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Posted on April 30, 2011 by Lydia

Travel account of Laura’s trip to India, February-March 2011
(written by Lydia, Laura’s Mum)
Last PART 5 (Final day in India and return home)

Travel account of Laura’s trip to India, February-March 2011
(written by Lydia, Laura’s Mum)

10th March 2011, 1.33 pm

For Laura, the ‘Kingfisher experience’ is that she continuously rocks backwards and forwards during the whole 2-hour flight, as if her life depends on it. Sometimes she grabs the seat in front of her to test its firmness too.

Luckily the texting, sitting or sleeping people remain remarkably unmoved the whole time.

The fertile fields of Tamil Nadu

3.59-Chennai airport

4.34pm

We book a taxi for an evening in Madras.

The first driver is drunk and doesn’t know the way. We get out of the car again and make a bit of fuss. A different car is appointed to us, with a decent driver.
Evening traffic is dangerous enough as it is!

5pm

We drive to Mylapore, well known and loved from previous journeys. (if you like, check out Wiki)

Our fellow traveller and friend David is looking for books about Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) and we decide to go to the Ramakrishna Mission first to see if they know how to help us.

The local ladies are ravished when Laura takes one of them by the arm to explore the place.

Book knowledge is not Laura’s cup of tea, she has other sources of her own

For the Ayurveda books we are kindly refered to the ‘culture and tradition supermarket’ closeby, next to the centuries-old Kapaleeshwarar Temple.

6.15pm

Around the temple there are a lot of little stalls selling devotional and other items. But there is not much time for strolling, because it’s getting late.

Here in the twilight you can see merry-go-rounds for mini indian lightweight babies.

Here is where you buy a ticket for a puja in the temple (religious hindu ritual)

6.21pm

6.23pm

The new toys are tested and approved.

6.50pm

‘‘Giri trading agency private limited’ is the name of this store. Here we are at the third floor.

7.10pm

Laura decides to sit in front of the door and throws off her shoes, because the paperwork at the counter can take quite a long time.

7.19pm

Dozens of people just step around Laura as if her sitting there were completely normal. India is our second home.

8.49pm

8.57pm

10th March 2011, 11.28 pm

11th March 2011

This is 13 hours and 20 minutes later. In Brussels the time is only 8.30 am (in India it’s 1pm already with 4,5 hours of time difference)

“Sweet Laura, did you stay awake all night?”

11th March 2011, 9 am

Martine brought our warm coats.

Friday 11th March 2011,

3pm –  the winter sun is shining through the window.

 

… The end …