November 12, 2010 Random Thoughts

**Things I Miss (in no particular order)**

-my family and Petey

-cheese, Morningstar and Gardenburger products

-basically having access to a variety of foods

-living somewhere where lines are the norm and skipping is considered rude

-litter laws

-washing machines

-contoured pillows

-comfy beds

-hot water whenever I want it

-bath towels after every shower

-toilet paper all the time

-using sink water to rinse my mouth and toothbrush after brushing

-my clothes

-not having to carry all of my belongings on my back

-getting dressed up, sometimes with makeup

-public toilets and urination laws

**Thoughts on India**

The breathtaking Taj Mahal.

I’m not sure how many years I’ve been dreaming of visiting India.  I’d dreamed of the beautiful saris, the unique architecture, and of course the Taj Mahal.  I knew before I stepped foot into the country that I would love it.  Nothing I’d pictured in my head could have prepared me for the reality.

The streets are filled with color.

The country is filled with beauty.  Walking down the street one can admire the women dressed in their colorful saris, their arms filled with bangles that jangle, their ankles decorated with small bells, their ears holding gold earrings, their hands and palms decorated with henna, and their noses pierced.  They are absolutely lovely.

The buildings are exquisite.  Forts that contain palaces within their walls can be found in nearly every town in Rajasthan.  Hand carved marble adorns the exteriors of the buildings while stained glass and mirrors make the sunlight sparkle and dance in the inner rooms.  The Raj lifestyle was definitely an elaborate one.

Young children that asked us for money.

With the rich also comes the poor, and there is a lot of poverty here.  The disparity between the two is wide and extremely evident.  As we walk down the street, we are approached by children with ratty, natty hair asking for food, men with crippled legs begging for any spare change, and people of all ages simply asking for anything you can offer.  It is difficult to say no, but we must.  If we open our wallets for one, we must open them for all.  

A woman sits alongside the tracks
 in front of bags full of plastic bottles.

Riding on the train from town to town we see ‘villages’ that are nothing more than tarps fashioned into tents.  They are often located right next to the train tracks, as people take advantage of this ‘prime real estate.’  In India, all trash created on the train is thrown out the train window.  Therefore, people living nearby the tracks can find plastic bottles to reuse, scraps of food, and more.  The piles of trash along the tracks are alarming, and attract a variety of animals such as cows, pigs, dogs, and rats.

Shacks set up next to the railroad tracks.

Garbage is everywhere in India.  People don’t seem to care where they put it or where it ends up so they simply drop it from their hands no matter where they are sitting or standing.  Men and women spend their time sweeping it away from their door fronts and shop fronts.  These smaller piles of trash are then carried a few feet away to a larger pile of trash that is accumulating on the side of the street.  It is on these piles that you can find the ‘sacred’ cows of India scrounging for food.  They end up eating a variety of old clothes, plastic, and paper.

The India I love.

Some days, I find it incredibly easy to only focus on the waste that lines the streets, and see nothing else.  However, once I take a step back I find the India of my dreams:  the rich colors, the traditional architecture, and of course the delicious foods.

The people are very friendly and curious, always asking “Where are you from?” and “What’s your name?”  Everyone seems concerned with our opinions on their country.  “How do you like India?” is one of the first questions we are asked.  “It’s great,” we reply as we think of the incredible things we have seen thus far.

Prayer flags atop a mountain.

Every town we encounter is rich with aging buildings, narrow alleyways, and stunning mountains that beg to be explored.  The history in this country goes back thousands of years, and its beauty can be found everywhere.

-Renee