First day in Chennai, India completed...whew exhausted!

I have to simply get it out, forgive me if it isn't as detailed as my other posts. I am simply incredibly exhausted but tomorrow is a whole 'notha cup of tea so I have to get it out now...

As I said, I went to sleep after getting my passport, customs form. Woke up in time for lunch. Planned to go to the marketplace with Yohanna, Erica, Brittany, Dorian and Courtney. We left and boarded the shuttle. It was hot but not unbearable...there were also a lot of flies. We got stopped at some point in which we had to produce our passports and they'd look for us on some list they had. It was nerve-wrecking because it was all so new and there were all these men with uniforms...but it went okay. We were allowed off then because it was the end of the port terminal... the ride was at least 10 minutes and was not pedestrian friendly at alllll so it makes sense that we would be unable to walk. So we get off and we are virtually in the middle of nowhere...we hadn't thought that far ahead. We kinda assumed the shuttle would drop us near stores but it didn't. We also didn't have any Indian Rupees and had counted on being dropped near stores and certainly an ATM. Two life long learners who were on the shuttle with us were heading to the cabs and said they were going to the Spencer's plaza/mall. We opted to go with them but still didn't know how we would pay...They assured us it would no problem and they would pay for both taxis. So once that was settled, we asked for a taxi to fit all of us...and they kinda just stared at us...then 2 "rickshaws" <-don't know if i am pronouncing it right pulled up and we split into two groups of 4. It was like a toy car/van but not really...how do i explain it so that you could understand the terror we experience during the ride to the mall? It wasn't the standard size of a car, wasn't the shape or statue of a bus, but wasn't a scooter or bike...it simply...was...i don't know. Because of it's unique size it is able to weave through tiny spaces which it did. There were no doors so Yohanna sat up with the driver and me, Courtney and Dorian squeezed in the back. We were telling Yohanna not to talk to him because in addition to the crazy driving, he was trying to accomodate her and would randomly stop or slow down on major roads when people race to get into tight spots, and then brake. Lol. It was hard for her though because he was trying to be nice but we just wanted to get there in one piece.

I don't know why there are lanes when people do not regard them. It was a nightmare..but an exciting one. I was petrified but enjoying the thrill of not knowing anything...which also frightened me. There were all types of vehicles on the roads. People disregarded speed signs. We sped through bumps...I thought we would surely fly out because we hit our heads a couple of times. People occasionally adhered to traffic lights. As I mentioned, lanes were a joke. There were a mixture of cars, vans, motorcycles, bikes and rickshaws....however people could fit. We had many oops "almost swiped ya car" moments because if the driver saw a space even what we deemed microscopic to our eyes...he went for it. This was not limited to his own thinking because we saw it happen all the time and it scared the bejesus outta us because of the amount of swerving and honking of narrow escapes. It was cool to see women breezing through traffic on motorcycles so casually among the craziness. We admired their posture and Indian apparel. We would also see whole families on motorcycles or just the husband and wife. Generally the child was near the bars, the father would be steering/maneuvering, and the mother hanging onto his shoulders. I thought that was pretty "gangsta" considering the aggressive traffic...We lost the rickshaw with our friends but when we got to the plaza they were there. The guy had told us 200 rupees ( which was as we found out, already overpriced) but once he realized the LLL were going to pay for us and had money out waiting to hear the price, he changed it to something around 300. We quickly pointed him out on it and he said the other rickshaw dude was paid it etc etc...and the LLL's just to get us out of there in peace paid it and left it at that...ahhh, what is it with ripping off Americansssss!!!! We're darn near halfway around the world/through our voyage and have notice that people or taxi drivers specifically are one in the same lol...

We follow a sign that says Spencer's plaza and read that there are 3 levels. We are honked at by people speeding on motorcycles even while walking in the proper place. I tell you, people simply drive wherever they see a bit of space. Got in and people literally stared. It felt like Manaus all over again. In South Africa, it was the most westernized so that individualistic mentality was in full effect. In Takoradi, we were interesting, but we didn't stop the flow of life, people kept doing what they were doing after trying to get you to buy stuff haha. But man, people stared here. And they in your-face kinda talked about you to the people they were standing next to. Even when you can't speak or understand language, it's amazing how you can feel the intention behind stares, laughs and exchanged words. Brittany walked into the first store and brought a digital camera with her debit card so they needed to make a copy of her passport. We got worried when he walked away with it because we didn't know what they were doing...but he brought it back. Then the guy also asked her for her debit card again so that he could make a copy of her card and we all immediately shot that down. No one needs a copy of your debit card and upon our reply he kinda acted like it was never said and gave her her camera and we left.... Shaking my head...interesting.

Walked in search of a ATM, the girls were flat out asking people and a few of us were concerned about announcing that... but whatever. People continued to come out of their stores and stare, and talk. As we wait in line to get money, a guy asks Brittany if she's Nigerian and we learned he is from Algoria? Something like that. He was really soft-spoken so we couldn't really hear him but he kinda walked away after that so it was all that he clearly wanted to know haha. So I don't have much clarification on that one.... We end up in a shop that has a sign that says discounts for MV Explorer. Naturally we go in to check it out but I didn't commit to anything since I hadn't seen any other stores yet. This one sales person was adamant about selling me a shawl. He took it down and held it out. I don't know why I started to grab it with my left hand but for whatever reason, that stupid hand shot out and then I was reminded by his silent stare. I tried to play it off and quickly grab it with my right and compliment it but what was done, was done. I definitely left without purchasing anything then. hahaha. Brittany and I tried a ton of Indian shirts and dresses. She ended up getting something, with all the beautiful patterns, colors and differentiating fabrics I was too indecisive. The woman who tried to accomodate us was awesome though. She helped pull it over our heads and smooth it over our clothing. I was glad that after her patience with us, one of us made a sale. We walked into another store and I tried this gorgeous white dress intricately embroidered with gold sequins... which doesn't sound nearly as good as it looked, but it was too small and I was devastated since I had finally saw something that "clicked" with me. haha. Interestingly enough, this particular store was run by men and they were so helpful haha. A random tidbit, everyone addressed us as "Madam" even if it was to wave us into their stores and take a look. It was different but nice. I wonder why we say Miss or Ms instead of Madam. Or actually, I guess the stores to get that level of helpfulness and respect in general would be upscale/expensive stores.

It was past 3 so we wanted to meet up with everyone and see what the plan was since half of us would be going to the Welcome Reception at 6:30pm. In our efforts to find them we sighted two guys who didn't look Indian, but who knew. They smiled so we smiled...and they came over and introduced themselves. Their names were Marcus and Mumbi and both were from Zambia. They were seniors studying computer engineering and business. Their university had a program where seniors studied in India for their last year. They thought I was South African because of my complexion and braids. haha. We ended up walking and talking. When we met up with Courtney and Dorian we ended up going to the KFC in the food court because Mumbi kept telling us to get a bucket ahahaha. Well we didn't intend on getting a bucket, but we were going to go ahead and see/order what was different on their menus. Indian Food was " crazy" and on a whole 'notha level of spicy and they hadn't gotten used to it yet. It was packed in general but as heads turned and people blatantly looked at us and talked about us lol, it felt awesome this time. They got the same treatment haha.  It was amazing to listen to how much we had in common.. we talked about music (favorite hip hop/r&b artists), politicians, relationships, cows and their 3 stomachs--which was really random haha. Their english was immaculate and simply their clothing didn't go unnoticed. If we hadn't asked them, we would have assumed they were from the states and to be exact, up north. They had stylish shoes/sneakers, polos with their collars popped, faded jeans, sunglasses across their chests and head phones around their necks. I jokingly asked if they'd brought any clothing now that they acclimated somewhat and the girls and I talked about our shopping experiences with sarees and stuff... and they were laughing like no way, we're Africans. What do we look like? haha. We agreed to meet again on Friday at 10 am at Pizza Hut. It is our last day in India. They were awesome and look forward to seeing them then... but the night continued.

We ran into the LLL after getting out of the rickshaw at the port terminal for the shuttle. We had to present our passports again. Then to get on the ship, we did the same thing again, got scanned physically and our stuff through the machine. Then we stood in line to show our ID to walk up the gangway  onto the ship. Got up to the top, got our bags searched by SAS, walked through a metal detector and got physically searched. The security procedures are a bit much in this particular port at this point of time because of the terrorism issues between India and Kashmir right now... so hey, its a nuisance but rather be safe than sorry. Got through tymitz square just in time for dinner. Had dinner and left for the Welcome Reception. There were 3 "coach"esque buses because there were about 80 people. Can you believe we got stopped as we past the port terminal for passports...yes. Two guys (one reading our names of our passports to another who searched for us on his list) were responsible for doing all three buses or 80 of us. I simply put my ipod and dozed off a bit. We finally get there and the first thing we hear is drumming. We get off and there are a number of young guys drumming and dancing with no shirts. We were crowding around trying to see. They were great! On the left of them on the step leading into the hotel reception hall, there were a ton of Indian women holding flower luaus? Either way, after the guys finished, they put one around each of our necks and we walked inside. There was a platform/stage where three of the Indian women were beautifully dancing for us. I spoke and took a picture with them afterwards--they looked so much more mature with all the makeup, jewelry and apparel but were 19, 20 and 21! There was a table for henna tattoos and two ladies and one guy doing them. I was the fourth person in line and got the woman who'd did Brittany's. She was consequently the official/professional henna artist at that table and did weddings for a living. The attention that she paid to detail and the overall construct of our designs/those who got there's done by her was easily distinguishable--but the other two did great work as well (obviously why they were a part of it to begin with). There was traditional food served but with my left hand off limits for at least 45 minutes I was having difficulty balancing stuff so one of the university students immediately jumped in and got a plate and filled it with a little bit of each item. =) there was just so much going on that it was exciting to be in that venue. All this time, the girls were dancing or giving instruction about certain dances and meaning behind facial features. There were tables with jewelry, scarves, pocketbooks, skirts, "pantalons," sarees etc being sold. Oh and there was also an area where older Indian women had a bunch of sarees that they taught or put on us and we could pose and take pictures. That latter almost didn't happen for me because I was so overwhelmed with all of the options at the tables in the back haha. I finally decided to commit to something and brought a skirt and shawl. I also had this fantastic and amusing conversation with one of the college students who was a second year but the program is 3 years so I guess somewhat of a junior. Anyhow, he was so personable and we just had this free flowing conversation about free choice vs arranged marriages which he said didn't exist for him and even if his parents had a suggestion, he had a say, how women started getting pressured about it around 23-24 years old, but men did so around 27-29 years old... i asked him about interracial relationships or whether he was allowed to marry any Indian woman...and we talked about the number of kids in India, in our families and that was interesting, about the differences in education post high school and how it all gets so tedious that it loses its appeal... he said he was a mediocre student and didn't care very much about school because he didn't have to just yet since he still had time--actually he confessed that he needed to get home because he had an exam the next day and didn't study until the last minute. haha.

The night eventually came to an end and headed back on the first bus that came back.  Prior to filling out an evaluation form about the trip, I took out my ship ID since we were coming up towards it. Had it in my hand... suddenly we arrive... I get up and realize that I don't have my ID and what a time to lose it. It's not on the floor or on the seat so I assume it's in my bags and because I am the last person and am sure no one knows I am still there, I hurry and get off. The bus pulls off and I'm searching through my stuff with the trip leader Nedra. We don't find it so we walk to get through the whole Indian port security folks. We get to the ship gangway and explain it to him and he speaks into his walkie-talkie about me haha. He suggests that I hold off buying an ID because it may show up and costs $25. Nedra agrees and wonders if they'll find it when they clean the bus that night. But then another bus pulls up and we're not sure if the first bus went back and got more SAS folks or if its one of the original three. So we walked to one of the Indian dudes standing around it and told him and he leads us to the first bus which is parked right in the parking lot haha. They weren't doing any cleaning after all so it was great to be able to walk on it anyway. Searched under the seats until I thought to look on the side and there it was lodged somehow. Grabbed it and the guys like "thank God!" and I'm agreeing super happy as is Nedra. It was a great ending to a very long day and I am happy I was able to get on the ship in peace =) Now I have to make sure I don't lose my passport, customs form or ID these next 5 days... the voyage doesn't end here and I do want to be able to disembark with everyone else when we hit Asia!

In any event, buenas noches or buenas dias (1:10 am now). I have to wake up early enough for breakfast and pack since I am not even attempting to do that tonight. I have my Rotarian Homestay from Monday-Wednesday and we meet at 10:30 and leave at 11 am.