FELLOW TRAVELLERS IN INDIA

Ladies from Poland

Sharing the same home stay in Agra were 2 Polish ladies. They sounded like they are from academia and well traveled – already planning their next / third trip to India! They told us their train experience from Varanasi to Delhi. They said there were big rats and roaches in their carriage and all the travellers had their legs held up throughout the journey. One of the ladies is especially terrified of these vermin.

Another comical encounter was their unintended visit to a Rats Temple [miscommunication: they thought they were going to another type of temple]. The same gal who was terrified in the train was standing at the entrance to the temple when she realised the unwelcomed reality. She said she froze and could not move and behind her was a long line of people waiting to enter. I would not want to be in her situation!

Paul from China

We met Paul at Mel’s Apartment, a serviced apartment in Bangalore. My first such experience in India, staying at such apartment. Paul had apparently been moved from a upper floor of the building because his first room was full of ants! He warned us about them - the ants.

Time has indeed changed. Paul is only 18 and only child [a norm in China] and he was travelling while between semesters. He had apparently visited many countries in his young life – quite remarkable. Amazing too is the fact that his parents allow him to experience life outside of home.

Paul joined Charlotte for a morning tour of Bangalore, while I was at a meeting. It seemed that the most memorable part of the morning, according to Charlotte was the breakfast. 

Paul later joined us to visit a home fellowship. He and Charlotte [and the driver, Babu] were squeezed together with some 17 adults and 10 children / infants in a space smaller than older Singapore’s one-room HDB flat [about 300 sq feet].

 

All three of us were given garlands. The people meeting regularly in this home are a clan of people who are mostly business owners selling jewelry.

It was a hot and humid day. Charlotte said she was feeling faint because of the lack of airflow. Paul, unfazed, participated and experienced a fellowship for a first time. He was such a good sport. Charlotte was doing some interpretations for him.

Paul traveled with his laptop [so did I because of work] so we could actually communicate via gmail chat from different parts of India.