Malika Posted May 25, 2009 After walking for more then five miles today, I can't seem to switch off,feet ache but the mind is too alert! Anyone out there? Hellooooooooooooooo Helloooooooooooooooo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted May 25, 2009 ^^Hey. I'm awake writing e-mails. I'll share this one and give you something to do: We landed in India on the 1st of May at 12.30am. As soon as we got off the plane, the heat run off with the 1st layer of my facial skin, pheeeew, it was gone, and I gasped for air! IT was so humid, it was in the middle of the night, with no sun, yet it was so sticky and hot. The airport in Mumbai will give any European airport a run for its money, it is beautifully built and crafted with attention to details, it was sparkling and lights everywhere and for a moment I wondered about all the reports I read. Maybe it was so white wash conspiracy and India was really a 1st world country beyond the human dreams. We got on a bus and it dropped us off at the main entrance to proceed through customs, of course we paid no attention to announcements earlier while still airborne about filling out the forms!! We followed the few white people we saw on the plane down into a long queue, only to reach the front and be told by a screwed face custom officer that I must go back out of the line, collect a form and fill it in and then come back. I went back and asked for a form, a really angry lady proceeded to mutter under her breath and throw angry head and hand moments in my direction after I asked for a pen. The form asked the same questions as the Visa application, but we filled it out anyway and then went back to another screwed face custom officer (They all looked so angry) He looked at us and then demanded why we were here, and for how long and what for (He did not bother reading the damn form I just filled out which had all the answers) He let us through, we put our passports away thinking we were through, but there were few more checks to go through, then waiting for our bags for 2hrs!!! Finally we made it outside and easily located our hotel pick guy, after a while we were on a way to our hotel. The guy did not say anything, we located him because he was holding a card which had written on it something which kind of resembled my name. In the back seat was the Indian Times. I found out that the previous day was election day and the whole newspaper was covered with speculation and predictions. Also few articles on swine flue and outbreak in UK, Delhi was on high alter and many other places. We got to our hotel, a nice place, a really nice, clean (it was expensive) powerful shower and air-condition and fan. Did I mention a TV with American channels, a kettle to make tea, two packets of crisps and a bottle of water (We needed that one!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted May 26, 2009 ^I remember the Indian summers all too well, I didn't know you jetted off to India..so, who was the lucky Bengali or is it Punjabi groom? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Posted May 26, 2009 ^LOL,cant a girl go on vacation without a faraax or Govinder? Ibti,would love to hear more about your trip,India has never been somewhere I wanted to visit..What prompt you to go there? I know my 'white' collegue tend to find the place inspiring,hmmm.. Morning all! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted May 26, 2009 Afternoon slackers a kettle to make tea, two packets of crisps and a bottle of water Erm, just like any other hotel? Where are the pics? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted May 26, 2009 and why in the Troll section ??? ,,,, We need a new and separate topic about your trip young lady .............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted May 26, 2009 in Troll anything goes. North: It was all on facebook. I took some down haad, but u can still catch a few. No not like any other hotel, well not in India anyway, some of them had nothing, and a broken TV. Just a room with a bed and bathroom. Pluz I'd never stayed at a hotel on holiday, so I would not have known that was the norm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted May 26, 2009 A kettle to make tea? Well I never :eek: JB, waxaad tahay dhagan aan dhoofin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted May 26, 2009 ^^^I mentioned tea, because at first I thought it was for boiling bath water, till I realised they had a normal shower (Well they had a bucket in the there with cold water, it gave me flash backs of survival with cold water in SL) :eek: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted May 26, 2009 ^^ Be honest now, how many of them mistook you for an Indian? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted May 26, 2009 None, they although I was Bengali from Bangladesh or Kolkata¸ when I said I’m African, they would say “OH you are from south Africa! (because of cricket, SA is famous in India, only African country they know. ) In the market, they thought I was Sudanese . My friend was the indian; I mean she blended in and fitted right in, I nearly lost her a few times Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faheema. Posted May 26, 2009 I heard as soon as you landed you were under surveillance, even the guy at the currency xchange counter had your name up on his computer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted May 26, 2009 Heh. You went with someone who looked even more Indian than YOU? Great move. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted May 26, 2009 Oh my god, I forgot about that @faheema. :eek: that was freaky. Ngonge yep LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted May 26, 2009 ^^ By the way, what's with the name change? AND, is it in English or Somali? If Somali, it only makes you sound like Xiin's daughter (or minyaro ). While you were away you missed the big event or you would never have changed your old name. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
