The crabs hated to leave the infinity pool and the wisdom of Budha:
We have seen a small piece of this country, from gigantic Delhi to small villages of rural families and variations between the extremes. The density of population packed into living space is so compact that it is difficult to describe; it seems oppressive to us but not to the people who live there. The villages look primitive. Homes are small stone spaces mostly the size of a one car garage, with roofs of tile/ thatch/tin/ or blue vinyl. They open on the road under a covered space where the family does business. It could be selling food, clothing, pottery, shoes, etc., or a repair shop for scooters, cooking pots, machines, shoes, everything imaginable because little is thrown away. It all looks cluttered and shabby but there is also a vitality here that's best seen in the children going to and from school in crisp uniforms on foot, bikes, and all kinds of overloaded vehicles.
This scene is repeated in every small town and for miles leading in and out of the cities. These shops are not for tourists but are part of the fabric of the community - sure there are loads of shops near the temples and other tourist sites, but even we could tell them apart.
Everywhere cows and dogs wander freely with no limit to where they go or what they do, but once I did see a fruit vendor shooing off a cow trying to eat his apples, so there are some limits. People love the animals - they'll cook 3 extra breads so they can feed the cow one and dogs two, even though the dog is neither sacred nor functional.
Our schedule was filled with the antiquity of India mixed with some modern aspects. The history of the region can be traced back about 5000 years and is full of early marvels that rival every ancient culture that has been studied. We saw so much that I have to look at the posts to remember the time and place and details but every palace was different in its own beautiful dimensions and artifacts. Amazing, overwhelming and astonishing are all words that apply; I will leave more to the pictures and remembrances at a later time.
Lectures on life from the elephant god:
Two thirds of the population lives in rural villages where old traditions release the grip on behavior very slowly. But the country has a 60% literacy rate and government policy is encouraging more schooling that we were told is welcomed in all areas. Education along with the rate of adoption of technology (150 million new cell phones in 2010 - that is one for every other person in the US) makes me feel good about the future of this amazing country.
Last view from hotel before leaving for Dubai:
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