First Impressions

Well, the first two weeks we have been sleeping in both our silk liners and our sleeping bags. It has been dam cold here. Oh yeah and with our tooks! Not to mention walking around most of the days in our fleeces. Burrr, not quite what I expected, but defiantly warmer than back home.

The first week has been a lot of adaptation, but in a pleasant way. In 7 days I have completely forgotten what side of the road to walk on. I need to stop and concentrate on how we drive back home then flip it over to the British/Indian style.

Everyday, I go through this ritual of showering, but for some strange reason it is very different here in India. Since the first day it has been puzzling me. Maybe it has to do with the pollution and how dirty things are, but washing is more of an event. Or perhaps it is because now there is more time, and the bathing is not done under pressure to finish? No I don’t think that is it. It must have something to do with the fact that you need to squat to bath, and that the water in not hot-hot, but warm. Yeah I think it is the squatting, it is like playing simultaneously. And the few places where they have had western style showers, the experience is totally routine. I am sure it sounds weird, but hey it has been a highlight since arriving.

Try Crossing a Busy Road in India:
Crossing the road is reminiscent of the old “Frogger” Video game. I would say that the drivers here in India are probably amongst the worst in the world. I don’t know if they are worse than in China, but they seem to have the same type of chaotic mentality. The speed limit in between 30 and 40 kilometers an hour, so they are not going extraordinarily fast, but the distances between rickshaws and cars and bikes and pedestrians is centimeters. Most cars have their side view mirrors folder in as to prevent them from being broken off! No real loss, I don’t think they really care what is going on behind them, it is more important to focus on the next time that they can use their horn. I can’t figure out weather the horns of the bikes, cars and rickshaws are somehow remotely connected to the eye blinking of the driver, or if the government has set up some sort of credit system that compensates drivers for using their horns. No joke, they beep at everything – Beep – I am coming – Beep – I am now closer – Beep I am about to pass – Beep Beep – you just let me pass – Beep – Oh wow the horn still works – Beep – I just blinked – Beep – Oh I forgot to turn the Iron off. You get the idea. But every car no matter how fancy has a dent or a scratch on it. But that being said, the driving here is based on a simple principle – that all moving objects will continue to move in a straight line, while maintaining their current velocity. I think that for the most part this seems to work. But when a bright eyed tourist shows up on the scene, traffic goes amuck, for we pitter patter and run around like the little frog from Frogger and often back track! But what we should do is simply keep on moving forward and close our eyes. It is daunting to be standing in the middle of the road and hope that everyone keeps their line and doesn’t hit you – so far so good.

The next stage in the progression of crossing the street is the Jedi Master: Locals seem to have this ability affect traffic simply by raising their hand and making eye contact. I am sure that they to themselves “You will not hit me, you will not hit me…” mmmm I still have not tried this as I don’t think that my mind is able to manipulate the law of conservation of momentum. Hopefully soon though, India is the place for the impossible!

Not since the days when I was working at the mechanics garage – where the air was filled with diesel and asbestos particulate – have I blown my nose and seen the black soot come out. But the Black booggies, have been back. Yuk I hate to think what is going on in my lungs!!!!!