So, here are some more general observations about India.
The driving:
As much as the driving rules in India appear to be "optional," once I got used to riding on the other side of the road, it actually isn't that bad. No one stays in their lane, bikes, horses, rikshaws, whatever...everyone shares. But I think the reason this works is there is absolutely no road rage, no swerving, no aggressive driving of any kind. Everyone lets everyone in, which seems to make it easier. No one panics to merge, because its assumed that someone will let them in. I honestly feel somewhat more comfortable here, the driving is a lot more relaxed, despite the initial feeling of complete chaos.
Child seats are not used here. This sort of made both me and Gaurav nervous. We were driving down the street and there was a little baby hanging out the open window of one of the TukTuk's (Auto Rickshaw...three wheeled car) I feel like that can't be safe, but I suppose they know what they are doing.
The 'security' detail:
So, if I thought I was alarmed by they airport security with the assault rifles, imagine how surprised I was when we showed up at Nishu's bank and the door guard also has an assault rifle. Everything here has a security guard. Banks, stores, his parent's neighborhood. The funny thing about this is that I guess the crime isn't that bad. We were walking around the previously mentioned "lake"....and I was asking Ravi about the crime here. He said the biggest crime is political corruption. Followed by...rape. But for the most part, things seem pretty safe here in Chandigarh. I guess all the security detail is to keep it that way!
I get stared at.... A Lot. I think this would happen a lot less if I was with a big group of white people. I think a lot of the stares come from people trying to figure out the dynamic.
India has tons of gays:
Ok, not really...well I mean, I guess I have no idea. But because there is nothing wrong with two guys riding on scooters and motorcycles together, if you saw it in the US you'd think there were a ton of gay guys around. Its also completely acceptable for two males to hold hands as they walk down the street, like...two straight guys.
Loitering People:
There are just people everywhere, just hanging out. Both me and Gaurav mentioned that it makes us both a little nervous. (Probably me more so than him, but he at least noticed it). If there were groups of people loitering around in Chicago you would probably think they were selling drugs, or going to mug someone. People don't just hang out under trees on the sidewalk for fun. There are just people everywhere. Sleeping in the median of the road, wherever. Nishu even took us to see the very expensive homes in Chandigarh, and even outside their homes was a woman just sleeping on the sidewalk. I guess if you're tired you just lay down! I might fit in well here!
The other really odd thing is that there is no transition. Gaurav's parents live in a very nice neighborhood, surrounded by a few other nice neighborhoods...but on one side it butts up to a "slum" There is no transition from one type of a neighborhood to another. That would be like crossing the street from lincoln park and being in the back of the yards in Chicago. I'm not really used to that amount of difference from one second to the other.
I'm going to come home with flat boobs.
I knew the beds would be firm here, because when Gaurav's parents come to stay with us his dad likes to sleep on a thin futon mattress on the floor. The bed is firm, but it wasn't bad. Until I tried to flip over and sleep on my stomach as I normally do. Well...since there is no give there's no where for my boobs to go except to be smashed back into my chest. It was really uncomfortable. All the women must sleep on their backs here. I can go ahead and sleep on my back, but when I sleep on my back I snore...and wake myself up fairly often doing so.
Everyone here keeps complaining that it is so hot. But I think its wonderful. Its a nice dry heat, none of that sweaty-humidity-heat stuff. I also haven't experienced any ridiculous amount of bugs. I think I got bit a few times at the lake, but not like you would if you were in your backyard in Illinois in August. So actually not that bad.
I guess I was a bit surprised at the amount of garbage laying around. I was aware of this phenomenon (thanks Srividya!), but I guess I expected it to be more concentrated on the busy streets, or maybe in the poorer neighborhoods. But really...its...everywhere. It doesn't smell or anything, its just...around.
Its really dusty here. I was aware of this, but I couldn't exactly figure out why. For I while I thought it was because there were no curbs, but there were nice wonderful curbs in Chandigarh at the lake we went to. (The lake was almost dried up). Me and Gaurav decided it was because there isn't much grass here, so the dust just gets to blow around or is carried around. Gaurav pointed out some of it is probably because of the people, there was a tuktuk just parked along the side of the road in the dirt, so it would then take off and spray and carry dust with it. People also will walk through the dust. Both of our eyes have been itching a lot. I think we aren't used to it.
--I suppose its time for bed.
The driving:
As much as the driving rules in India appear to be "optional," once I got used to riding on the other side of the road, it actually isn't that bad. No one stays in their lane, bikes, horses, rikshaws, whatever...everyone shares. But I think the reason this works is there is absolutely no road rage, no swerving, no aggressive driving of any kind. Everyone lets everyone in, which seems to make it easier. No one panics to merge, because its assumed that someone will let them in. I honestly feel somewhat more comfortable here, the driving is a lot more relaxed, despite the initial feeling of complete chaos.
Child seats are not used here. This sort of made both me and Gaurav nervous. We were driving down the street and there was a little baby hanging out the open window of one of the TukTuk's (Auto Rickshaw...three wheeled car) I feel like that can't be safe, but I suppose they know what they are doing.
The 'security' detail:
So, if I thought I was alarmed by they airport security with the assault rifles, imagine how surprised I was when we showed up at Nishu's bank and the door guard also has an assault rifle. Everything here has a security guard. Banks, stores, his parent's neighborhood. The funny thing about this is that I guess the crime isn't that bad. We were walking around the previously mentioned "lake"....and I was asking Ravi about the crime here. He said the biggest crime is political corruption. Followed by...rape. But for the most part, things seem pretty safe here in Chandigarh. I guess all the security detail is to keep it that way!
I get stared at.... A Lot. I think this would happen a lot less if I was with a big group of white people. I think a lot of the stares come from people trying to figure out the dynamic.
India has tons of gays:
Ok, not really...well I mean, I guess I have no idea. But because there is nothing wrong with two guys riding on scooters and motorcycles together, if you saw it in the US you'd think there were a ton of gay guys around. Its also completely acceptable for two males to hold hands as they walk down the street, like...two straight guys.
Loitering People:
There are just people everywhere, just hanging out. Both me and Gaurav mentioned that it makes us both a little nervous. (Probably me more so than him, but he at least noticed it). If there were groups of people loitering around in Chicago you would probably think they were selling drugs, or going to mug someone. People don't just hang out under trees on the sidewalk for fun. There are just people everywhere. Sleeping in the median of the road, wherever. Nishu even took us to see the very expensive homes in Chandigarh, and even outside their homes was a woman just sleeping on the sidewalk. I guess if you're tired you just lay down! I might fit in well here!
The other really odd thing is that there is no transition. Gaurav's parents live in a very nice neighborhood, surrounded by a few other nice neighborhoods...but on one side it butts up to a "slum" There is no transition from one type of a neighborhood to another. That would be like crossing the street from lincoln park and being in the back of the yards in Chicago. I'm not really used to that amount of difference from one second to the other.
I'm going to come home with flat boobs.
I knew the beds would be firm here, because when Gaurav's parents come to stay with us his dad likes to sleep on a thin futon mattress on the floor. The bed is firm, but it wasn't bad. Until I tried to flip over and sleep on my stomach as I normally do. Well...since there is no give there's no where for my boobs to go except to be smashed back into my chest. It was really uncomfortable. All the women must sleep on their backs here. I can go ahead and sleep on my back, but when I sleep on my back I snore...and wake myself up fairly often doing so.
Everyone here keeps complaining that it is so hot. But I think its wonderful. Its a nice dry heat, none of that sweaty-humidity-heat stuff. I also haven't experienced any ridiculous amount of bugs. I think I got bit a few times at the lake, but not like you would if you were in your backyard in Illinois in August. So actually not that bad.
I guess I was a bit surprised at the amount of garbage laying around. I was aware of this phenomenon (thanks Srividya!), but I guess I expected it to be more concentrated on the busy streets, or maybe in the poorer neighborhoods. But really...its...everywhere. It doesn't smell or anything, its just...around.
Its really dusty here. I was aware of this, but I couldn't exactly figure out why. For I while I thought it was because there were no curbs, but there were nice wonderful curbs in Chandigarh at the lake we went to. (The lake was almost dried up). Me and Gaurav decided it was because there isn't much grass here, so the dust just gets to blow around or is carried around. Gaurav pointed out some of it is probably because of the people, there was a tuktuk just parked along the side of the road in the dirt, so it would then take off and spray and carry dust with it. People also will walk through the dust. Both of our eyes have been itching a lot. I think we aren't used to it.
--I suppose its time for bed.
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