I just thought India was fantastic. Fantastic views, hill forts that stretch for miles, Taj Mahal; well..... awe inspiring. And the people seem really nice. Although the roads are quadruple chaos by our standards, it didn't seem malicious.... When you cut someone up with your hand firmly on the horn it doesn't seem aggressive at all... just like, that bit of road is where you're going next. And if some old guy wants to stand and stare in the middle of a busy dual carriageway, that's what he does. By the middle I suppose I don't mean the central reservation (USA: median, is it?) I mean in the middle of the fast lane. You go round him. with inches to spare 'cos there's a motorcycle coming at you on the wrong side of the road. Or whatever . And if a camel wants to do the same then that's ok too. I was trying to imagine a camel in the fast lane of one of our motorways. There'd be a big police presence, the press and everything. The Indian driving system is BASED on driving on the left, as in Great Britain. But they are more flexible about it than us. Is that a polite enough way to put it? And the health system seems fine when I ended up with my "Delhi belly" as it's called here (but maybe not in the States?) it cost a whole £5 consultation fee with a proper doctor. Seems I'd not bartered enough to get it down to the standard £3 ??? Obviously, being white I could afford it. Except that Srisail was good enough to sort it out anyway. Fixed me up pretty quickly.
It seems more peaceful than here; not quieter, that would be impossible with all the horns, but I felt no risk of being attacked as I might in the middle of a big city at night here. The beggars do go on a bit, but we've got them too. Some of it is dead old fashioned seeming, but as the temperature was "only" in the 70's there seemed to be a fashion for wearing multi-coloured fluffy, nylon ear warmers.
They seem to have a good balance of labour from what I saw of the Royal Enfield factory. Totally modern machines for boring out the engines, but still hand spraying the mudguards (fenders?) , petrol tanks and so on. So avoiding all our problems with unemployment. Teenagers seem respectful but still fun, More sewage around than we're used to but then they must think we're a bit odd for wanting toilet paper where they have a hosepipe next to the toilet. OK, I won't go on about that but in reality, it is a cleaner system. STOP. enough.
Glad I went in the "winter" I couldn't have stood the summer temperatures I am quite sure. Can't take the Californian summer very well, even! As you might have guessed, I like it a lot there. I'm sure there are also problems, but anyway I liked it. Srisail said corruption is high... but then he also said someone had done an international happiness survey and Indians come out near the top. Not surprised.
I don't think I'll ever really understand it but I did try. The roads are dusty and they seem to employ old women to sweep the dust to.... somewhere else.
It is now my bedtime so I hope my enthusiasm hasn't driven you mad!
Hope all's well with you & family, Chris
PS write soon with your news
