My Trip to India (1)
Ismail Imadudeen
November 06, 2008
My First Day
My short stay at the small gulf state of Qatar had come to an end in September, 1996, and I had to leave for India to gain more skills in English and computer applications for the sake of having a better opportunity. For me, this was the most risky step in my life, as I never traveled to that part of the world, and all my knowledge about it was through the then popular Amitabh Pachan´s movies that promoted almost parallel social ethics between Egypt and India. India therefore was for me a land of mystery; I wouldn´t deny my excitement that was sometimes turned to fear of the unknown. Am I going to see elephants on the streets, or else be attacked by an Asian tiger? How about those gangs shown in the Indian movies? And how about the charming Bollywood actresses? These were all the things that went through my thoughts when I was on board the plane towards Bombay or ´Mumbai.´
It was in the early hour of that day when the pilot announced our gradual landing on Indian soil. When I looked through the plane´s window, I saw thick black clouds that I never saw before! Somehow, I was able to see through it, vast vegetation below that seemed endless, and then I noticed the heavy rain pouring out from the sky unto that great land. ´Oh my God!´ I exclaimed in awe when I saw that torrential rain; for me as an Egyptian, this was the heaviest down pour that I had ever seen or even imagined to see.
It was a gloomy, rainy day, and I had to shift from one terminal to another, as my destination was ´Hyderabad,´ a city in the South-east of Bombay. I had to wait at the transit hall for more than seven hours watching the never ending rain fall. Then I got into a plane; it was a small domestic flight with delightful, young flight attendants. The pilot was rather young, and he welcomed everyone on board but warned us from a turbulent take-off due to the heavy rain. In fact, it was the worst take off that I had ever experienced, as the young pilot thought that he was flying alone with no passengers! However, after about ten minutes the skies suddenly cleared and I could see the sun and the spectacular scenes below. The service on-board was excellent. Everything seemed to make me forget about my discomfort and worries and I started to face my new life with enthusiasm and optimism. However, things did not stay calm as it is because the black clouds appeared once more and I could see the heavy rain yet again, but this time, it seemed for me a little familiar! So, I got accustomed somehow; that was good news for me.
Anyway, as the plane started to descend, I prepared my self for meeting my humble Indian friends who were waiting for me at the airport. I was rather excited to see them and start my little adventure, but when we were close to the runway, the plane suddenly rose again sharply like the pilot was trying to escape an anti- aircraft missile! The movement upwards was so sudden and violent that I lost my sensation for a moment! When I opened my eyes I looked around in a shock, I didn´t know exactly what was going on, but what I was sure of was that I was in a terrible situation; a life threatening one! I saw the good-looking attendant sitting motionless with her eyes full of tears, and there was a passenger who was laughing hysterically. I was in a desperate need to hear something from that pilot. The young pilot spoke later, and I hoped then if he didn´t! He told everyone on board to say whatever ´Godly words´ they know for the sake of a safe landing! It seemed that due to the heavy rain he couldn´t see early enough that there was another plane taking off the runway while he was landing! He kept on circling for a while and then decided to land. He landed in about five minutes, but it seemed like forever. I was reading Quranic verses believing that I wouldn´t make it! Anyway, the plane landed safely and we had to go out under the rain to the terminal. There only I met my humble friends who were so kind and their brotherly manner made me forget that horrible experience. My friends represented the different colors of India; there was a Hindu, a Christian and two Muslims.
Then the time came for the ´Auto, or the three-wheeled vehicle that is used as a taxi in India and some other Asian countries (and now jamming the streets of Egypt too). For me, this was the first time to see such a thing, but I was excited about it. All the four of us including the driver and the luggage were inside that tiny thing! I couldn´t believe it, but it happened; we were squeezed somehow in a way that may question the credibility of Anatomical knowledge and principles! ´Would that thing move?´ I asked, but my companions assured me a pleasant and safe journey. The driver took a take off position between the two passengers sitting beside him, started the engine and sped like a bullet. He was running fast, weaving its way in and out of cars and trucks like he was being chased by James Bond! I wouldn´t deny that my excitement turned to anxiety similar to the one I had on that airplane. Then the driver decided to cross to the other side of the road, as it wasn´t jammed, but he was going madly and there was a huge truck coming from the opposite side. I screamed like anything, but the driver was laughing and said ´No problem, sir.´ Just at the right time, he turned to the right road again, which made me calmer somehow. Eventually, we reached our destination safely, and I was in a bad need for a bed to sleep. The day eventually had come to an end.
What really pleased me that day was the nature of the Indians, who were very much similar to the Egyptians in their ethics and friendly attitudes. I experienced the same warm hearts; the same hopes and dreams.
My short stay at the small gulf state of Qatar had come to an end in September, 1996, and I had to leave for India to gain more skills in English and computer applications for the sake of having a better opportunity. For me, this was the most risky step in my life, as I never traveled to that part of the world, and all my knowledge about it was through the then popular Amitabh Pachan´s movies that promoted almost parallel social ethics between Egypt and India. India therefore was for me a land of mystery; I wouldn´t deny my excitement that was sometimes turned to fear of the unknown. Am I going to see elephants on the streets, or else be attacked by an Asian tiger? How about those gangs shown in the Indian movies? And how about the charming Bollywood actresses? These were all the things that went through my thoughts when I was on board the plane towards Bombay or ´Mumbai.´
It was in the early hour of that day when the pilot announced our gradual landing on Indian soil. When I looked through the plane´s window, I saw thick black clouds that I never saw before! Somehow, I was able to see through it, vast vegetation below that seemed endless, and then I noticed the heavy rain pouring out from the sky unto that great land. ´Oh my God!´ I exclaimed in awe when I saw that torrential rain; for me as an Egyptian, this was the heaviest down pour that I had ever seen or even imagined to see.
It was a gloomy, rainy day, and I had to shift from one terminal to another, as my destination was ´Hyderabad,´ a city in the South-east of Bombay. I had to wait at the transit hall for more than seven hours watching the never ending rain fall. Then I got into a plane; it was a small domestic flight with delightful, young flight attendants. The pilot was rather young, and he welcomed everyone on board but warned us from a turbulent take-off due to the heavy rain. In fact, it was the worst take off that I had ever experienced, as the young pilot thought that he was flying alone with no passengers! However, after about ten minutes the skies suddenly cleared and I could see the sun and the spectacular scenes below. The service on-board was excellent. Everything seemed to make me forget about my discomfort and worries and I started to face my new life with enthusiasm and optimism. However, things did not stay calm as it is because the black clouds appeared once more and I could see the heavy rain yet again, but this time, it seemed for me a little familiar! So, I got accustomed somehow; that was good news for me.
Anyway, as the plane started to descend, I prepared my self for meeting my humble Indian friends who were waiting for me at the airport. I was rather excited to see them and start my little adventure, but when we were close to the runway, the plane suddenly rose again sharply like the pilot was trying to escape an anti- aircraft missile! The movement upwards was so sudden and violent that I lost my sensation for a moment! When I opened my eyes I looked around in a shock, I didn´t know exactly what was going on, but what I was sure of was that I was in a terrible situation; a life threatening one! I saw the good-looking attendant sitting motionless with her eyes full of tears, and there was a passenger who was laughing hysterically. I was in a desperate need to hear something from that pilot. The young pilot spoke later, and I hoped then if he didn´t! He told everyone on board to say whatever ´Godly words´ they know for the sake of a safe landing! It seemed that due to the heavy rain he couldn´t see early enough that there was another plane taking off the runway while he was landing! He kept on circling for a while and then decided to land. He landed in about five minutes, but it seemed like forever. I was reading Quranic verses believing that I wouldn´t make it! Anyway, the plane landed safely and we had to go out under the rain to the terminal. There only I met my humble friends who were so kind and their brotherly manner made me forget that horrible experience. My friends represented the different colors of India; there was a Hindu, a Christian and two Muslims.
Then the time came for the ´Auto, or the three-wheeled vehicle that is used as a taxi in India and some other Asian countries (and now jamming the streets of Egypt too). For me, this was the first time to see such a thing, but I was excited about it. All the four of us including the driver and the luggage were inside that tiny thing! I couldn´t believe it, but it happened; we were squeezed somehow in a way that may question the credibility of Anatomical knowledge and principles! ´Would that thing move?´ I asked, but my companions assured me a pleasant and safe journey. The driver took a take off position between the two passengers sitting beside him, started the engine and sped like a bullet. He was running fast, weaving its way in and out of cars and trucks like he was being chased by James Bond! I wouldn´t deny that my excitement turned to anxiety similar to the one I had on that airplane. Then the driver decided to cross to the other side of the road, as it wasn´t jammed, but he was going madly and there was a huge truck coming from the opposite side. I screamed like anything, but the driver was laughing and said ´No problem, sir.´ Just at the right time, he turned to the right road again, which made me calmer somehow. Eventually, we reached our destination safely, and I was in a bad need for a bed to sleep. The day eventually had come to an end.
What really pleased me that day was the nature of the Indians, who were very much similar to the Egyptians in their ethics and friendly attitudes. I experienced the same warm hearts; the same hopes and dreams.
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