Notes from India

On Indian highways, one sees signs such as "Watch out for traffic in the wrong direction", or "No bullock carts on highways", and heavily loaded trucks move at snail pace.

A while ago I wondered, what is the height of individual consumerism in coffee, eg., is it having sophisticated coffee/espresso machines at home, or grinding one's own coffee beans, or gettting beans roasted and delivered fresh? Going beyond, I would love to have a coffee roaster in my living room, a scheduled roasting that would spew out the beans in right amount each morning. :) In a similar vein, what is the height of individual consumerism in travel in India by cars? Is it renting one and driving it by oneself, or hiring a driver with the car? One of the drivers recommended that for my two weeks stay in India, I buy a Nano, use it while I am in India, and get rid of it before I leave!

The main street in Indian villages is not a street, but the Banyan tree. It stands spread out, carries scars of brushes with cars and cows, has marks of deities and children born, houses a shop or two selling tea and tschotkes, and is a gathering place of men and women to avoid the heat, or squat, chew paan and socialize.

On the flight, an annoucement: "Aircraft ke Captain ne Seat Belt light on kiye hein." So much for Hindi.