India - The land of many people
In the opening few scenes of the Bourne Supremacy movie, the setting is a wonderful India oceanside resort. Primitive in nature, yet clean and inviting. As our India excursion begins, I to some level, am expecting a scene out of National Geographic. Upon landing in New Delhi I am greeted with a different side of India.
Nothing can really prepare you for the sensory overload. No amount of books, videos, blogs, or friends stories can quite explain what India is really like.
Not in Kansas Anymore Toto
 |
| Friendly Skies |
On our first night in New Delhi I was quickly impressed upon by the the amount of armed soldiers. Although I have traveled to several foreign lands, this might be the first time I was greeted by a line of gun toting, very imposing looking men who almost seemed to see right through me. Even with their intimidating stance, I felt a sense of calm and security.
The ride to the airport was just as impressive. I have read stories, and even seen pictures, of the impoverished living in unstructured housing. Never did I imagine that the housing could consist of tarps strung next the a busy road. Instantly I began to feel sheepish of all that I carried and brought with me to India. How could I have so much, and them so little?
The difference between the haves and have-not was even more apparent as we arrived at out hotel. Truly and 5-star hotel with all of the whistle and bells one would expect in North America. Even here the security was incredible. No wonder really when you begin to understand the stories of conflict, terrorism, and poverty found throughout the country.
 |
Hotel Pool at Night
|
 |
| Hotel Lobby |
Life Before My Eyes
 |
| Back Seat of Tuk Tuk |
I have been in traffic in differing scenarios all over the world; New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Moab. Nothing compares to the hysteria and chaos on the streets of New Delhi. On my first Sunday in country I had the opportunity to spend part of the day with a dear, close friend of the family, Udita. What a wonderful experience to see her, go to lunch, and explore the streets of Delhi in a tuk tuk. The streets of India are like no place I have seen. Sure, there are painted lines and defined roads, but the drivers tend to use them as a middle guide, rather than the limiters. There were times as we travelled down the main street that I could reach out from my cozy back seat and touch the tires of the semi-truck next to me. Nervous...sure. I just hope that the driver had his eyes open.
After lunch Udita exclaimed that she had seen something for the first time in India. Across the plaza sat a snake charmer. He had two king cobras and some sort of yellow snake. As we walked up he offered for me to sit next to him as he worked with the snakes. As we watched him work with the snakes he became distracted and suddenly one of the cobras decided to pay me a visit. Although I was standing 15 feet away at the time, I quickly rushed away so as not to become a cobra treat. This is certainly something I will never forget. A few days later we were on our tour to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. As we stopped for a rest, the tour guide mentioned that we should not visit the snake charmer there on site. We watched in horror, from a distance, as the snake charmer of about 7 years old worked with the cobra. Amazingly the snake would surge and attach this young boy. I am sure the tour guide could recognize the horror on some of our faces when we saw this most atrocious of scenes. He quickly calmed our nerves when he explained that when the snake is very young that they take the teeth out. Clearly this took all of the wonder and excitement out of the ordeal. Luckily, it also took out the impending horror.
Religious Experiences
 |
| Jama Mosque, Delhi |
I consider myself fairly religious. Although I resonate and am faithful to my particular religion, I also see the greatness in the many religions of the world. During this trip we had the opportunity to visit several mosques, tomb, and temples. It was amazing to me to feel how strong the spirit was in each of the locations. I was particularly impressed by the mosques we visited. To see the reverent prayer of the faithful members was awe inspiring.
There is so much in the American media that speaks of the evils of the muslim religion. I for one, may not stand with their religious beliefs, but I do respect them as a people. So much of the religion is not understood by the American media and peoples. They are a peaceful people, filled with love and compassion. It is unfortunate to think that a few religious zealots have impacted the view of the people.
Visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra was one of the great highlights of the trip. What is interesting to me is that I didn't realize that it was a tomb until I got there. For some reason I aways thought that the Taj was a palace. Considering the time period it was built, the architecture and history are mind boggling. Seeing the Taj Mahal in person has struck a new desire to see all of the wonders of the world.
 |
| View from Mosque |
 |
| Side view |
After our Agra visit we stopped at Vrindavan, home of Krishna. The scene was almost straight out of a 60's drug induced coma movie. What was probably most shocking to me was the amount of Americans that were there to dance, pray, and create lavender necklaces. The temples were amazing to walk around as long as you didn't keep anything on top of your head. If you did, the monkey would swing down from the trees and grab it.
 |
| Krishna |
Streets, Poverty, and Scents
Mumbai was just as much of a sensory overload as was Delhi, if not more so. When people ask me what I thought of India, I try to convey the sensory overload that was present at every moment. There was a constant stream of cars, honking, people, scents, poverty, and beauty.
While in Mumbai we met with a few non-government organizations (NGO's) that helped varying sections of the population. The first was a group of women that helped those that are in the sex industry. Many of these women are there not because of choice, but rather they either have a debt to pay or they are part of the many that have been sold into slavery. The stories were heart retching and the mood surprisingly upbeat. They spoke of personal triumph. Although they did not have typical education, they were being taught computer and financial skills. One women even showed us her bank card; a significant success for anyone in India.
 |
| Making Bread |
Another NGO we visited was a cottage industry that cooks bread and sells it to restaurants, hotels, and stores. The building and and manufacturing facilities would never pass U.S. standards, but their company was in a constant growth phase. With thousands of at home workers, they employ only women and offer scholarships for children and family members. When we reviewed a small part of their financials we noticed that they do approximately 650 Crore a year. That is the equivalent to about $145 million USD. A staggering amount for India.
Not Soon Forgotten
I will forever be changed by India, it's people, and the many experiences I had there. Grateful that I had the opportunity, perhaps the only one in my lifetime, to see so many wonderful people and places. Below is an online picasa album of my trip. Feel free to browse and enjoy, but remember that the images are mine and are not to be copied or shared. They are copywrite of the owner of this blog.
After lunch Udita exclaimed that she had seen something for the first time in India. Across the plaza sat a snake charmer. He had two king cobras and some sort of yellow snake. As we walked up he offered for me to sit next to him as he worked with the snakes. As we watched him work with the snakes he became distracted and suddenly one of the cobras decided to pay me a visit. Although I was standing 15 feet away at the time, I quickly rushed away so as not to become a cobra treat. This is certainly something I will never forget. A few days later we were on our tour to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. As we stopped for a rest, the tour guide mentioned that we should not visit the snake charmer there on site. We watched in horror, from a distance, as the snake charmer of about 7 years old worked with the cobra. Amazingly the snake would surge and attach this young boy. I am sure the tour guide could recognize the horror on some of our faces when we saw this most atrocious of scenes. He quickly calmed our nerves when he explained that when the snake is very young that they take the teeth out. Clearly this took all of the wonder and excitement out of the ordeal. Luckily, it also took out the impending horror.
No comments:
Post a Comment