Random Thoughts from Bill's perspective

Greetings from a guest contributor …… (That's me, Bill !)

Reading Clarissa's blog causes me to reflect …… What is it about India that has me so intrigued?

Certainly, it is not the "major sites". They are frequently underwhelming and/or repetitive.

The temples are crazy neon smorgasbord of Indian gods, including the elephant – headed Ganesh…. but they tend to be remarkably similar after a while.

As an Anglophile, I adore the British Raj railway stations and government buildings… but, again, they are few and repetitive.

There is no Statute of Liberty, no Bourbon Street, no Chinatown, no Disneyland, no Grand boat rides, no Times Square or Piccadilly Circus, Louvre or Met Museums …… few “must– see” sights.

So what is it? It is the random, daily details that make the experience so compelling.

The appeal is the "small" sights.... the small, bare-bones, metal, kiddie carousel in the middle of the beach… that is powered by a hand crank…… and the proprietor waving you over for a ride.

The sport/thrill/aggravation of negotiating for an auto rickshaw ride … then sitting back during the scenic ride and realizing you've been arguing over ten cents!! And then the driver short - changing you at the end of the ride!!

Two proper traffic lanes filled five “lanes” of horn-honking car, motorcycle, moped, and auto – rickshaw traffic, moving at different speeds but somehow managing to flow smoothly.

Walking Bose Street in Chennai, navigating through old ladies selling garlands of flowers, honking motorcycles, the occasional cow, bizarre groupings of shops (car steering wheels, anybody?), occasional beggar, and more… an assault on all the senses of hearing, smell, and sight. Exhilarating!

Several times a day someone comes up to you and asks you, ”What is your country?”, followed sometimes by “What is your good name?” (the literal meaning of ”surname”!).  Always followed by, “what do you think of India?”. Then they walk away. Unlike Egypt, they are not trying to sell you anything.

It is the incredible variety of faces ….. easily 1/3 of the faces you see on the street  (any street, any time!) are etched with character worthy of a major photo on your wall.

Standing with my backpack on the platform in Delhi’s main railway station (previous trip), being bumped from behind, turning around, … it is a cow wandering on the platform. 

The doors in almost all railway cars are left wide open during the ride …  which makes sense, because they frequently don’t fully stop at the various stations. You sometimes need a running start to jump on board.  Hanging out the door with the wind in your face watching life go by is one of the highlights.

A place so intense that either you love it, you hate it, or have a love/hate relationship.  There is no ”It’s okay” middle ground.  Much like New York City… which explains why we live here !!