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Published: October 19th 2008
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Picture this: You are travelling a third world country with your partner, one of closest friends and her friends' folks in the lap of luxury. Just as a milestone birthday approaches, you are to be cast off to return to 'simple travelling'. Yes, I was excited to be turning thirty. Yes, I was glad my beautiful girlfriend would be there to share in the celebrations and yes, I have still yet to take any of this round-the-world adventure for granted. Just a little sad not to spend the day with the Andrews family whom I'd grown so fond of in such a short space of time. I didn't expect much, perhaps just a nice dinner out with Ms. Nikotin. What I got simply blew me away!
Warm birthday wishes from the Andrew's and we were on our way to the airport for a flight south to Kerala. Whilst waiting to check-in, my minds drifts and wonders when and how I could obtain Cricket updates from the first test in Bangalore between Australia and India. We approach the check-in counter (as we've done countless times already during the course of this trip) and hand over our passports and luggage.
The attendent
presented us with our boarding passes and then wishes us "a pleasent flight to Bangalore"
"What.......Bangalore????"
"Are we going to Bangalore???"
Brain starts to compute;
Bangalore = Cricket
Us in Bangalore = Wow
Us in Bangalore for the cricket = Un-bloody-believeable!!!!
Pen fills in the blanks and explains a little 'behind the scenes' action involving Sarah A, some boys back home and of course herself.
Two full days watching the Aussie Cricket Team surrounded by the craziest fans on earth.
The smile (now fixed ear to ear) waned a little when Pen told me the tickets had yet to be guaranteed. My mind going a million miles an hour, clings to fact that I want to be there more than anyone else. The whole flight I read each newspaper article on the cricket and every word seems to leap off the page with the fact that I might actually be there to witness the match first hand. The ticket sweat turned to absolute bliss once we landed however. Escourted away by a private driver (compliments of Sarahs extremely generous Indian colleagues) an envelope appeared once we were on the road.
Pen chuckled and admitted,
"Sarah and
I thought we'd have a little fun with the tickets. They were here all along!"
Arriving at our guesthouse (again thanks to Sarah and her magical connections), we settled in and prepared ourselves for three big days in Bangalore. We awoke to an overflowing fruit basket, two fresh chai-teas and the beaming smile of one John Peter D'Souza, caretaker of the guesthouse. This jolly man embodied true Indian generousity and kindness as cancelled appointments so he could spend an entire day catering to our needs and making us feel welcome in his magnificent city.
Although I knew we had tickets to the cricket, I had no idea of where abouts we were placed to watch all the action. Through the numerous metal detectors we strolled, to a foyer where beautiful traditionally dressed girls ushered us to our prime seats behind the pitch. Upon closer inspection of the VIP box, we discovered a massive air-conditioned room with two massive flatscreens to show all the replays along with enough food to feed ten armies.
The fun didn't stop there though. Down the back of the room was a stall serving up.........Yep, that right........Free unlimited beer!
I'd died and gone to
heaven.
I won't bore you with ball by ball details but both days were full of excitement. I got to meet Kris Srikkanth, the Indian Chairman of Selectors on our first day and had the chance to walk the pitch after play had finished on our second day.
For my actual birthday (the day after our two days at the cricket), I awoke to several birthday cards from all over the globe wishing me well on my big day. I then went out for a $3AUD haircut and shave and a lovely lunch with Pen. The evening was spent crammed on an overnight train to Kerala.
Massive thanks goes out to all that took the time out to make me feel special on my 30th. Sarah informs me many more surprises are waiting for me in Mumbai.
Special thanks also to Penny, Sarah, Paul F, Paul G, Lee, Dave and the Aussie Cricket team for a 30th Birthday Surprise I will never ever forget!
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Andrea
non-member comment
OMG!!!
That would have been soo exciting, awesome experience. I'm not sure who would have been more excited, penny- that is such a lovely thing to organise and dave what a dream come true- i would have loved to see your face. Many birthday wishes! see you soon guys...... x