Incredible India

I have finally set foot in India. Incredible. It’s one of those places that I (and little moo-moo) have always wanted to visit, somewhere God has placed in my heart. It’s not like a strong burden for the nation or anything, but just one of those places that is attractive and special to me. And true enough, one single word that I would use to mark this trip will be “comfortable”.

Be it walking out from the airport to be greeted by a sea of Darlie faces holding out sign boards, riding in the night and seeing cows by the side of the road. Or in true luxurious comfort, my hotel room with its modern home furnishings, and a wonderful breakfast spread by the poolside. Walking for 3 hours straight in the Bangalore traffic, the dusty roads, honking and a much-to-be-improved traffic did not unsettle me. Going about to do my shopping in a tuktuk was fun too. Winding in and out of cars in midst of the pollution made me smile about being able to get so close to the piece of metal next to me.

Even the food settled comfortably in my tummy despite the difference in dining culture. Every night, it was drinks & starters from 8 to 930, then dinner from 930-11. Murgh (chicken) tikka, rougan gousht (mutton), dahl, naan, rice, and lots and lots of different types of curries- yummy!! Well, I’ve gotta worry about the pounds now- but all the foods were like the best Indian comfort foods. Finger licking good!!

The colleagues were really sweet- esp Mohit & Jehan. They took really good care of me and made me absurdly jealous of the Indian hospitality- I’d love to be as hospitable as them. And having worked with them for so long, it’s so nice finally being able to hang out, goof around and even being able to talk about work & discuss issues face to face made me insanely excited. It is a comfort to find that despite being in different geographical locations, employees around the world ask the same questions, wonder about the same stuff and are considering the same options. But one thing I’d add though is that although I have been previously unimpressed by some of the working styles I’ve witnessed, but I now see some of the smartest and most hardworking Indians I know. There is little wonder that Gandhi came from this land.

I have definitely not seen much of India at all- the archaeological sites in the outskirts of Bangalore, Bollywood Mumbai, the capital Delhi or the other of the many states in this most democratic country in the whole world. And there are problems- the poverty gap, beggars on the street, shanty towns, a sense of elitist amongst some of the learned ones, infrastructural improvements, etc. But India has come a long way.

And I took myself by surprise- feeling at home and being comfortable in this land.

I like India. I really really hope to be able to go back again some day and discover the treasures that I have yet to find. Incredible India.