11/03 – 12/03/2023

Pink Palace; Taj Mahal; Rubies; remarkable variety and tastes of vegan food; warmth of its people; Chaggim and Shabbat Delhi Shul experience with ancient Jewish Community and Israelis in Aeronautical Industry. Frenetic streets; Traffic jams with cows, camels, donkeys, dogs, monkeys, elephants all taking road space en route to Agra. These are our memories of India. Special to work there some years ago.  Excited to return – albeit only two days!   Wonderful first-time opportunity for many.

But Bureaucratic Overreach in Chennai!  Bureaucracy multiples worse than any of 21 other Countries our ship visited before and since.

Almost two hours for some to clear Customs, many missing their excursion. Similarly, to get back in! Long queues, fingerprints, computers not working, various clerks rechecking, signing same documents again – repeatedly!  Don’t know own rules concerning valid Visas! No courtesy, respect, response to issues raised. Many staff members unable to enter – process too onerous. Zero sense of time and urgency.  We decided against our second day excursion, but beyond belief instructed to disembark again, into queue, to sign out of India, inclusive of handicapped guest strapped into wheelchair carried across to Chennai Officials.   

Once through frustrating bureaucracy – vintage India.  Frenetic street activity.  Lively, authentic flower, fresh fruit, vegetable markets. Cows, other animals walking freely outside. Tuc Tuc and motorcycle multitudes – not unlike other South Asian Countries, but here people are different: Indians! Dress differently, nod heads in distinctive Indian manner!   

In evening, to local Mall – affordable clothes for ship’s India night. Sheryl enjoyed shopping with friend, Ray the spicy masala dossa, in real Indian fast-food place.

Leaving Chennai – bad taste in mouth, butt of numerous jokes, vows never to return, embarrassment of ship’s Indian staff members, some senior, at poor treatment by their Country. Sad, especially knowing how remarkable experiencing India can be. 

Tremendous ‘Farewell to India’ four nights later: highly decorated restaurant, fabulous south Indian food buffet, dancing by staff, leaving a smile on all faces.

Imperatives to break bureaucracy, value of simplified processes on our minds as we sailed for Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.