First Glimpses of India

'Incredible India' is the country’s motto, but after sightseeing through Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, I think this slogan should be changed to 'Crazy India'! Many people come here looking for peace, but apart from a few quiet temples and mosques, my first impression of this country is of total chaos. Mind you, I thought the same of Kenya and just loved the country.   

Discovering Incredible India

INDIA’S CRAZY ROAD TRAFFIC

The road traffic in India has to be the craziest I’ve seen so far in my life and doubtless a huge shock to foreigners, who haven’t visited a third world country before. I’ve been to other countries, where the traffic is quite crazy, like Lima in Peru and even in my own country in Brazil, but in India it’s something beyond believe. The traffic lights seem to be on the roads just as decoration items, since no one respects them. A two road street also doesn’t mean much to the Indian drivers as cars, motorbikes, tuk tuks (a three wheel motorbike) and rickshaws (bicycle carriages) drive on both directions at any given time.

Road traffic in Delhi

Tuk tuk

Rickshaw

One thing that drives me mad in Delhi is the way all drivers constantly blow their horns while they are driving. Signs can be seen on the back of trucks saying “Please Horn” or “Blow Horn”. They blow their horns to other drivers, to pedestrians, to animals on the road and sometimes they just seem to do it out of sheer pleasure.

Truck with the sign "Blow Horn"

The animals found on the road, and at times crossing them, are many. Mostly they include huge cows, pigs and dogs, often accompanied by their bunch of calves, piglets and puppies. There are also donkeys, camels and horses, but in smaller numbers.

Camel on the roadside having a lunch break

HOLY COW

Cows are considered sacred by Hindus (the most followed religion in India) therefore these animals are allowed to roam freely on the roads. They are used to the hectic Indian traffic, grazing unpreoccupied on the roadside grass and munching on the food given away by people on the streets. Krishna, one of the most important Hindu Gods, had cows as pets, as illustrated in many Indian paintings. For this reason cows are venerated by Hindus and can be seen everywhere in India. It’s no surprise that Hindus are vegetarians! (Photo taken from the Internet)

God Krishna with his holy cows

NEW HOME IN INDIA
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It took my sister and I by surprise when we arrived at our host family home. Since we were told by the NGO in India that Faridabad was a kind of rural area, about 45kms from Delhi, we were expecting also a kind of rural house. Instead we found ourselves in front of a modern three storey building. Our host family lives in a modern 4 bedroom apartment with three ensuite bathrooms. The best surprise though was to find out that they had hot shower with running water! My sister and I are delighted to know that we will not have to endure weeks of ‘bucket shower” with boiled water, like we did in Kenya (although the experience contributed to toughen us up! J). 

Host family's residence

HOST FAMILY

For the next four weeks we will be living with Doctor Prabhat, his wife Sushma, his father Jagdish, (who is also a doctor), and the couple’s twins Samrat and Aryan. We have known them for a little while but already find all of them lovely, even the grandpa, who looks very serious on the photo. 

Clau with Host Family

THE GORGEOUS TWINS

Samrat and Aryan, 4.5 years old, are very naughty! They enter our room as they wish, collecting whatever they want and always without asking. I had to run after them to collect my stuff back several times. We often play together and have good belly laughs, trying to communicate with them with our broken Hindi. They call us "didi', which in Hindi means sisters. We love them to bits already!

Samrat & Aryan playing with us in our room

ARRANGED MARRIAGES IN INDIA

To this day, 70% of Indian people have arranged marriages. Although man and woman are allowed to say ‘no’ to their arranged marriage, if after their initial meeting they dislike their prospective bride or groom. According to their customs, after the wedding party, the bride has to go and live with her husband’s family. Our host parents, Prabhat and Sushma, had an arranged married and only met twice before their wedding party.

TRADITIONAL CLOTHING

According to the Indian culture, after a woman got married she had to wear a Sari for the rest of her life. Nowadays, things are changing in India and in the big cities women can wear other kinds of clothes, such as “kurtas” (collarless long shirts) and leggings. Although in small villages, often rural areas, this norm still remains strong.

Generally, an Indian sari can measure between 5 to 6 meters. This long piece of fabric is wrapped around a woman’s body, hiding their shoulders and knees, as these body parts are considered sensual. On the other hand, it’s alright to show off their bellies. What I love about Indian clothes is that they are so colorful. Dine and I couldn’t help ourselves and got wrapped up in saris, while shopping at Trilok’s shop, in Jaipur. J Trilok wrapped the sari so many times around my body that it looks like I have a big waist.

Dine and I wearing an Indian Sari 

INDIAN CUISINE

Sushma, our host mother, is a great cook. Everyday she cooks fresh and laborious traditional Indian food, including dahl (lentil curry), steamed rice, Baigan Ka Bharta (spiced-smashed eggplants), Gobi Aloo (spiced cauliflower with potatoes), chapatti (a kind of Indian bread) etc. The food is served in small stainless steel dishes and balls. Due to the small portions we have to make several trips to the kitchen to get more food. J

Traditional India food - Dahl wwith Chapatti