Legendary Indian Traffic

Everyone has probably heard stories about the traffic in India, but unless you've been here, you really cannot comprehend it. It's like, even though you've read stories about astronauts, unless you were one of the fortunate few to walk on the moon, you can't really know what it's like. And even once you get used to it, you still see things that make you shake your head.

Like my driver, wanting to avoid a traffic jam, swerving into the other side of the boulevard and bearing down on oncoming traffic for half a kilometer, to avoid the delay. Transport trucks on the highway, turned sideways. Groups of 20 or 30 people crossing four lanes of a highway in a spread out herd, in the midst of oncoming traffic, and a like ghost being sprayed with bullets, emerging unscathed at the other side. I had to close my eyes for that one. I can only speculate this system is one elaborate attempt at population control.

And of course, event like these occur on top a constant landscape of cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, auto-rickshaws, people, dogs and cows, locked in a perpetual game of chicken.

I tried making some movies, but like all thing spontaneous, the most striking events happen when your camera is not on. Still, I managed to find you YouTube videos that help give a sense of what is is like here. Watch at your own peril!

Typical Traffic at a Typical Intersection in India:


Tutorial: How to Cross a Street in India:

First Weekend in Delhi

So today I hired a cab and decided to go see some sights of the many sights Delhi has to offer. My first stop was Qutb Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Construction began in 1193, with subsequent rulers adding additional stories to it. Since I arrived early in the morning, I was one of the few people here. While I appreciated the architecture and its significance, what I really relished was the open space and tranquility. This was the time I have been in India (including my previous two week trip) where I really felt at peace.

Following this, I went for a brief visit of India Gate, which is very much a mini Arc de Triomphe to honour India's fallen soldiers.

Next I went to Akshardham. I read that this was a recently built temple, so I wasn't quite expecting much.... they don't build temples like they used to, when slave labour was in abundance. So I was totally blown away when I arrived at the complex. Everything about this place is over-the-top, starting with security, which was tighter than anything I have ever seen at any airport; you had you check your cell phones, cameras, lighters, handbags, backpacks; basically everything except the clothes on your back, at the entrance. So unfortunately I don't have any photos of the place.

The main temple was also over-the-top, decorated inside and out with hand carved sandstone. I'm sure they probably used dremmel tools rather than manual chisels, but you could tell that each carving was subtly different from the next, and thus not mass-produced. The temple itself is a tribute to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the founder of this particular sect of Hinduism.

There were also two presentations I went to; one was an vast labyrinth of animatronics (just like in Disneyworld) that chronicled his life. The other was an IMAX movie. His life story, as presented by these, is over-the-top. Leaving home at age, 11. Spending the next 7 years wandering over 10,000 km, wandering the Himalaya for a year wearing nothing more than a loincloth... and on and on. I'm not kidding. Superman had nothing on this guy. After two hours of this, I was over-the-topped out, and had to leave.

Finally, I went to the Bahai' Lotus Temple. Located within a spacious parkland, the walkway to the temple was a river of humanity. Though the architecture is very aesthetic, the interior is as sparse as Akshardahm is overindulgent. Just an open space with pews. There was a service happening, and I sat down just as a lady started to sing a hymn. It was brief, but her soft and reverent voice resounded throughout the temple. I got goose bumps. I felt a definite tinge of sadness when she finished... I wished she would continue for the next hour. Another moment of profound calm and serenity in this chaotic country.

Though it wasn't intentional, it turned out to be a fairly spiritually themed Sunday jaunt.

Expletives in India

Note to self: When in India, and something startles you, avoid blurting out "Holy Cow!"

Frankie goes to Bollywood...

On the flight over, I was wondering about what I could to with my spare time to get a bit involved with the local Culture. As luck would have it, the day Ciena (the company I'm consulting to) activated my work e-mail account, there was an e-mail about weekly dance classes starting today. It was truly serendipitous.

So I wasn't sure what to expect, but hey, I like to dance, so I showed up at the games room at the appointed time. So it turns out we're doing a series of choreographed danced movies based on the song from a curent Bollywood flick, "Bachna ae Haseeno". The choreography is very much like a Broadway musical. If you've taken western dance, like waltz, or swing, you know that if you know a few dances, there is a lot of overlap. This was something totally different. A lot of moves that everyone was familiar with (in movies) except me.

Here in India, the whole John Travolta point your finger up in one direction, then down at the floor in another, is considered one of a number of very cool moves. I can't wait until I return to Calgary, so I can bust out these moves when they play "Bachna ae Hasseno" at The Warehouse!

Arrived in Delhi

So after 22 hours of travel, I arrived in Delhi at 6:30 this morning, went to the hotel to change and shower, then went to work for about 5 hours.

My trip with British Airways was fantastic. For the Calgary to London leg, I had premium economy seats, so I could actually sleep most of the way. The second leg, London to Delhi, I got bumped into business class. Oh my god it was great! I was flying on Champagne before we left the ground, and the schmoozing only got better from there. The appetizer was scallops with pesto and a side salad, and dinner was tender chicken and bread pudding, with more wine and champagne. Then there was this awesome chocolate dessert with Drambuie..... A great way to start a trip!

Ko Chang - Day 5: More Scootering

So today we rented a scooter again, and this time headed down the island in a counterclockwise direction, heading to the southwest corner. Once again, there were some serious hills to navigate.
Our destination today was Ban Bang Bao, a small fishing village on stilts. The 'main street' of this village is actually one hugely long pier, which eventually leads to a lighthouse. Although it may have originally been a fishing village, it is quite obvious that today it's main source of income is tourism. Here we had a fabulous seafood meal for lunch.

Afterwards we rode a little farther and checked out a lovely sand beach, and after hanging out there for a while, we returned back to Hat Sai Khao.

Ko Chang - Day 4: Carole's Birthday

So today, here on the lovely Thai island of Ko Chang, we celebrated Carole's birthday.

Carole Celebrates
One more spin around the sun
With sunset on beach