Posts filed under 'India'
November 5th, 2006
Epilogue – completed on the 15th of June, 2006.
Some of you thought with all of the goings-on in Scotland that I would never get to wrap up the India trip. You were almost right! But here I am again…
Thoughts on India after a week back in a world I understand:
I know I’ve had a lot to say about India over the past days that may have seemed less than complimentary when you read it. Keep in mind that the lifestyles and cultures are poles apart when one compares India to the U.S., and most of what I’ve communicated is simply observation from my biased perspective.
While in Bangalore I was constantly excited by the societal contrasts, yet was often taken aback as well. The dissimilarity between the US culture and that of the Bangalorians (?) is striking. It’s evident in the way people don’t queue up to board planes or get in a line to pay at registers, but rather just storm the plane and register. It’s obvious in the way people drive, the way they sell & service, the way they act as pedestrians.
There’s a different code of conduct in general and it’s definitely startling at first. But I must admit – once I respected how things were done, I didn’t have trouble making my way. I still found certain things quite amusing or strange, but there’s a kind of freedom to be had by giving into a culture and accepting it for what it is.
What I first saw as utter chaos in the Indian culture, began to make some sense, oddly enough. I can’t explain this, but after being in Bangalore for a few days, I realized there was a kind of rhyme and a reason to it all. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying I suddenly understand Indian culture. I’m far from ‘understanding’ it. But I do have an appreciation for what I observed.
I wonder what it must be like for someone coming from a place like India to NYC. Standing in another’s “personal space” is quite common in Bangalore, but the same action would cause a fight (or at least a hostile exchange of choice words in NYC). If one was to use Indian driving rules in NYC, or basic Indian rules of ‘getting around,” that person would find NYC a very hostile, angry & scary place.
I received a lot of email while in Bangalore saying: “Be careful!”
Even though I may have appeared flip about the happenings around me, don’t ever think I wasn’t aware of the inherent dangers. When I went out of the hotel, I was always accompanied by a driver & often by other crew members on show site. I was as safe as I possibly could be.
When I went out on the streets or shopping, Cheryl & I only went out together and we were very aware of our surroundings. We watched the traffic patterns and never took any stupid risks in the middle of unpredictable traffic. Cheryl had more time off than I did in the beginning, but she chose to read her book rather than tour any sites or shop alone. It was a cautious but wise decision. I thought if I’d had time & Cheryl didn’t I’d have shopped alone, but really, I know I wouldn’t have. I’m a New Yorker and I’m pretty used to anything happening, but I’m not stupid.
Time to tie this all up…
My trip to India was spectacular. It’s a trip I can’t ever replicate, so I wouldn’t ever try. I do want to go back and explore more someday. I want to see the Taj Mahal and Katmandu and the many other amazing places there are to see in India.
Since I’ve been away for a few days now, I’ve been thinking about how out of my element I was. How uncomfortable it was at times. How amazing it was at other times.
For Cheryl, the food was TOTALLY not in her normal palate. The atmosphere was even more outside of her realm. But she was a great travel companion was up for anything and everything. We both regretted that we didn’t stay a few extra days and travel a bit. Maybe we’ll do it the next time we get a trip to India? Or there’s always a chance when we get on “The Amazing Race!”
So here’s my final conclusion…
If you ever have the opportunity to go to India, take it. It’s the craziest place I’ve ever been, with some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and it’s a world that’s sure to win your heart, as it did mine.
Happy Travels to all!
Farewell Bangalore 
November 5th, 2006
Day 5 - the 6th of June, 2006.
Show Time!
Getting up this morning is no easy task. When the alarm goes off at 4:15am…
Breakfast at 24/7 is a drag. 5:15am is not my choice time, having come home at 11pm. I take a malaria pill, eat an omelet & toast, and chat with Cheryl (who’s going to her venue for her part of the meeting). In addition to pit toilets, Cheryl’s venue has no air conditioning. Rumors are the food at her venue keeps spoiling. I know I’m in the middle of a field, but I’ve had a normal(ish) toilet & good food.
After breakfast, Cheryl & I head for our respective shuttle buses – mine to the Palace Grounds and “The Tent.”
Did I mention that “The Tent” was built on the huge grounds of a palace & is on top of a hill? That every time I use the wonderfully tiled toilets I fall to the right because the toilets aren’t on the flat part of the hill? That I’ve seen ants that could probably eat my cats? That insects here scare the bejesus out of me? The Tent, an entire living village at this point, will be demolished completely in about 3 days time… I think it’ll be gone sooner!
I arrive at work at 6am as scheduled, exhausted as the furniture movers in the hotel did return, making noise throughout the night.
There’s no air conditioning in The Tent until 7:30am. When I arrive it’s humid. Once the AC is on, it’s 40 degrees F!
Security does a ‘sweep’ for the Indian President. They have adorable bomb-sniffing dogs. Their attire is fabulous – traditional Indian outfits with rainbow cumberbunds & hats. The hats also have rainbow paper ‘fans,’ like folding fans. They wear white socks OVER their shoes & these socks extend to their knees. I think of asking where I can get a costume, but decide I’ll be arrested on the spot.
The “feel” of the security search here is similar to the kind I encountered when I worked on “World News Tonight” at the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in 2004. Very vast, very intense.
For a time, sitting at my station in The Tent, I’m actually a bit worried about what I’ve gotten myself into. I’m not far from the stage where India’s President will speak. I realize, as I watch security scope things out, that if the President of India is blown up, I’m likely going with him. I’m hopeful there’s no assassination attempt for purely selfish reasons!
The show starts around 10am. The President of India speaks. What an interesting and intelligent man! And I have survived to tell about it (what a relief!).
There is a ‘traditional’ Indian Lamp Lighting Ceremony by dignitaries on-stage, and the Indian National Anthem is played twice. I don’t know if it’s the band or Anthem itself, but I find the tune is not very hummable.
All goes well with the meeting.
At the end of the show, the crowd is WOWed by Indian singing sensation, Himesh Reshammiya. Himesh has glitzy dancing ‘fly’ girls and boys, and it’s a real rocking act! The smoke & lights are just the icing on the cake. I think Himesh is the “Ricky Martin” of India!
After the show, you’ve never seen anyone strike gear so quickly! I am the first worker signed off the venue and back to the hotel for MY NEXT ADVENTURE!
Cheryl returns to the hotel about 30 minutes after me. We have a quick lunch at ‘24/7.’
When I meet Cheryl for our ‘adventure,’ she wears light shorts which blend with her pale long legs, so as always, I say as much… Cheryl the tourist. At lunch, Cheryl spills on her shorts. Whew. Good excuse to change, right?
When at last we’re ready to leave, we’re joined by the show’s Producers who are headed to a ‘shopping mall.’ Cheryl & I tag along. Since there are 5 of us, Cheryl & I take our own car.
I use the term “Shopping Mall” lightly, as what they call a “Mall” is a shop with lots of rooms. Like most malls in the U.S., it’s overpriced!
I’m going to take a moment to explain the shopping we’ve seen in India so far:
One goes into a shop. The place is usually divided into anywhere from 5 to 10 rooms. Each room has its own “theme.” Silk scarves in one room, jewelry in another, trinkets in another, carpets in the largest room. A buyer goes from one room to the next, often with a different salesperson in each room (or one salesperson who follows like a hawk) trying to get the buyer to sit in a chair or stool in front of a counter where the seller can show the buyer ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in the display case. The buyer is tempted with drinks of all kinds.
So back to the “shopping mall.”
It’s one store with a gazillion rooms. I become dizzy. The Producers go back to the hotel.
When we finish, Cheryl & I are ready for further adventure & call our driver (who was waiting). Only it isn’t OUR driver – it’s the Producers’ driver. Doesn’t matter, but Cheryl & I aren’t sure we have the right driver at all! Turns out our new driver’s very friendly.
We ask the driver to take us to a shop called “Ab Fab.” It’s been recommended. Our driver insists there’s no parking there and takes us to ‘good shops.’ Of course, we know full well he’s taking us to places where he gets a cut.
Our driver gives Cheryl and I some interesting tidbits about driving in India:
You must be 21 to obtain a license. For his job you must have 4 to 5 years experience driving. Cheryl & I have the driver for 3 hours, and the entire cost is under $40.
Our driver is excited to talk about his kids. He has a boy of about 6 and a girl of about 4. On his cell phone is audio of HIS CHILDREN FIGHTING. First Cheryl must listen, then I must. It sounds like… 2 children arguing in another language.
The driver tells us he and his wife are dark skinned and he is so happy that his children are both light skinned. He shows us a photo of his son and proudly states: “He looks Japanese, doesn’t he?” We chuckle – he DOES look Japanese!
As we hear often, our driver hopes to come to New York. That seems to be a common theme among the people I’ve spoken with. It appears, however, that people in the service industry will likely never make enough in their lifetime to be able to afford a trip to the U.S.
This fact really brings home how lucky I am. And I don’t mean that in a condescending way at all. I’ve been handed opportunity where so many haven’t, and it’s easy to take it for granted. It’s easy to fret about simple things and never think about the enormous obstacles other equally educated people face. It’s not that the people I’ve come into contact with in India aren’t educated or hard working. They are. They just haven’t had the opportunities I’ve had.
But enough of the philosophy of life for now… I was talking about SHOPPING.
After the Mall, our driver brings us to a place that’s different than most others – just 2 rooms: a main room and a room with carpets. The people are quite nice. The tactic, as mentioned above, is to pull EVERYTHING out for the buyer to see. So I get to a point where I say: “STOP! I only want to see xx.” It kind of freaks them out, but they oblige and stop showing me EVERYTHING. Their selling, however, is definitely based on a working model overall. They know if they show you something you like, you’re going to buy it – even if it’s not what you came for. So they try to show you as much as they possibly can. I fall for it more than once!
The driver drops us at another shop but Cheryl & I have spotted a TOY STORE on the main road & decide to go for it. Our driver seems a bit distraught and tries to send us to another of his shops. We aren’t having any of that.
Off we go to the Toy Shop on the main street, the one with people wandering in front dressed in clown and animal suits (like DisneyWorld but not). As we ascend the stairs, I swear “Hallelujah!” starts playing. OK, maybe that’s in my head.
But truly, Cheryl’s first words are: “Oh my gosh! It’s India’s TARGET!” Yes, we’ve found the Target of India. The WalMart, K-Mart! WE HIT GOLD!
When I ask the Pushy Sales Woman for INDIAN toys, she brings us over to Thomas the Tank Engine toys & Superman & Batman action figures. I try to shake the pushy saleswoman to no avail. She is not letting go.
Cheryl locates t-shirts with “INDIA” scrawled across them. YES, YES, YES! Exactly what we need!
Pushy Sales Girl shows me a child’s Indian outfit which slays me.
Pushy Sales Girl tries to sell me Indian shirts. No, I say. No thank you! No. No. No. Still, she tries to push how nice it will look on me. Try it on! Try it on!
“Cheryl?” I inquire. “Can you see me in this?” Cheryl laughs: “No.”
I look at Pushy Sales Girl & say, “See?” But she doesn’t let up. She pushes more shirts at me. She loses the battle of selling me a shirt, but sells me 2 OTHER shirts for friends!
Finally, shopping at India Target is over.
Our driver is coming to pick us up (he’s parked by his pals’ shop & has to bring the car round in MASSIVE traffic, traffic like I’ve not yet seen, in fact).
We wait in front of the shop. 5 minutes. 10 minutes. I start to freak about malaria mosquitoes, and am also bothered by the people in animal suits checking us out.
We go inside to wait in a bug-free environment, and we are sucked into yet more shopping. Cheryl finds “India Barbie” AND a Henna tattooist. We have our hands tattooed, buy MORE. The driver finally saves us.
Back at the hotel, Cheryl & I do the “Packing of Souvenirs Dance.” I think we’ve all done this dance at one time or another. We filled an entire extra suitcase…
After the “POS Dance,” we attend a crew party at a nearby hotel, Le Meridien.
The party is in a bar called “Noir” and yes, it’s DARK.
When we arrive at “Noir,” the lady pole-dances arrive. By the time we leave an hour later, our colleagues are beginning to get on-stage with the pole-dancers. I later learn from my next door neighbor, Oz, that by the end of the night pretty much everyone was on the floor with the dancers.
After Cheryl & I leave the party, we go for dinner at the Meridien. It’s pricey for India, but it’s probably because it’s a hotel geared to Americans and Europeans. I hardly feel like I’m in India in the hotel lobby. The buffet is fabulous and I really enjoy my last ‘real Indian meal.’ I feel nostalgic as I eat my final nan in India.
The trip draws to a close rapidly. But there’s one last adventure yet to come!
Cheryl & I take the free shuttle from the Meridien to our hotel. The shuttle driver, as it turns out, has been Cheryl’s shuttle driver all the way through the trip. She seems rather frightened of getting in the van with him again. I understand why when he makes a U-turn on a major road with 3 lanes of traffic in either direction. Cheryl says: “Yeah, he did that every night when we came home from my venue. But that was nothing. You should’ve seen him playing chicken with a BUS!”
I wave Cheryl off as she leaves for a 2am flight (my flight isn’t until 6:30am). I go to my room, work, pack, watch some bad American sit-coms playing on TV. I actually forget for a brief moment that I’m not supposed to brush my teeth with tap water and just as I put the tap water in my mouth, I spit it out, rinse with mouthwash & think: “OH NO! I’m going to get sick on the plane!”
When it’s my turn to go to the Bangalore Airport, I notice it appears to be bombed out. I don’t recall it being THAT bad on arrival. I guess I was really tired.
Security is a circus & I keep saying it’s like I’m on “The Amazing Race.” By the way, I’m in 4th place if we’re on the “Amazing Race” – out of about 30 people!
The departure lounge is a dive. There’s a tiny bookstore I consider going into, but cannot maneuver my hand luggage into such a small shop. The duty-free shop isn’t more than a 10×10 room with booze & cigarettes. I sit in the lounge & sleep.
My plane loads a few hours later, I board, taking my British Airways Business Class seat. I wave Hello to my former next door neighbor, Oz, who is starting to sober up from last night. We both laugh that he’s sitting next to me on the plane, my neighbor once again, for the last time this trip.
Oz asks me to sign his ‘autograph book.’ Yes, he has a book people are signing. I include the ever-popular phrase from when I was 12: “2 Good 2 Be 4 Gotten.”
I conk out as the plane taxis away from this very foreign land, dreaming of first-world Scotland, to where I am headed.
A new adventure awaits tomorrow!
November 4th, 2006
Day 4 - the 5th of June, 2006.
One day to go before the big show!
My hours have been longer than I’d hoped. I was called in at 9:30am to rehearse with a ‘big’ Indian star - model, actress, winner of Miss Asia Pacific. Someone threw “Poet” into her voiceover intro but, upon discussion, we believe she may not truly be a “poet”… I believe she may be the Jennifer Aniston of India.
Of course, ‘the star’ didn’t arrive until 11:30am and then decided to work with the writers until 1pm. I essentially did nothing all morning and the minute I sat down for lunch, I was called to work. But that’s the way it ALWAYS goes!
Lunch was the usual buffet. Very good Indian food, with pasta & potatoes thrown in for good measure. The catering company at “The Tent” makes fresh “nan” in the most traditional manner (so I’m told). I’m trying just about everything (and there’s a LOT to try) but am having a daily dose of heartburn.
At any rate, back to work I went… grabbing a plate of heartburn and some nan to eat while working.
I did my 3 hours of rehearsal work and then sat, waiting for the next meal…
The Tent fluctuated temperature. I was layering, unlayering, layering, unlayering.
During my 7.5 hours of doing nothing post-rehearsal, I surfed the net.
A person I worked with recently in Vegas is also in Bangalore but working on another part of the show. He wrote some amusing stuff about his Indian experience (if you want to read his stories, go to www.themightygeek.com). My stories pale in comparison!
I showed what I considered to be his funny stories in India to a Production Assistant on my job named Srini. Srini lives in New York City but is of Indian origin and actually went to school for some time in Delhi. He’s a FABULOUS fellow and we completely hit it off.
Srini, however, was offended by my colleague’s stories and found no amusement whatsoever in them. I tried to explain that to people like myself and this guy, the way of India is an entirely foreign experience. Srini accepted that, but he didn’t quite get what was so amusing about the way people line up in India, etc.
And oh, and by the way, Srini confirmed for me that YES, the Custom’s Agent at the airport WAS trying to scam me with the 2nd laptop charge (refer back to Day 1). It appears I was supposed to counter his demand for the duty with a smaller bribe.
Clearly, the Custom’s Agent wasn’t expecting me & Cheryl. He thought we were easy targets but I guess we’re not as dumb as we appear!
Dinner was the ‘usual’ and I ate with Richie, a TD I’ve known for many years. He showed me where the video people work (not inside The Tent). It was a rather elaborate setup, yet somehow very spartan as well.
I got to see the gear that had been burnt out (see – it wasn’t just me!) and was told electrical power horror stories.
Also, today I learned something BRAND NEW….
If the show I was working on moved from “The Tent” to Cheryl’s venue, it WASN’T because of the rains beating down on the tent & the terrific noise it made (though it DID make terrific noise) or flooding of The Tent or anything of that nature…
The entire event would move locations if…there was any threat to the safety of the President of India, who was coming to speak. I learn something new every day here!
I spoke with Cheryl briefly at about 10pm. Since she doesn’t have an international cell phone, communication when we’re at the venues has been next to impossible. I have on-line access, so I tried a few times to phone from my computer to her room. I got no answer and figured she was off having fun in India.
That was not the case. She had to work at her venue until about 9pm.
I was released from The Tent finally at 10:30pm.
On the shuttle bus from Tent to hotel, I met “Oz,” a Video Engineer. Great guy who, it turns out, ‘lives’ next door to me at the hotel. He and I commiserated about the noise in the hallway at night keeping me (and him, it turns out) awake. He asked if I heard furniture moving all night long. Unfortunately, yes, I did. We both hoped they’d hold off on the furniture arranging so we could get some sleep.
Since I had an early call, I went back to my room as soon as I arrived back at the hotel, checked in with Allan & went to sleep.
I have to admit, I was a little stir crazy today, desperate to get out to the ‘real-world’ outside the confines of “The Tent.”
Yes, I do fully realize I’m being paid to work and am truly grateful, but at the same time, I cannot help that I’m itching to spend as much time outside with the locals.
Tomorrow will be my ‘big day!’
November 4th, 2006
Day 3 - the 4th of June, 2006
Day 3 was (thankfully I’m sure) a somewhat uneventful day.
I worked from 9am until 9pm, so there wasn’t any time to get off the grounds to explore. Still, I’ll tell you just a little about my day…
Breakfast was at 24/7, our good old restaurant where breakfast is every morning. I had my cheese & pepper omelet, with 2 pieces of white toast & coffee (and a VERY small muffin). Today most people had earlier call times, so I was at the breakfast place alone.
I decided to sit at a table outside on the patio of the restaurant where the evening before there was a bizarre disco ball spinning above this very table — for no reason I could figure out.
It was a nice day. Not as hot as I’d have thought.
HOWEVER, I had an especially attentive waiter. He just would NOT go away.
Coffee? Water? Juice? More eggs? Tea? Fruit? AHHHH! I thought of asking for “Peace & Quiet” but figured he’d spend another half hour asking me what that was…
The waiter, of course, asked me where I’m from, and smiled when I said New York. He, like everyone else here, plans on going to New York….
As I neared the end of my breakfast and he could get me nothing further, my waiter disappeared and returned with what appeared to be a check.
I explained that NO! I was with the production crew & didn’t need to sign for breakfast because it was included in the room rate.
But it wasn’t a check… it was an opinion card on how the service was…
I looked at it for a minute thinking: I don’t feel like filling this paperwork out…
And then he excitedly air-circled around the phone # & email address part: “You fill out. You fill out.” he demanded. I was NOT going to fill in any personal information, thank you very much.
When I was 14 or so, an Indonesian man decided to ‘claim’ me for his own.. Scary for a 14 year old. I’m a little older now & a bit more cautious.
The waiter was very disappointed when I said: “I don’t have time to fill this out. I’m running late!” Call me a heartbreaker…..
After breakfast, I went to work in “The Tent.” I think they’ve turned the AC up so high that it’s 40 degrees in the damn tent. When we walk outside for lunch and it’s 80 degrees, then we go back into the tent where it’s 40. I wish I hadn’t sent all my Scotland sweaters ahead with Allan now!
Apparently the situation with the tent is this:
They need to keep it COLD so that when the 10,000 people arrive on Tuesday it won’t get hot quickly.
And apparently the ventilation isn’t what it could be so the projectors (which are up high — where the heat has risen to) keep shutting off because they’ve been overheating. A crazy cycle.
The main producer is already sending people out to find ‘large inventories’ of sweatshirts for everyone.
Today I burnt out a power strip and 2 table lamps. I could say the day started with a “bang” but it was really more of a “pop.” I thought I was going to be electrocuted, but not today.
It doesn’t look like Day 4 will be any better than Day 3.
Of course, there’s less humor today because I wasn’t working on-site with Cheryl.
We did have an interesting conversation at lunch today, however, about Cheryl’s beloved McDonalds’ in India not serving beef because of the Holy Cow. I’m now asking Cheryl if she wants to go for her “Lamburgers.” Word is they use lamb instead of beef…
Also Cheryl is trying to get a picture of ENTIRE FAMILIES riding on a single moped. She said she saw a mother, father & 2 kids riding on one. She couldn’t get a picture of it in time, though. Others saw families of FIVE — someone claimed 6 — riding together on one moped.
This really is a strange country. I just can’t fathom this. And we worry about BABY SEATS!
November 4th, 2006
Day 2 - the 3rd of June, 2006.
I had a difficult time getting to sleep last night.
I spoke with Allan (my husband) on Skype for a while. What a magnificent thing that piece of software is! He caught me up on his Dad’s condition in Scotland. It’s so hard to tell what is happening from day-to-day…
I finally got to sleep at about 2am….
I agreed to meet Cheryl in the lobby restaurant called 24/7 where we have ‘free’ breakfast. In the normal world, Cheryl NEVER eats breakfast, but she’s not very adventurous when it comes to food — and the breakfast is eggs & toast, something she can at least understand.
Cheryl is still moaning about wanting to go to McDonalds and the fact that she can’t find beef in this country. Yes, she knows she’s being……… American……. but she can’t help what she truly desires!
I couldn’t understand why Cheryl was a little antsy at breakfast as I casually ate.
We had 10 minutes before we had to catch the shuttle to the “Palace Grounds” and “The Tent.”
Cheryl corrected me that we were running 5 minutes BEHIND.
Impossible, I said! It’s just 8am and we don’t have to leave until 8:10.
Her watch said 8:15…
We asked the waiter. He had 8:20.
No one seemed to have the right time — but it was all nearer to Cheryl’s time than mine so we picked a time & scooted off quickly to the shuttle van.
I don’t know HOW I was 10-15 minutes off (how totally weird is that???). And I DON’T understand who makes up these weird time zone changes anyway.
India is 9.5 hours ahead of NY. What’s with the HALF hour? Couldn’t they have just chosen 9 or 10?
We shuttled over to the tent & I got my laptops set up in 15 minutes. I then had to sit for 9 hours & 45 minutes until my 10-hour day was up. I did nothing except go on-line (at least I had that).
Cheryl went to the secondary venue, an Auditorium about 45 minutes from the tent, where she will be working for the next few days.
She came back & let me know a) that she read an entire book and b) that the bathrooms weren’t quite as nice as the ones at the tent. Apparently, she’s got a hole in the ground to pee into. I think Cheryl will never come back to India!!!!!!!!
I may have to go over to Cheryl’s venue if it’s scheduled to rain the morning of our show. The meeting has been scheduled during monsoon season & the rains are UNBELIEVABLE. I tried to get some photos but justice just cannot be done to show the enormity of the rains… If it’s raining hard on the day of our event, it ISN’T that the tent will flood or break because of the rain — but rather that the NOISE the rain makes on the roof of the tent is SO LOUD that no one could hear the meeting take place. It’s really insane!
After work today (and after the heavy rain at 6pm), Cheryl & I met up for dinner in the Hotel at 24/7 and had a terrific buffet dinner.
We were, once again, pegged as dumb Americans.
Our waiter brought over a MAGICIAN (I cannot make this stuff up!) who started doing cheesy magic tricks. I kid you not when I say Cheryl was amazed & entertained.
I’m SUCH a New Yorker. I was like: “Whatever.”
But I tipped the guy a little something for all his trouble. He was all dressed up & quite sweet….
After our magician escapade, an older fellow at the table behind us asked us where we’re from.
Turned out he’s from DC & a …….. Republican (sorry Mom & Dad!).
Seriously, though,, once we got off of politics, he was quite an interesting guy & we learned he is from the DC area & works for the World Bank. He’s working on getting funding for the transport infrastructure here.
We wished him good luck & told him about our transit thoughts:
Perhaps they need to teach the drivers here to actually pay the SLIGHTEST bit of attention to red lights AND they need to learn that a horn is NOT to be used every 3 seconds.
The honking in Bangalore is OUT OF CONTROL (as I sit in my room writing, there are numerous horns sounding & we’re on a side street off the beaten track a little bit).
The man told us about other parts of India & we discussed how India is a very service-oriented country. And it really is.
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