Just a quick update and more to follow later when we get to Vellore. So far 6 out of 7 have arrived in India and 5 of our bags made it all the way. We were welcomed in London by snow flurries and freezing temperatures. Jami and I had a leisurely layover in Heathrow and partook in a delightful boiled English breakfast. Vida, on the other hand, sat on the runway waiting to get to a gate only to have thirty minutes to run from one end of the terminal, catch a bus and get on the flight to India with us. She, thankfully, made it but her backpack sadly did not...
We are spending the night in Chennai tonight and will head to Vellore tomorrow morning to start work at the Christian Medical College. First impressions of India: bordering on chaos, and apparently today is a holiday so I am guessing this is calmer than normal (?). The driving is probably the scariest part, there are no lanes, I don't think checking one's blindspot was part of the drivers ed teaching and driving on the left hand side of the road and obeying one way streets is optional. We decided to go exploring this morning and found walking and crossing streets on foot brings you face to face with death every two minutes. I suggested we start taking an autorickshaw to cross the street, currently still being debated as to whether this is the safer option. This afternoon we are on a mission to find clothes, a travel agency and a much needed nap! Hope everyone is doing well, more to come soon!
We are spending the night in Chennai tonight and will head to Vellore tomorrow morning to start work at the Christian Medical College. First impressions of India: bordering on chaos, and apparently today is a holiday so I am guessing this is calmer than normal (?). The driving is probably the scariest part, there are no lanes, I don't think checking one's blindspot was part of the drivers ed teaching and driving on the left hand side of the road and obeying one way streets is optional. We decided to go exploring this morning and found walking and crossing streets on foot brings you face to face with death every two minutes. I suggested we start taking an autorickshaw to cross the street, currently still being debated as to whether this is the safer option. This afternoon we are on a mission to find clothes, a travel agency and a much needed nap! Hope everyone is doing well, more to come soon!
Here is a picture of the street we had to cross which in retrospect is a quiet, calm road. Add forty more motorcycles, a bus, and three bicycles and you might get a better idea...
2 comments:
Congrats on surviving the journey!!! The streets ARE total chaos--but that's just part of the experience (I mean, really, do you really want garbage-less streets and pristine streets? Wait, don't answer that!). In case you haven't already read this in your guidebooks, a lot of cities in India have fake official tourist agencies, along with people telling you these are the official tourist agencies, in an effort to scam you into buying their more expensive travel services. Just keep your eyes and ears open and listen to your gut--and try not to get frustrated or angry if you get ripped off, that just happens.
Have a wonderful time! Feel free to bargain for Indian-style clothes while your bags are missing. They're relatively inexpensive, amazing colors, and covered in sequins (and, you know, practical things like light-weight, and they cover the appropriate body parts).
--Lizzy
Yay Claire! I'm so excited for you!
Have fun and don't get hurt crossing the street!
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