Chennai (Madras), India
Thursday, November 8, 2007
I ventured out as far on my personal limits today. It's Diwali - the Festival of lights and everything's closed. Most restaurants, shops etc. The only thing that seems to be operational are the rows if hand-made firecrackers that are being set up at 3-minute intervals! So I decided to take the local train from Egmore (where my hotel is) up to Georgetown. What an experience. Crazy train, the doors don't close, little kids hanging by the open door of the fast-moving train. Everyone's staring at me as per usual. I get off at Chennai Beach Railway Station and enter the zone of the Burma Bazaar. Wow - now this is what I've been looking for all this time. Rows upon rows of bootlegged DVDs, crazy ugly clothing, handicrafts, knock-off suitcases, the works. I'm in illegal merchandise heaven! I find that I get harassed far less if I slow down my gait to the same pace as those around me. It takes a bit of discipline, being so used to speed walking to make it to work in 15 minutes!
While searching for some of the historical landmarks, I stumble into a maze of small streets that are just indescribable. It feels like a developing country's version of Old Montreal or Quebec City. For the first time, I see the beauty in these people. Locals selling to locals. No cat calling, no calling to buy their stuff - just real life. It's incredible. I was so mesmerized, I didn't pull out my camera, I was just soaking it all in.
I'm starting to see the light. That not only will we be able to figure out a way to live here, but we'll figure out a way to enjoy it.
Happy Diwali!
Comments
Bonne arrivée
Salut Arico, oui je viens de te lire et de voir les photos, à ce que je vois c'est le choc des cultures!
Je t'embrasse fort et prends soin de toi et bonjour à Bart, il arrive ce WE , je te comprends d'avoir hâte.
Moy
xxooo