Coming from Manila, the first layover was in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
For a few hours, we waited at the elegant business lounge of the KL International Airport before boarding the flight to Chennai Madras, the next point to our final destination in Bangalore, India.
The airport at Chennai Madras was a bit disorganized, disheveled even, and airport security was lax. The queue to the x-ray machine was so unsystematic, that some passengers were able to skip the x-ray altogether and simply proceeded to the boarding gates. Some massive bags and luggage are moved haphazardly after being tugged away from the conveyor belt.
I even spotted a huge trolley bag reeking with some fluid on its side, probably liquor. Adding to the chaos is the incessant chatter of security officers and airport personnel, passengers, and porters.
I was not squeamish at all, but I distinctly remember comparing the airport to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the KL International Airport and making mental notes.
We spent a night in simple hotel Chennai Madras, before taking a short flight to Bangalore early the next morning.
Me and some colleagues were there on assignment.
We were visiting Bangalore, touted as the next Silicon Valley of Asia. If it was not for the lack of time and resources, I would have wanted to visit the Taj Majal.
The roads in Bangalore are not very different from any other found in developing countries. The most glaring differences you will see are the cows freely roaming the streets and main thoroughfares and the tuk tuk or rickshaws buzzing around urban centers like noisy gnats.The massive billboards of India’s famed Bollywood movies dot every major road.
The number of people on the streets, commercial and tourist spots and downtown areas is also an intriguing sight. For me, the sight was a small reminder of India’s more than 900 million people.The population of the Philippines and other Asian countries stand puny next to India.
It is not very often that one can taste real Indian food, get a henna tattoo done by a real Indian artist, and watch a real, live Indian folk dance.
I got myself a henna tattoo of a cobra which the nice Indian lady doing the tattoo said was nice design. It was a symbol of strength, she said.
Overall, the stay was pleasant, save for a few hiccups.
We visited India in 1998 and much have probably changed, but the experience I won’t probably forget for a very long time.
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