Flying out from Gatwick to Dubai:
Seat No. 24H (aisle), largest plane i had been on to date. Flight was fantastic, recommend flying with Emirates, food was plentiful and very good. Enjoying my last bit of alcohol with a cold white wine and starting conversation with Sutlav, sitting next to me with his mum. Being 20, he was explaining how he fell in love with Motorsport and that the choice of study in India/ Bombay was very limited to three categories; Arts, Commerce, Sciences. After inviting me to visit his house in Mumbai, if i ever traveled through, we separated on arrival at Dubai.
Terminal 3, Dubai is the cleanest place i have ever whitnessed! With every single perfume bottle and duty free item being polished i felt very dirty after sitting on a plane for the last 8 hours. With three hours to go until my connecting flight, it was brilliant to bump into the only other White/ British person in the terminal. Kate, 20; flying to Kuala Lumpa and who happened to be from Winchester. After a well-deserved PULP (fruit smoothie ice drink) she filled me with confidence about my trip to India and all the potential hazards.... great! Leaving her to board my plane for the final stint to Ahmedabad, i was finally starting to feel nervous.
Arrived in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad to a very warm reception and lots of attention regarding the western lifestyle. Many questions regarding economics,sport and my reasons for being in India were all common topics.
Dimpy greeted me a short time later, at which point an unforgettable car journey through the organised chaos of Ahmedabad's streets. So many bikes, tuk-tuk's (rickshaws)and cars flying and switching lanes at will; all at the same time as avoiding walkers who had found themselves in the middle of the road. Dogs were wandering and cows happily stopping traffic, but nothing in comparison to the amount of noise from the relentless horns being blown by any and every vehicle. To overtake it would be not be a successful pass if the horn had not been blown at least 10 times, just in case the previous 9 had not got through to the driver in front.
Finally reaching Indicorps, opposite the BATA building on Ashram Rd, the temperature rising slightly to 37 at 6.30am. I was made aware that the typical day would start at 5/5.30 or as soon as there was light as this is the coolest part of the day. Training will be commencing at 6am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Having been shown the complex, compact 5 story building, and facilities i would be thrown onto the streets on the quest for breakfast. With Dushyant and Dimpy leading the way to a small road-side hut, we found sustenance in a samosa looking pastry, filled with vegetables and covered in hand-made tomato ketchup and sprinkles. The overall feedback on this initial dish was: filling, but unsurprisingly hot! At which point, my bottle of water could not stop the burning sensation.
At returning to the complex, i was fortunate to have the chance to shower and have a well-received sleep. 3 hours later, i woke to the sudden increase in heat, now 42 degrees Celsius. Dushyant decided to introduce me to lunch, a short walk later, and arrived at a cafe 'cinemasala', situated above McDonalds. My first experience of lime soda-sweet was very well received and a great refreshment for 30 rupees (40p).
