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First Thoughts on India…
My plane landed just 36 hours ago and since then it’s been an absolutely overwhelming experience. From the moment I left the airport and got into Mumbai for the first time, my senses have probably been through more than they have in the last few years.
First impressions are that this country is absolutely packed with people, who live confined in cities under intense heat and extreme poverty. There are people sleeping on the streets at almost every block. The strong smells of garbage, dirt and sewage blend in with the many flavours of Indian foods and spices.
The social classes are confronted to one another on the street. You see beggars crossing roads where modern and expensive cars drive passed, uninterested. People at night sleep on the streets, may it be on the sidewalk, a bench, a food stall or some sort of improvised street padding.
There are almost no Westerners around, so people tend to stare at you. They even ask to take pictures of you. It’s not like in Thailand where people bother you at every street corner and try to sell you some tourist related activity. Here they leave you alone, and occasionally you get the odd “Hello” from a passer-by. But you feel safe. Nobody here seems to have any bad intentions.
Traffic is incredible. There are vehicles everywhere. Taxis seem to make up for most of the car population. They are very cheap – the average journey will cost you 1 to 2 Euros. Red lights don’t seem to bother drivers, as they drive passed them ignoring the colours. People cross the street where they can, often waiting a few minutes for traffic to calm down.
But in fact, despite the poverty, the culture shock and of course the spicy food, I think I like this place. It brings out a wide variety of emotions which are very self-challenging: it’s intense, it’s beautiful, it’s sad, it’s inspiring, and overall, it’s overwhelming.
- Camera: NIKON D80
- Taken: 27 June, 2010
- Shutter speed: 1/500 s
- Aperture: f/3.5
- Focal length: 18 mm
- ISO: 140
Facebook comments:
This is an impressive picture. Hope you’re having a great trip – and good curry too, actuallee!
Curry is spicy – give me ring of fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire!!!