Mall Heaven

Trip Start Nov 01, 2006
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Trip End Oct 31, 2007


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Flag of India  ,
Monday, December 4, 2006

We're in Ahmedabad at the moment, merely because it's on the route to Goa. We had heard and read a fair few bad things about it being one of the world's 10 most polluted cities, and generally a bit of a dump, but we've actually been quite pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's big and dirty, but so are all Indian cities, and it actually doesn't seem as bad as Delhi. And the people here are generally really friendly, stopping us in the street to say hello and shake our hands, but not seeming to want anything from us! We're finding it quite hard to get used to!

Our 'first class' journey, by the way, was far from what you would expect from the name of it, essentially the same hard plastic uncomfortable seats as in sleeper (the second lowest class) but with the all important difference that there were only our 2 seats/bunks in a lockable carriage, meaning the comfort level, because of the privacy and being away from the loud snores of elderly Indian men, was way above that of sleeper and well worth the extra money 01 First-class travel
01 First-class travel
 . Nevertheless, we only managed about 3 hours sleep and were therefore pretty knocked out yesterday. We did still manage to have a bit of a wander about though, and look at a couple of very run-down temples. The main event was going to see Casino Royale, in English, at a very modern cinema complex just out of town. Oh my god, it was wonderful! It was all bright and shiny and air-conditioned, and had a food-hall with MacDonalds and Domino's pizza, and it felt like being in America! It was such a lovely escape for a few hours, and we kept having to remind ourselves that we were actually still in India. Funnily enough though, today we were commenting that it was perhaps an uncomfortable reminder of home - it certainly made me feel, momentarily, that I was a bit homesick and wouldn't mind very much if the trip had to end now. However, today, after a good long night's sleep, I no longer feel like that, and just can't wait to see the sea! (R)
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Comments

mroli
mroli on Dec 5, 2006 at 02:30PM

Boo Hiss!!!!
Its absolutely wetting it down here with a forecast of high winds and colder weather to come. Reality tv still rules the airwaves and England have just been hammered at the cricket. Stay in India guys - I'd rather be there than here - and nothing changes here anyway!!! Macdonalds is still Macdonalds and Dominos is still Dominos (so I believe) so you'll be able to gorge yourselves when you get back (and when you get to Oz too!)

mummil
mummil on Dec 6, 2006 at 07:45PM

bother!
Just typed a long amusing comment about Egypt - now can't get it back! - perhaps it wasn't all that funny!

good news from taxman - please read emails

timreis
timreis on Dec 8, 2006 at 05:59AM

Thanks!
Thanks, folk, for all the supportive comments. It's a real boon to have a kind word from the green (and, I hear, wet) fields and dells of England.

We've made it to Goa now and we'll post an entry soon. We just wanted you to get used to the idea first, though, before we make you miserable with the pics...

Love,
T&R

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