we made it to india... after a long journey via sri lanka and playing cards for 6 hours in the middle of the night before heading on to bangalore.
the first moments in a different culture are so exciting and etch themselves into the memory. i remember my visit to palestine almost in technicolour. sights, sounds, smells assault your senses. after quite a challenge getting to our luggage (couldn't have been organised in a more chaotic fashion) we got a taxi ride through the city. yellow motorised rickshaws, hundreds of motorcycles (all without helmets) weave in and out of the traffic hooting like crazy. it seems chaotic to me and i'm expecting a crash any minute but it's clear that this is just normal here and everyone somehow stops at the right moment to let someone else squeeze through. we see a few beggars by the roadside, one with no legs walks like a spider on his hands, cows stroll along the roads and we pass through the centre of bangalore which is buzzing. of course it has become an IT capital of late so lots of IT buildings everywhere...
we stay the first night at csi (church of south india) guest house and meet some of the people planning the conference on globalisation. after a few conversations it's pretty clear that many similar issues face the church here as elsewhere in the world... rapid changes in culture, older generations not wanting to change the way they do things, and not risking giving permission for new things. one conversation i had was about the call centres and how many people are working on sundays - does the church adapt to that or frown upon it. will be interesting to see how the conversations pan out at the conference. we headed back into the city in the evening - every city has to be seen at night and in the day. having chatted to an american he told me where i could find a wireless internet cafe which was a stroke of good fortune or divine intervention (depending on your theology :-) )
remembering to drink bottled water, putting up a mosquito net, wondering how my stomach will adapt to spicey food morning noon and night, feeling like a tourist whenever i get the video or digital camera out (but it just has to be done!)... all part of the adventure.
tonight we are off to the conference which starts tomorrow. it's a bit further out of town so not sure how often i'll get to post but thanks to ecto i'll write posts to upload whenever i get access....
Technorati Tags: india, india talkie
J, I'm sure Ruby Murray's Van of Lower Marsh fame has sufficiently prepared/contextualised you ;) Godspeed mate.
Posted by: si | June 08, 2005 at 03:32 AM
You may well be in the call capital of the world Jonny...
Martin and I are really glad you are enjoying the initial delights of India no doubt there is much more e-additives to come.
regards to the group, Adrian and Phil - the young ones! all the best Paul and Martin
Posted by: Paul Thaxter | June 08, 2005 at 03:57 PM
I had the privalege of staying with CSI last year, try and get a visit to the UTC theology college and speak to some of the tutors there. They have some fantastic ideas, especially around living like Christ in terms of showing unconditional love, and indiginising the Christian faith. Also ask about the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary and the work they do too. Should you come across Rev Jayseelan (who has been heading up the councilling projects that CSI initiated post-Tsunami) please send my best regards. Enjoy your stay - India is a truely wonderful place
Posted by: Chris | June 08, 2005 at 10:04 PM
hope you get a lot out of the conference and visit.
Posted by: Fernando Gros | June 09, 2005 at 04:49 AM