chatrapati shivaji international airport (mumbai, india) - november 19, 2006
wow. wow wow wow. i love india. wow.
and wow wow wow does Bonnie Cappuccinno maintain a breathtaking and exhausting pace.
we had one full day in Delhi, visiting the MVP women's centre where destitute women are trained in sewing over 6 months with the hope that they will be able to establish their own sewing businesses. they are, without exception, among the most beautiful women i've ever encountered. and we're treated like royalty wherever we go, such is Bonnie's golden reputation and enormous goodwill.
leaving Delhi for Gandhinagar (via Ahmedabad) on november 16 required us to be up at 2:30am to load the three taxis to accommodate 6 travellers (me, bonnie, doris & jeanne-d'arc from ottawa and clasina & tony from vancouver) plus as much luggage as might be found on a space shuttle mission (mostly supplies for the homes). we have encountered NO problems. we breeze through.....like royalty.
we spent 3 fully days at the home in Gandhinagar, a strange, fully planned city laid out in 30 sectors. Sector 21 is where we were taken shopping on the first day. all of us bought material to have clothes made. we'll be attending a wedding in Kaliyampoondi (near Chennai) in about a week, so we all wanted special outfits. i had a traditional, white kurta pyjama made as well as a pair of more formal trousers that i can wear under the kurta (the long shirt) for the wedding. it all cost about 850 indian rupees (about $22), was made overnight, and fits perfectly without a fitting. wow wow wow.
on day 2, the women went to do more shopping and accompany Bonnie to meetings in Ahmedabad. i went with the home's assistant manager, Ravi, to the Akshardham Temple, built by the current incarnation of the Swami Narayan in his honour. the temple is spectacular, intricately carved over a period of 6 years from tonnes of pink sandstone brought from Rajasthan and is surrounded by a collonnades and exhibition halls.
i have to go because we've got to clear security for the next leg of hour flight to Hyderabad.
more to follow.....
i have so many good stories so far about india. nothing like the scary crap in the guidebooks.
namaste.
and wow wow wow does Bonnie Cappuccinno maintain a breathtaking and exhausting pace.
we had one full day in Delhi, visiting the MVP women's centre where destitute women are trained in sewing over 6 months with the hope that they will be able to establish their own sewing businesses. they are, without exception, among the most beautiful women i've ever encountered. and we're treated like royalty wherever we go, such is Bonnie's golden reputation and enormous goodwill.
leaving Delhi for Gandhinagar (via Ahmedabad) on november 16 required us to be up at 2:30am to load the three taxis to accommodate 6 travellers (me, bonnie, doris & jeanne-d'arc from ottawa and clasina & tony from vancouver) plus as much luggage as might be found on a space shuttle mission (mostly supplies for the homes). we have encountered NO problems. we breeze through.....like royalty.
we spent 3 fully days at the home in Gandhinagar, a strange, fully planned city laid out in 30 sectors. Sector 21 is where we were taken shopping on the first day. all of us bought material to have clothes made. we'll be attending a wedding in Kaliyampoondi (near Chennai) in about a week, so we all wanted special outfits. i had a traditional, white kurta pyjama made as well as a pair of more formal trousers that i can wear under the kurta (the long shirt) for the wedding. it all cost about 850 indian rupees (about $22), was made overnight, and fits perfectly without a fitting. wow wow wow.
on day 2, the women went to do more shopping and accompany Bonnie to meetings in Ahmedabad. i went with the home's assistant manager, Ravi, to the Akshardham Temple, built by the current incarnation of the Swami Narayan in his honour. the temple is spectacular, intricately carved over a period of 6 years from tonnes of pink sandstone brought from Rajasthan and is surrounded by a collonnades and exhibition halls.
i have to go because we've got to clear security for the next leg of hour flight to Hyderabad.
more to follow.....
i have so many good stories so far about india. nothing like the scary crap in the guidebooks.
namaste.
posted by allan at
8:41 p.m.
4 Comments:
Allan, just read your latest posting - you sound so happy it made ME feel happy too - we miss you but enjoy and learn so you can pass that on to us - the less lucky or less free!
Love
Carmen
By
Anonymous, at 3:33 p.m.
I have a friend in Chennai!
cool huh?
He's good people.
His name is Dave
By
jarthurs, at 4:20 p.m.
thanks for that - I needed to hear something positive about India, since it's less than a month away for me now! You're blazing a mighty fine trail...
By
Anonymous, at 7:22 p.m.
I cannot wait to hold your hand as we behold some of these places together. Hopefully in this life? But if not, we have a million lifetimes.
You make me smile.
Love,
Susan.
By
Anonymous, at 12:49 a.m.
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