Backdated from Mumbai Day One

Backdated posting on my Mumbai Business Trip...

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Day One in Mumbai

Here I am, 845am Mumbai time which is 1115am Singapore time with my laptop in the beautiful hotel room with no internet connection. Just my itunes in the background keeping me company.

My first business trip for RBS to Mumbai. Business Class in SQ was an experience which I doubt I will ever spend those kind of money from my own pocket. So I thank God for that experience. Flying alone was also adventurous. Arriving to a land where you don’t see people of your same race but maybe religion was kinda exciting. Seriously. I came out not knowing where to walk because there are no signs in the Internation Airport! Haha. Some one from the hotel was suppose to pick me up but was late so as I loitered at the pickup point hoping someone will pick me up, I started to have a tinsy bit of fear like who should I call, who should I look for. I was at a lost for a second. This shows how not prepared I was for this trip. But anyhooos.. I manage to reach the airport in one piece.

Mumbai is really hot. Certain parts reminded me of Malaysia/Bangkok. I guess I have to attribute that to the weather and the unfinished construction on the roads and practically everywhere we went. I am finally in this Incredible India. =)

However the reason why I am writing down today is that I want to share how blessed we – Singaporeans are. Coming to Mumbai, spending one Sunday besides just great shopping and food but also spending time in the car (thanks to our trainees Brian and Krishna) driving around the suburbs of Mumbai. Seeing the people on the streets as we drive along to our destination, my heart went out to them. But that’s all I could do. Children were begging for money. People gathering on the streets playing cricket. Families on the streets cooking and sleeping. Along the bustling roads of Mumbai, there are people who are suffering. People who do not have enough to even have shelter upon their head. I had this question in my head as I traveled along, hearing stories from Brian himself (even Brian his own story which I never knew till now). Where is Jesus? Where was God? I render many people has this thought and even had discussions on this question before but seeing with my own eyes, the question was burning, Mother Teresa came into my mind. I really see the courage and faith Mother Teresa has. Because all I could do was gave my heart out. I could not take any actions like her. Going to the poorest of poorest, giving the love and whatever she has to them. The population here is really huge. Mumbai considering to be an IT hub already has so many people suffering along streets and slums, what about the other parts such as Chenai? Or wherever we have not evern heard of. Keeping the faith…

Gotten some time during the day trip on Sunday to snap some shots of Mumbai. There were many Roman Catholic Churches around Mumbai. I had a chance to stop by one church called Mount Mary I think. It is beautiful. An experience seeing something familiar and close to heart. Stepping into church, I knelt on my knees and prayed. A prayer of trust and hope and definitely never ending thanksgiving. Thanks for even the opportunity to be in Mumbai Catholic Church saying a prayer. I can’t wait for the day where Brian says he will bring me to another more beautiful church! I am hoping.. =)

That was how my day one went. The end of my day two is now. (I stopped at the top part and rushed off to work you see.. that explains why it is night now. Not that I took one whole day to type ah.. tsk tsk. Haha)

Nothing to talk about day two as I was at work – ABN AMRO office cannot be compared to our RBS office in Singapore. Now I understand why my trainees were always so happy when in our office. Anyway.. shall blog about day 2 when it is day 3 then. Because as I am typing, it is almost 230am in Singapore. Time to be off to bed to recharge for my third day in Mumbai.

Peace Out.