Incredible India
India has always intrigued foreigners, back in the forth century B.C., Alexander the Great’s men were amazed by the elephants. Later, William Shakespeare, who actually never visited India, alluded to its exotic trading wealth in his play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. In 1897 the well traveled writer, Mark Twain called India “… the one land that al men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.” – National Geographic Traveler, India
India is a land full of contrasts where history and tradition go hand in hand with the dynamic present. India is actually second only to the United States in information technology, however, yet home life remains traditional and families eat together, enjoying laboriously prepared fresh dishes rather than convenience fast foods.
From the moment you arrive you can see contrasts. They are very obvious. On a busy road in Bangalore, you could see a camel, a bullock cart, a heard of goats, a bicycle, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a hand painted truck, a monkey, the latest model Mercedes car, a wondering cow, air-conditioned bus, and sometimes even an elephant, and all somehow magically getting along together with remarkably few accidents (except of my little accident on my day #15 on April 16th, 2008).
And the contrasts extend to huge differences in material wealth. Can you believe that India has more millionaires than the United States, and real estate prices are among the world’s highest. Yet many families have no clean water.
India so far has made me laugh for joy and also caught my breath in wonder. It can turn your ideas upside-down and introduce whole new subjects to think about, and of course, very often, it may well make you lose your patience.
During my visit here in India I am taking the advantage of every opportunity available to experience as many different sides as possible of this immensely rich, varied, and stimulating land.
… More to come … stay tuned ….
