Neysa's take on India

I think one of the things I find most fascinating about India is that it has such a strange dichotomy about it. It’s like going back in time one hundred years. With the emergence of a strong middle/upper class, and more focus being directed at their educational system, technology and modern necessities are becoming quite readily available. From what I've seen, there really aren’t “good” or “bad” parts of town. You will see a huge gated mansion with security, guards and barbed wire around the walls- then the next block will be people living in shacks and washing in the river.

I have visited a lot of places and I must say that the driving experience here is one of the most bizarre. First off there are only three lane highways that seem to fit 5 rows of cars, rickshaws, huge busses full of people and livestock, motorbikes, bicycles, tractors, oxen-pulled carts and yesterday I even saw two camels... all on the highway together. It’s quite dangerous because everyone is going different speeds and swerving in and out. I just close my eyes and pray that we don’t hit anything or anyone. None of the roads are straight so I never know where we are going. But I do love watching out the window and watching as the world goes by.

The poverty here seems to be worst than anywhere else I have ever been. Of course I say that every time I visit a place where there is a lot of poverty. But there are shanty towns everywhere, even in the middle of the highway. While stopped at a light yesterday I noticed a man with leprosy on the side of the road begging for money. A lot of the people who beg here are handicapped in some way and leave their severed appendages out so they are visible. It’s really sad and disturbing and they are forced to be so vulnerable in order to be efficient in begging for money. They will come right up to the car and stare at you until you give them something. But the worst is all of the children running in and out thru traffic begging for money and food. I don’t know if giving them money helps them or hinders them by encouraging them to continue putting them selves in such danger. Nonetheless, it is a good lesson in humility and definitely puts life into perspective.

Well I have to go. I think my dad is waking up and we want to go for a little walk today to stretch his legs. I love you guys and will write more later.