We are seeing India through the lens of our rickshaw. Zen and the Art of Rickshaw Maintenance. Slowly clicking off kilometers. The cast of characters are the short interactions/relationships with fellow rickshaw drivers, gas station attendants, mechanics, hotel staff, fellow customers in restaurants, people we ask directions from, and the inquiring minds of crowds that surround our rickshaw when we stop. Receptions are full of warmth and curiosity. With 1.2 billion people (17% of the world’s population) to our surprise the landscape is vast and open, except the densely populated urban areas. We share the road with ox carts, water buffalo, dogs, goats, sacred cows, pigs, and ducks. It no longer shocks us when we see a whole family or three men on a motorcycle or a couple with the woman riding side saddle and only the man wearing a helmet. We see women in background doing a majority of the work, carrying water/firewood and working in the fields, but interactions with women are rare. Poverty. Everywhere. We are at about the halfway point and have picked up our pace as we have “mastered” our driving skills and understand the rules of the road. This is an experience everyone should have once in their life.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Different Type of Tourism
Monday, January 7, 2008
Language Skills Not Required
When we hit the large towns finding a hotel is a hurdle, as none of the cities are in our guide book and directions get confusing, “go about two furlongs that a right a little before the canal and the hotel is on the left.” So our strategy has been to hire a rickshaw and we follow it through the maze to a hotel. Each of the drivers has become our friend, helping tune our vehicle up, and taking us to get tires repaired. Membership in the Rickshaw Fraternity is enough to solidify our friendship, language not required. The next morning the same driver will show up early to leads out of town. All roads lead to Rome, but it not easy getting out of Dodge on the road to Kathmandu.
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