"I Spy" in India

When the boys and I play "I Spy" here during long drives or even short drives that take a VERY long time, it's amazing what comes out of our mouths. It's what gave me the idea for this blog entry. When we first arrived there were so many new sites that caught our attention and it's amazing how quickly we've been desensitized to many of these images. It's not a bad thing. Frankly, it's a necessary thing in order to just live here and be sane but still, I thought it would be interesting to make a quick list of the things that now don't get a second glance from me (or the boys). Here is my list...

• COWS - they are everywhere and they rule. Many are sick and unhealthy looking - sad.
  
• GIGANTIC loads of stuff either in rickshaws or on peoples heads - use to make us laugh out loud at how ridiculous it was. Now we just go... "huh? how do they do that?"
• Slum huts - everywhere - next to a beautiful house, between two stores, along the road etc. Some stand alone but most are small colonies called "slums" and have a hierarchy/rhythm and economy of their own that keeps the neighborhood slum going. I can't imagine what will happen to all these tin roofs, thatched roofs and blue tarp roofs during monsoon season. Can't be pretty.
• No helmets. Motorbikes and scooters are rampant but helmets are only worn by the drivers and not always. No woman and certainly no kids where helmets. I only wince now when I see the kids - especially babies being held by the moms sitting sidesaddle.
  
• Men sleeping everywhere. They just lay down and take a nap - in their rickshaws, on the ground, median of the road, on a cart, etc. Never woman - only men. Hmmm.
• Men holding hands and men arm in arm. Don't notice this anymore. It's very common and kind of nice. I asked John why it's OK for men do that here in India and his response was "the real question is why isn't it OK everywhere else?"
• Buses and auto-rickshaws PACKED with people; I keep thinking they could easily win one of the Volkswagen Bug contests
• Woman on construction sites carrying heaving materials up many levels of stairs on their heads (stacks of bricks, bowls of concrete) while the men are sleeping (just kidding)
• Donkeys, wild pigs, and wild dogs everywhere. But, camels and monkeys still get our attention.

In addition, I decided to take my camera with me for a day of running around with the boys... taking Owen to school (only 1km away but still full of sights), going to the bank, running to the mall etc. I didn't go out of my way for any of the pictures below and only got out of my car once (to meet the cow) - so all of these were taken from my car window. It's just the "normal" stuff I see everyday. Hope it is interesting to you.