Lowe's journal - Opening ceremony, bomb scare, phew!

I woke up the other morning humming a song I used to sing a very long time ago in Sunday School ... very long time ago. Feeling at peace with the world, I was assured that my day was going to a great one.

Well, that wasn't exactly the case on Sunday evening as I tried to make my way to the JN Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

The best way to describe that particular day would be, let's say, interesting. From witnessing the colour and pageantry of the opening festivities to getting stuck in the subway for an uncomfortably long period, my Delhi experience was getting more interesting by the minute.

Let's jump right to the subway story, where, after taking some bad advice from a volunteer, my colleague from Trinidad and Tobago and I decided to brave the subway system on our way to the opening ceremony.

A short cab drive and there it was, the metro station in full sight with a handful of people (what a deception) milling about on the outside. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, I thought. Inside, though, was a totally different situation - people were everywhere. I couldn't move an inch without having to rub shoulder to shoulder with someone else. Inside the train itself was no different as the entire Indian population seemed to cram the cars.

Finally, we were on our way, but all of a sudden the train came to a stop three minutes into the ride, as everyone looked at each other quizzically.

Electronic advisory

A less-than-assuring message flashed across an electronic advisory board inside the train advising commuters to be on the look out for packages that could in fact be bombs. Bombs?! Imagine my fright as a few violent scenes flashed across my mind. Truth is, I feared the worst. After all, I was more accustomed to worrying about pickpockets in a tight crowd, not bombs!

Thankfully, after what seemed like eternity (but was perhaps five minutes at most), the train started to move again and my stop wasn't too far away.

In truth, we have been met with nothing but warmth and kindness by the locals, who, for the most part, go out of their way to make you feel welcome. But all that is easily forgotten when the words "be on the look-out for possible bombs" are flashing before your very eyes around a bunch of strangers.