Bombay arrival safe and sound after some sleep that night on the nine hour journey. Now after clearing immigration in Mumbai, retrieving our luggage, taking a transit bus to the domestic airport numerous computer checks we are sitting waiting for the IC 567 to leave at 19.55 to arrive in Chennai 20.00’

Mumbai airport is now in the hands of an international group GDK but with on site building going on for a new airport, changeover and adjustments there is much confusion and chaos but definite progress toward the New emerging Hindustan out of the ghosts of the old. The systems of AI and Indian Airlines are struggling to cope with the invasion of newer more up to date airlines. The difference being evident in the training of personnel on an old patronage – we are offering you our service on our terms compared with the customer is right and we are here to serve you of the newer groups. If it was not for labor unions and government protection the old would have crashed long ago with consequent hardship and chaos all around.

Chennai
As promised Elizabeth was there to meet us and got us into a taxi with our luggage. The driver was a bit high on something whether liquor, mild drugs or what as he was rather voluble but brought us to familiar Park Dugar successfully which was all that was needed.

Janette is now linked up with the YWAM school. They want her to go through the Maths books and then help the teachers find creative ways to communicate. The School needs to gain a reputation for good quality teaching as there is a lot of competition around for the paying pupils.

I spent the time getting a hair cut and scalp massage for the princely sum of $3. Set out that night around midnight for the airport Jet Airways and Malaysia.

Back from Malaysia on Jet Air a great contrast to Air Asia which is budget, low cost and utility. The same aircraft, a new Boeing 737, with the same close seating meaning that if the person in front reclines his seat there is very little room to do much. But this flight had a much better menu with 3 choices – Malay, Western omelet and vegetarian: a day flight of just 3 hours so pleasant enough. Must have been a wind as the flight over was closer to 4 hours. Some slight turbulence due to the monsoon.

First task was to go to the Dentist for a new bottom plate. It was delivered on Saturday with a fitting on Friday night. All for the princely sum of $100 which does not quite pay the air fare but contributes substantially as in Surrey it is closer to $1-1,500! Not totally the same as this is plastic and that one would be metal. Costs are rising significantly but some things remain budget compared to Canada. The Rickshaw ride to the Dentist which 2 years ago was around Rs 100 or $2.5 is now Rs 200 or closer to $5. A taxi for 5 hours has risen from close to Rs 500 ($12) to somewhere around $900 ($25). The dentist says that the plate he made for me 2 years ago for Rs 5000 ($125) would now cost Rs 10,000 ($250).

Our first trip into the city from St. Thomas mount area where we are staying, was to Dr Samuel Jayakumar, once Principal of Madras Theological Seminary. He was keen for me to see his latest book as well as hear about his only daughter’s wedding , she is now married to a pastor who is beginning a new work near to Erode in the south. His apartment took some finding but cell phones work wonders . We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch with him and his wife.

We went shopping earlier as we enjoy the irresistible low prices of higher quality Indian merchandise. Their Crystal brand underwear is more comfortable than Jockey and just as durable at $1.50 a pair. Then top end shirts at $10 each. I am almost converting Janette as well although her Mecca is in Bangalore where tops are very acceptable although the pants do not fit her ‘ chotti, motti, Misahib’ ( small rotund single) torso , as a Mussoorie friend describes her.

Saturday was another long ride of one hour through the traffic which is a medley of bus, car, motorcycle and even a few cycles together with pedestrians in crowded bazaars. Not to mention infrastructure development with a huge overpass going in just close to here. Indian drivers work miracles in congestion not seen in Canada. Accidents despite all the crush happen but are relatively few in terms of the total volume.

Paul Cornelius, the son of the pastor of the Union Church in Mussoorie, known to Janette from his Wynberg school days, appeared to meet us. Newly back from studies at Fuller in the CA, he is a Ph D but still unsure of where he really fits in back here. At the moment he is principal of Hindustan Bible Institute, a strongly academic institution. His heart seems back there in the North at Dehra Dun committed to a much more basis discipleship model of training. For the moment pressure is on to educate and then no doubt marry 3 daughters in the 18,16,14 range. Educational costs are causing him to consider a Chaplaincy at Kodaikonal School where his wife already serves as a hostel parent.

Now we move on to more venal pursuits – looking for suitable jewelry at my favorite store which is near the big Temple in Mylapore – Sukra Jewellers. We had seen the newer patterns in England so began looking not for the ornate wedding jewelery but something more basic. Silver cords with one significant piece pendant style. Janettes birthday present now is solved!

Sunday should have a more spiritual emphasis. The plan was to go with Julie to her Church but she has a very heavy cold and is not well enough to make it. As she is the driver this has grounded us for this period. Her church is in the city quite a distance from here. The service is held in Sparky’s Restaurant , one of YWAM’s tent making style ministries here in Chennai. The menu is unabashed USA with hamburgers and the like in its coverage. Good to read in one of the local daily newspapers a favorable write up in their Sunday edition. Instead we ended up down the road at a Malayalee place. It was crowded so popular enough. Food though was quite unexciting. The outdoor biryani store was about the same price but much more inviting.

We had more day planned in Chennai then will left on Tuesday morning at 07.15 for Bangalore by train. It is possible to fly but we enjoy the more leisurely train travel where there is comfort and ease of movement. We shall travel in air conditioned chair car a 5 hour journey for the large sum of Rs 600 ($15.00 for two. The price of the regular sky train service from Surrey into Vancouver ! - a 45 mins journey. On the way we had egg omelet breakfast with 3 pieces of bread butter and jam on a paper plate supplied by a vendor. The train stopped at 09.00 and loaded the food from a railway station. There is a more deluxe train but that leaves at 06.00 requiring a very early start as we can be an hour’s taxi ride from here to the Railway Station de pending on the traffic.

Bangalore is considerably cooler much to Janette’s relief. The monsoon is functioning with on and off light rain showers. We are in the comfort of the ACTS Ministries guest apartment which has more or less all mod cons Indian style. We shall be here over the weekend then leave for the Indian Evangelical Mission outreach centre boot camp on Sunday afternoon. Spartan diet there but as Daniel prospered on pulses and grains we should do the same!