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Late start of the day, had a quick swim and breakfast and left immediately for the embassy. After numerous security checks, I was disappointed to hear that the Ambassador and just about every one of his diplomats had left to go on holiday. Only 1 diplomat remained. He was in town, trying out a new toy of his, a 1947 large black motorbike he had just purchased for next to nothing.
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New Delhi, Tuesday the 17th of August
Degrubenc2005-12-09 17:25:52
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Late start of the day, had a quick swim and breakfast and left immediately for the embassy. After numerous security checks, I was disappointed to hear that the Ambassador and just about every one of his diplomats had left to go on holiday. Only 1 diplomat remained. He was in town, trying out a new toy of his, a 1947 large black motorbike he had just purchased for next to nothing.
He is a great fan of motorbikes, even traveled to Ladakh and back on one, with his wife. We had a quick chat and a drink at his house before we decided to have lunch together in town. Lunch was very pleasant even if I was still feeling a bit rough. He had a very keen and interesting analysis of India to give me. After lunch, it was unfortunately time for me to go to the airport to catch my flight to Bahrain. The hotel was kind enough to offer me the pleasure of a large chauffeur driven jeep to the airport, where the driver personally took me to the check-in and the security checks to make sure I was treated well. There are few hotels in the world where one truly feels at home and a valued guest, the Imperial is one of those.
I am sad to leave India, it is the place during my travels so far where I felt the most at home, I am happy to walk the streets and be part of the chaos. The Indians are such happy and welcoming people that I never once felt unwelcome or unwanted.
The Indian sense of service and hospitality is often unrivalled, it is a country of contrasts, a country harbouring some of the richest people on earth and more certainly some of the poorest, but more importantly they somehow manage to live together in harmony; it is hard to separate one from the other.
I always imagine India as the country of hearts: the only thing holding it all together, like jelly, is the Indian heart, the sense of community and belonging which pushes people to be generous and understanding. A country of 1 billion people living
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