Look Through Any Window...

It is easy for Western travellers in India to be so overwhelmed by the mad rush of this country that they choose to stay behind hotel doors and see India through hotel windows. On the other hand, the more adventurous decide to jump into the deep end and experience India as it is, both the good and the bad.


This morning I decided to take coffee and toast at what is becomming our favourite restaurant in Pattaparthi, The Little Tibet Kitchen. This 2nd storey eatery is right at the end of the Main Road and overlooks the service entrance to the Ashram. The food is wonderful, the service outstanding and the atmosphere, well, you have to experience it to appreciate it. Its one big advantage is that you can sit and have coffee, tea of a cool drink and view the passing parade of life in a typical Indian town in the streets below.


The beggars are starting their day ... the old lady in the blue sari and cup, accosting everyone who passes by ... the two cripple boys who sit on the steps of the music store and despite their disability always manage a thumbs up to us when we walk by, an indication that they think India will win over Australia in the cricket ... the shop keepers and stall sellers who even after us being here for five days still beg us to "Please enter my humble store Sir". The scene is repeated in thousands of Indian towns every day ... it is called Trying to Make a Living.

And of course, the hustle and bustle of the traffic is always present, busses, cars, autorickshaws, bikes, people and my favourite ... the ox-drawn carts carrying anything and everything.



As I watched Puttaparthi wake to a new day, and saw the mad rush of traffic, I wondered why it doesn't at seem to worry them at all. And then it dawned on me that for most Indians, just putting food on the table is a struggle, just having enough to pay the meagre rent is a real effort so, worrying about getting hit by a bus or a car doesn't really rate.

We have it so good in Australia... this morning I gave the local Dhobi Wallah (laundryman) my washing, 12 pieces. "How much" I asked. "Four rupees per piece Sir." That's $1.37 ... I'll give him 2 bucks and be thankful.