


I forgot how people don't drive in lanes and the driving in general is just chaotic (I've always said that I think of India as having the most organized chaos)
Veera was saying that people are independent here, they drive where they want and do what they want. "look, there is a red light. people will, just go through it because they want to. In the west, people pick their dogs shit up and throw it out. Here, noone picks it up because they don't own the dogs and don't care. Even the dogs are free to do what they want, they go where they want and shit where they want". In saying this, he wasn't necessarily proud of it, more making a joke out of my reaction to the whole thing.

On two lane roads, the cars and buses will pass other cars and completely come over to the other side of the road, as the oncoming cars have to pull off the road. Someone told me. Dont' get mad at them, just think of it as an elephant coming at you. You wouldn't argue with the elephant, you would just get out of its way. The same person also told me I was a good guy for an american.

I am down in Auroville; an international community in the middle of nowhere in India (actually near Pondicherry and they don't like to be thought as nowhere), visiting a friend here. While hear, I am staying in a place that makes me feel like Robinson Crusoe. A bamboo hut right near the beach.

As I am often on the move with my feet constantly going, I got a quote sent to me from a friend that says: "Those who keep both feet firmly on the ground have difficulty putting pants on"
About 5 months ago I befriended a guy in Arizona and we had a spirited discussion on the general happiness of people who I come across in India and such places that have very little, but their families and community and the overall happiness of people that live in the US (a wealthier country) I would like to share the email that I got from him after letting him know that I am back in India. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts either way on this.
"Could you tell me again that those folks like to be poorer than the dirt they shovel (or whatever that brown stuff is…). That they are “happier” than the families and children and elderly, etc., here. Go ahead, convince me that our progress, though flawed in its own way, does not ultimately strive to make everyone’s level of existence just a little better for each subsequent generation. Not just economically, but environmentally, educationally, interpersonally and entertainmentally (my new word for the day, made it up just now).
So keep on losing weight as you eat more, and we’ll keep gaining weight as we eat faster. Difference is we have the choice to eat and live better, any damn time we want. And drive less miles in our gas guzzlers, and watch less TV and conspicuously spend less money on frivolous consumtive crap. We have the choice, that is the key difference.
Gotta hop, all these choices to make. Feel free to post my ramblings as your own, or post them as an opposing view to yours (dare ya). Whatever works for your forehead works for me."
I also would like to recommend a great to book to those looking for something to read.Tom Hodgkinson: The Freedom Manifesto
Be well, gotta go, it's chai time.
1 comment:
My sweetie. Reading your post has been the best part of my day, second to kissing my new love(Payton 9/9/09).I will read the book you suggested and continue to remind myself of how blessed that we all are. Thanks to a higher power I have the honor to call you my friend. Be well and I look forward to the day I schedule my families vacation with onelovetours.
SO LONG 4 now
Tasha
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