India Journal 05- The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Our India trip of 2013 came to an end earlier this week. This was my last journal entry for this trip written just before I left town. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I could not publish it earlier. An early warning- expect this post to be a tad disconnected. I am trying to squeeze in all my unsaid thoughts into one catch-all post. My earlier journal entries are here- Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.It has as always been too short a trip. Home warrants more time- something that never seems to be available. That said, it was a fantastic trip- fun, relaxing and rejuvenating. Work beckons and I am ready for it. India has changed a lot in the last 30 months since my last trip but the one thing that strikes me is how little it has changed in so many ways.[gallery ids="1033,1034,1035,1036,1037,1038,1039,1040,1041,1042,1043,1044,1045"]Let us start with what is around me. There are new shops by the hundreds. Malls, eateries are everywhere. But around me, things are still the same. I had a haircut today at the same place I have had it since I was about 10. It cost me less than $2. I have used autos and taxis for many trips around town. The guys who drive them are the same ones who we have used for a couple of decades now. For a very long time, I used to go to this makeshift playground to play cricket and later badminton. The wonderful gentleman who started this local playing group is now old. But Somu Sir as we call him continues to drive 45 minutes on a two wheeler to watch young boys play, every evening. He does not play anymore. But he is there goading 10 and 12 year old kids to play harder- just as he did to me when I was that age.I had the opportunity to go to my old school 10 days ago. I was fortunate enough to participate in the morning assembly. The school building has changed. The school uniform has changed. But for the most part, the sleepy eyed yet prayer reciting kids at 7 am manage to elicit the same reaction from me- one of respect and dedication to education.I had food in all sorts of places. And juice and tea and snacks. I liked most of them and thankfully all of them agreed with my veliyoor vayaru (outsider's stomach). But the one that gave me the most pleasure was the tea at the roadside stall and the piping hot bondas on a rainy evening. Fast foods and fancy names are common these days. But nothing to take away the original and still unbeatable simple charm of chai and bonda.Finally, the one thing that always remains the same to me is my house. It is my refuge. The only place that is more personal to me than anything else. It offers me a sense of comfort and security that nothing else does. Our TV has changed as have the curtains and the bed spreads. But the warmth and comfort of the house is always the same. I still miss it as much as I miss my family and friends. It has a life of its own and something that communicates to me. It is to me, the ultimate manifestation of everything that I love about my country.Until my next trip to India and the accompanying journal entries, I sign off with some interesting photos from the trip. Enjoy.