WanderingWhy…

I love India.  This country is definitely not for everyone.  India will test your patience, perspective, and sometimes your sanity.  There is little middle ground here and most travelers seem to love or hate travel in this country.

India is dirty, noisy and chaotic, but friendly, hospitable and fascinating.  I read a book called “The Age of Kali” recommended to me by a local in Delhi while wandering the country.  It mentions how today you can still see some of the Hindu festivals that have been going on for the last 5,000 years in much the same way.

To think you can still see traditions as witnessed by the ancient Greeks whose culture of that time can now only be found in museums and history books…  I find this hard to get my head around.  As much as I love my own country we are just a blip on the time-line in comparison.

WD got sick and could not see past the filth.

“Look at ____ .” I would point out.

“This place is filthy” she would say.

There are layers and layers of history and culture.  Humanity organized and divided by region, language, caste, religion, income, race and on and on.  There are beautiful palaces and interesting alleys to wander down.

“Check out buildings down this street” I would offer.

“It’s dirty. ‘

“Try to keep your view above ankle level.” I suggested.

It wasn’t all bad for WD though and of course I’m teasing her here.  It would be difficult for anyone not to be blown away by the Taj Mahal,

or to enjoy the beautiful skyline of Udaipur at night.

Or be surprised at the beauty of the Ganges river in the mountains of Rishikesh (It’s not dirty!)

People make a place.  Poverty seems to be something feared back home.  I’m not talking about becoming poor yourself but fearful of people who are.  I’ve learned while traveling the less people have the more they want to share.  I had endless offers of chai (tea) and conversation with no strings attached.  Sometimes people who spoke no English still wanted to drink chai with me.  People wanted to take photos with me no matter how much I tried to joke and explain I’m not famous.  The kindness and hospitality are really unlike anywhere else I have been.

The traffic and riding in it is better than any theme park ride you will ever try.  There are bicycles, cyclos, motorbikes, motorcycles, rickshaws, buses, cows, dogs, goats, water buffalo-about the only thing I did not see in the street was a zebra or a sane driver.  Here is a small sample of a short rickshaw ride to the train station near the Taj Mahal.  Ten points to you if you hear the crash:

India is kind, wonderful, fantastic, frustrating, endlessly curious, ancient, and yes-dirty.  But don’t take advice from someone who eats with her left hand, see it for yourself.

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