actually Saturday morning after breakfast, and a wonderful night's sleep, but I will get caught up to date and hope to stay up to date now at least for the time being. Today we have planned a small outing to change money and then at 3 my first ayurveda treatment.
back to narrative....
Let me continue...after discussing the problems (I am back to my short visit with Milan at the restaurant) of the overly wealthy in India, the new generation of spoiled youngsters, credit buying, proper home education and discipline and morals for children (he has a 15 years old daughter and 12 year old son), living beyond your means, the influence of cable TV and computers, children who no longer play outdoors and would not recognize a jump rope if it jumped up and bit them...we agreed that this is a truly global community and this latest generation is growing up in some ways with many advantages, but quite disadvantaged in many other ways.
Milan then took me back to the airport and then I sent that very first e-mail to all of you...checked in at Air India (they take your picture and put it on the boarding pass!) and then as you read in the last entry, found the bed "room" and slept for a couple of hours.
I will end here as I am tired and Ravin really wants his computer...more tomorrow in the continuing saga...
posted by Jane @ 6:56 PM
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