Saturday, May 22, 2010

Final thoughts on India

Surprises:

  • The Chineze influence on food and architecture in the south
  • The obvious disparity amongst castes of people in India
  • India has tribal peoples (five tribes) that are treated with disdain - much like our own aborigional peoples

Insights:

  • Religion here is very much a part of the various cultures. Whether Christian, Muslim, or Hindu - religion gives people hope and a break from the hard life and work of poverty
  • A religion that condones and encourages different castes of people - truly inhibits progress. The Indian people are no longer subjegated by the British - yet they continue to subjegate one another
  • Mahatma Ghandi really tried to spread acceptance of all people as equal and worthy - something we hould all strive to do
  • Times are changing here. With access to information through the internet, peoples' minds are being opened. I met a young Hindu who was in love with a young Muslim girl. They meet in secret - never too close enough to touch - only to exchange loving glances. Their parents do not know - and will not be happy...but slowly, things are changing
  • The economy is truly driven by cheap labour - somthing drven by a huge impoverished population. The west cannot ever compete - so we will continue to see our jobs go east. And as things improve here and labour costs rise - the profiteers will just move on to the next impverished place like where we are headed next - Viet Nam

Must haves if you are coming to India in the summer:

  • Loose cotton clothes
  • Imodium
  • an accordian paper fan
  • bug spray
  • toilet paper
  • hand sanitizer
  • portable cappacino machine :-)

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