"On the Trail"
September 16-October 4, 2001: Dindigal, Chennai, and Cyber-a-bad! Dindigal, Tamil Nadu to Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh, India (Tad)
Hello Friends,
This is a quick update…with an emphasis on the word quick. On September 16th Janet Love and I went to one of the Palani temples, climbing the stairs as the sun was just waking up. Then hopped on our bikes and rode to the Bethania Orphanage. This orphanage has about 20 children and youth and seems to be doing a great job supporting them as they grow, play, pray, and learn. Many of the original children are now in degree programs nearby. It was great to see this caring ministry in action. If you would like to support this ministry for children and young people know that I trust them with my contribution, and if you support them they will let you know exactly where your funds are going. Send me an email at tad@peacebike.org for more info on helping Bethania Orphanage, near Dindigal, Tamil Nadu, India.
The next day Janet got a taxi ride back up to Kodaikanal and I rode into Dindigal. Mr. Joshua, the administrator of Bethania, and an amazing and extremely kind fellow, helped me get a ticket to Chennai. That night with help of many others I was riding the train to Chennai. Thanks to Mrs. Mohl, Janet Love, Mr. Joshua and the kids and staff at Bethania for making that part of my journey so special. It was good to be there and felt like a home away from home.
Quick Sick and Quick Well in Chennai…
By the time I arrived in Chennai I was feeling weak and by mid-day I had a fever and digestive blues. My friends, the Iswariahs, took me in and nursed me back to health. Their relatives, Mr. John and Mrs. Padmini Iswariah, also friends from Kodai, let me stay for two nights as I recovered. Also on the first day I went to a Muslim run hospital and was given quick, professional, and kind care. Thanks to my doctor for his encouragement for this trip…saying, "that is what we all need right now." Within 24 hours I was better but decided to stay on for another day. I didn’t take any medicine and drank my pomegranate skin tea and slept about 14 hours and felt good in the morning. Then I took a train to Hyderabad.
Camping out in Cyber-a-Bad…
I am here in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh because it is a good point to start back to Bagdal and because there is an Iranian consulate here. I have sent in my application for a visa to Iran and have spent lots of hours looking at computer screens with other errands in between. I have also learned a bit more Hindi, and learned a bit more about Islam. Also, I have made a number of friends…Mahipaul, Ahmed, and the men at City Lodge. And a big thank-you to Navall, Ubed, Abid, Priya, and the rest of the good folks from Webodrome. Also thanks to Gopal, Ramesh, and the gents at Saikiran Cybercafe. Just for info, my favorite restaurant is just across from Nampally train station and is called Lakshmi Hotel. The thali meals and plate meals are best in my book. In a few more days I will be back on bike and riding towards Bagdal again.
Also, we could use volunteer help right now…if you or someone you know wants to help out.
Click, click, click,
TAD
back to top<---previous journal | journal list | next journal --->