After 3 weeks, I have difficulty putting my feelings about India into words.
Because India is everything: any way I describe it the opposite would also be true.
And which India do I describe: busy Delhi? calm, mountainous Dharamsala? the backpacker dirtroads of Pushkar?
Do I like India? Am I having a good time?
Yes AND No. at the same time. LOL
Some Observations about India:
1. On the streets, cows are #1. Traffic stops for cows and nothing else. And the cows know it! They will munch on garbage on the side of highways and wander into the middle of the busiest intersections and sit down for a nap. They will also give you a shot with their horns if you get too close.
#2 is buses and cars--these signal with lights. sometimes.
#3 on the streets are autorickshaws/tuk tucks/motos. these signal with arms stuck out of windows. sometimes. they will also give you a bump if you are not paying attention!
then #4 bicycles and bicycle rickshaws.
then dogs and people.
2. In Indian, if it has wheels it has a horn. And the horn does not just honk, but it play melodies or a series of high staccato sounds or flat noises like ducks quacking. When a vehicle passes another vehicle, it honks. When it passes a person or something on the side of the road, it honks. Honk honk honk honk all the time.
3. If you are white you will be stared at. If you are a white woman you will be stared and leered at openly. I learned to keep my eyes down as I walk and not to smile at strangers.
How else can I share my impression of India? there are flies. cow poo. open sewers. burning garbage. pigs, dogs and cows in the streets. little cups of sweet and spicy chai. woman in pink, red, yellow saris. sticky, too sugary sweets. men holding hands. movies filled with music and dancing and cheering audiences. women-only subway cars. food that is spicy, cool, salty and sweet. fresh flower garlands. begging children. lovely and awful and overwhelming all at the same time.
I am in Jaipur now for a few days then on to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
Because India is everything: any way I describe it the opposite would also be true.
And which India do I describe: busy Delhi? calm, mountainous Dharamsala? the backpacker dirtroads of Pushkar?
Do I like India? Am I having a good time?
Yes AND No. at the same time. LOL
Some Observations about India:
1. On the streets, cows are #1. Traffic stops for cows and nothing else. And the cows know it! They will munch on garbage on the side of highways and wander into the middle of the busiest intersections and sit down for a nap. They will also give you a shot with their horns if you get too close.
#2 is buses and cars--these signal with lights. sometimes.
#3 on the streets are autorickshaws/tuk tucks/motos. these signal with arms stuck out of windows. sometimes. they will also give you a bump if you are not paying attention!
then #4 bicycles and bicycle rickshaws.
then dogs and people.
2. In Indian, if it has wheels it has a horn. And the horn does not just honk, but it play melodies or a series of high staccato sounds or flat noises like ducks quacking. When a vehicle passes another vehicle, it honks. When it passes a person or something on the side of the road, it honks. Honk honk honk honk all the time.
3. If you are white you will be stared at. If you are a white woman you will be stared and leered at openly. I learned to keep my eyes down as I walk and not to smile at strangers.
How else can I share my impression of India? there are flies. cow poo. open sewers. burning garbage. pigs, dogs and cows in the streets. little cups of sweet and spicy chai. woman in pink, red, yellow saris. sticky, too sugary sweets. men holding hands. movies filled with music and dancing and cheering audiences. women-only subway cars. food that is spicy, cool, salty and sweet. fresh flower garlands. begging children. lovely and awful and overwhelming all at the same time.
I am in Jaipur now for a few days then on to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
