So far, so good.
I have bathed sitting on a stool while pouring water over myself from a cup.
I have been eating rice and curries without utensils, only my right hand.
I have been scolded for calling Dolly's sister by her pet name instead of her proper name (until then I didn't know her proper name Deepika).
I have been a little careless with water sources and whatnot, emboldened by the two types of antibiotics I have in my suitcase... but so far no need for them.
I have been out in the mid-day sun, and the sunblock has done its job. So far, no burns, but I expect to be a proper redneck very soon.
We took an auto rickshaw (a tuk-tuk) to some shopping areas today to pick up some things we needed. Driving 15 km cost about 110 rps - about $2.50. I finally saw some intersections where stoplights were followed - main intersections where police were stationed. There are signs urging people to follow traffic laws, but it seems a lost cause, and possibly unnecessary. The current system seems to work well enough.
At first it seemed like police and military were everywhere. Most of them turned out to be security guards and doormen to keep the riff-raff out of the stores with AC. Colleges look like military installations, with walls and guarded gates. Everything nice is behind walls... gardens and grass won't survive being tampled by the masses, I guess. I suspect that this is true of much of the developing world, that walls and police separate the haves from the have-nots.
Does this happen in America? Harvard yard is walled off, though not often guarded, and right next door Cambridge common is open from all sides. Beggars are free to roam Harvard Square, and everyone can enter the mall. However, America doesn't have the staggering amount of poverty that India has. If we suddenly had to accomodate 100 million poor and desperate people, what would we do? I guess our wall is at the border.
I have bathed sitting on a stool while pouring water over myself from a cup.
I have been eating rice and curries without utensils, only my right hand.
I have been scolded for calling Dolly's sister by her pet name instead of her proper name (until then I didn't know her proper name Deepika).
I have been a little careless with water sources and whatnot, emboldened by the two types of antibiotics I have in my suitcase... but so far no need for them.
I have been out in the mid-day sun, and the sunblock has done its job. So far, no burns, but I expect to be a proper redneck very soon.
We took an auto rickshaw (a tuk-tuk) to some shopping areas today to pick up some things we needed. Driving 15 km cost about 110 rps - about $2.50. I finally saw some intersections where stoplights were followed - main intersections where police were stationed. There are signs urging people to follow traffic laws, but it seems a lost cause, and possibly unnecessary. The current system seems to work well enough.
At first it seemed like police and military were everywhere. Most of them turned out to be security guards and doormen to keep the riff-raff out of the stores with AC. Colleges look like military installations, with walls and guarded gates. Everything nice is behind walls... gardens and grass won't survive being tampled by the masses, I guess. I suspect that this is true of much of the developing world, that walls and police separate the haves from the have-nots.
Does this happen in America? Harvard yard is walled off, though not often guarded, and right next door Cambridge common is open from all sides. Beggars are free to roam Harvard Square, and everyone can enter the mall. However, America doesn't have the staggering amount of poverty that India has. If we suddenly had to accomodate 100 million poor and desperate people, what would we do? I guess our wall is at the border.
So, do the houses in India have running water? (Wondering about the bath on a stool.) What is the house like? What conveniences do you not have other than air conditioning? I look forward to reading your blogs. If you need anything I can send it. :)
We have many convieniences. We have running water (though not all the time). There have been short power outages each of the last few nights. We even have an air conditioner in the room we're staying in. Dolly's mom is very worried about me, and thinks I will die or something, so she helped get an AC unit installed last time she was here. We feel bad using it, so we only turn it on when we really need to escape. Most anything we need, we can find here (there are some very rich and Westernized people in India) - the most difficult thing has been strong sunblock. Its 2-3x times as expensive in the US, and anything stronger than SPF 15 or so has been imported. Dark skin doesn't need as much protection.
As for the house, its an apartment on the second floor of a two story building. There are two bedrooms, each with a bathroom. One bathroom has a western style toilet and the other has an Indian style toilet. The kitchen has a two burner propane stove, a sink, water filter, refridgerator and counters. Each room has a ceiling fan and the floor is tiled throughout.
Seth! India sounds like Thailand :)
When it gets too hot to bear, cold water on your neck. Do they have baby powder there? Invest in some if you can find it. Put it all over your body where you'd sweat. You'll find that it helps with the prickly heat.
Oh Zeth, What a wondrous blog. I thought I would get notified on every one. Paula says I have to subscribe for notices for each one. Hope you acclimate without incident. I've listened to our CD 100 times and every time it sounds the same, good. Paula says hi and to eat as much food as you can for her and take lots of pictures. Have you found a nice hookah for the vegetation? Have you sat upon the rug? Have you started wearing orange sheets yet? Stay safe bud. Seen any expats. The dogs sound like the same breed (MUTTS) I saw in Cambodia. So did you need to potty train on the Indian style toilet for future travel? With that blistering heat (Like Cambodia) you can figure why sheets may be comforting to wear..
Steve, I haven't seen a hookah yet, though I have picked up some of the baggy traditional clothes. Not Ghandi-style sheets, but baggy pants and a long shirt that should keep my pink skin protected and allow air to circulate.
where's gold bond medicated powder when you need it ;)