2013 – 38: September end

This week’s news includes a visit from India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to the U.S where he met with President Obama.  This headline suggests nothing serious was accomplished (Obama walked his guest to the White House portico for departure) .

Picking up on last week’s theme, here are a few additional “commuting” photos.  Monsoonal rains do not deter the 2-wheelers

This little boy is tiny, but already he’s learning how to “hold on.”

Sights like this are common.

It’s important to hold hands for safety when crossing the street.

Visiting the local bank, we found the security guard to be very friendly.  Double-barrel shot guns are the deterrent of choice for guards.

Saree shopping is always fun.

The choices are endless.

The final selection was altered into a “western” style dress for attendance at a “cowboys and Indians” themed event.

Ok, so we weren’t literal with the dress code.

This couple truly captured the spirit of the evening.

Saturday night brought out a large contingent of “corporate bowlers” for this BMW-sponsored event.

The team organized an excellent program, thus deepening relationships with corporate customers.

From there it was off to a Delhi rooftop terrace to send best wishes to Christian.  He’s completed his 3-year assignment in India and returns to Munich next week where he joins BMW M in Garching.

Kayla and Greg participated in the ISTA program at school throughout the weekend.

ISTA is the International Schools Theatre Association focused on intensive, hands-on, active learning.

Kayla was an MC…

…while Greg performed.  The theme was “Movement, Light, and the Most Powerful Being in the World.”

It’s late September and we’re anxiously awaiting cooler temperatures.  Enjoy your week.  ts

 

2013 – 37: Commuting

Two different stories from the U.S. made front page news this week.  First, small-mindedness and ignorance splashed across social media marred the “triumph of first Miss America of Indian origin.”  She was born in Syracuse, New York, but her immigrant parents hailed from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. 

When U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke announced the bond-buying stimulus program would continue, the Rupee recovered and the Sensex stock exchange surged (which is the exact opposite reaction in May when he announced the stimulus would subside).

Thanks to PhotoShop, Bernanke has been elevated to Mughal status.  The headline is a play off the 2010 Bollywood film “Band Baaja Baaraat,” or BBB, which means Bands Horns and Revelry.  However, the euphoria lasted less than 24 hours.  The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) raised the repo rate knocking back the Rupee and reversing the stock market gains from the previous day.

Now onto this week’s topic of commuting.  How do you get to work?  Do you just jump in your car and go?  Do you complain about traffic?  Does the weather impact your daily commute?  Does rain cause delays?  Does your car’s air-conditioner strain under summer’s heat?  (Photo: Interstate 405, Los Angeles).

Have you ever cursed road construction which narrows lanes thus creating backups that make you late?  Do you become frustrated at the toll plaza?  Do you strategically maneuver into the shortest line just to find the guy in front of you at the EZ pass lane is trying to change a $100 dollar bill?  (Photo: Garden State Parkway).

But here’s the truth.  Commuting in the U.S. is far easier than Delhi.  Trust me.

Summertime monsoon rains frequently flood roadways (water drainage is very poor)…

…putting us in peak pothole season.

Repair crews are rare (this is the only one I’ve seen all season). Sadly, this patch job will not last long.

I think this is a first attempt at filling a pothole.

There are many methods of transportation including the Metro…

…auto rickshaws for individual hire…

…and “beetles” where everyone piles on-board (you’ll have to imagine the 90% humidity in these photos).

Repair work tends to be on the spot.

Pedi-rickshaws are also very common.

Taking the bus is always and option (there’s room for everyone)…

… or perhaps the tractor and wagon.

Here’s a 4-legged option.

Some people walk to work…

…carrying their tools…

…maneuvering around obstacles.

We have plenty of reasons for delay, including construction.  It’s everywhere.

As an emerging market, India has massive infrastructure projects underway.

Cows delays are common.  Cows always have the right-of-way.

Scooters are another popular option for commuting.

Protection against the dust is a must.

Holding on is not practiced by passengers.

Motorcycles are plentiful…

…and practical.

There’s room for at least two.

But why stop at two?

There’s room for three.

I’m guessing by this photo the middle slot is most desirable.

But why stop at three?  Sure, four is no problem.

Of course there’s the non-motorized two-wheeler for transportation.

Bike-pooling is frequent.

It’s always good to help a buddy on the way to work.

Getting the front seat is also an option.

It was 42° C when this photo was taken (108° F)

For some, transportation is the job.

All types of deliveries are made via 2-wheelers.

These are shoes.

The efficiency here is impressive…

…very impressive.

But what about the children you say?  They need transportation, too.

Children ride with their parents…

…just like everyone else.

Note the child on the front bar.

This little girl is on her way to school.

This family of four nearly nicked our car as they passed.

Learning to hold on comes at an early age.

Despite oppressive heat, monsoonal rain and sticky humidity, the people of India still make it to work via the methods shown.  Perhaps your commute isn’t so bad after all. Enjoy your week.  ts

 

 

2013 – 36: Events big and small

We recently attended Delhi’s launch of the all new Rolls-Royce Wraith. The introduction included an impressive reveal with video, music, lights and smoke.

Customers came running to see the new car.

The naming convention fits perfectly along-side the Phantom and Ghost (Wraith means “ghost-like”).

The Wraith comes with Satellite Aided Transmission which allows the 8-speed transmission to plan the best gear for the road ahead.

The Wraith is blindingly fast. Its V-12, 6.75-litre engine will propel you from 0-60 mph is 5.8 seconds.

On the other end of the spectrum, the BMW 1 Series also just launched in India. You could buy about 22 of them for the same price as one Wraith.

Keeping with the small theme, there was one more recent event of note. We attended the Nature Morte art exhibit in Delhi by Asim Waqif titled “Disruptions.” A MINI convertible served as the centerpiece of the courtyard.

The architect-trained artist’s foundation is “our built environment, which extends to research into materials, the politics of urban planning a consciousness of the manipulations inherent in consumer society, and the question of aesthetic parameters.”

This was an interactive art exhibit. Guests were prompted to tap on the bamboo. The sound was amplified through hidden microphones and speakers.

Much of the art was three-dimensional and made from a variety of materials. “Leftovers” were used as inspiration.

The highlight was this brick wall. Guests were encouraged to knock it down.

Now this is Greg’s kind of exhibit… one that involves active use of a sledgehammer.

Art is fun!

Special thanks to Benjamin for the invitation. Enjoy your week. ts

2013 – 35: The truth about monkeys

Think of any visit to the zoo.  What’s been your highlight?  Was it the monkeys?  Have many hours have you whiled away marveling at their human characteristics, watching them bounce around the cage, swinging on vines and eating bananas?

 

Monkeys.  Our primate cousins.  Followers of Darwin will recognize our lineage.

 

If you’re under the impression that monkeys are cute, playful and would make a fun pet, and you want to maintain that fallacy, then stop reading now.

 

Monkeys are wild animals, and they roam freely in India. 

 

We have a family that lives in our complex.  It started with three (mother, father, baby) and later grew to five.

 

We’re not sure, but we think the two newer additions are cousins who were sent away by their parents for bad behavior.

 

Soon after that, another mother and baby joined the extended clan. 

 

Everyone pitches in to keep a watchful eye.

 

We enjoy watching the monkeys safely from inside our home (we’re the ones in the cage and they have the freedom). 

 

But here’s the truth about monkeys:  They are a menace and a nuisance. 

 

I watched as they attacked a neighbor’s laundry, tossing clothes freely (the monkey on top is drinking bottled water).

 

They enjoy feasting on garbage…

 

… searching for citrus items like lemon peels.

 

They like to sit on cars.

 

This photo was taken at our supermarket.

 

Monkeys easily jump across balconies…

 

… and wander freely through backyards.

 

We’ve been warned not to leave anything unlocked.  Monkeys know how to open doors and windows.  Upon entry, they will ransack the place.

 

Here’s a quote from the book Enjoying India:  “Never feed or attempt to play with monkeys.  They will steal your glasses, camera or anything else they can grab – usually with the intent to ransom these items for some food.”  (Thanks Swati L. for the book).

The next two photos and stories come from Karen H. who lives nearby.  A monkey opened her 5^th floor sliding glass door, headed straight for the refrigerator and clawed open a carton of orange juice thus enjoying a healthy dose of vitamin C.  The mess left behind was quite unpleasant. 

 

Karen’s neighbors visited a hill station near the Himalayas and opened a hotel window for fresh air.  Upon return, they found the room ransacked by monkeys and a few missing personal items.

 

At our complex, a memo was sent to all residents titled:  Efforts on Monkey Menace.  They have tried every legal means possible to no avail.

 

They’ve used firecrackers and air guns, but the monkeys only became more aggressive.

 

Men with sticks chase them but the monkeys quickly scamper to higher ground, laughing all the way.

Here’s a wide shot of an apartment tower in our complex.

 

And here’s a close up of a monkey who scurried up the building in seconds.

 

Here are the men with sticks who are completely out of reach, thus creating great mirth for the monkeys.

 

Property management has even piped langur sounds through speakers which initially alarmed the monkeys, but did not deter them.

 

Ah, the langur.  He’s the mercenary.  The bully.  The hired hit man. 

 

Here’s our langur on his way to work.

 

Grey langurs or Hanuman langurs originate from the genus Semnopithecus.  They are rivals with rhesus monkeys.

 

With the langur’s sharp teeth and menacing presence, the monkeys run for the hills when he’s on the job.  But the monkeys know his schedule and return as soon as he’s off duty.

 

Langurs really don’t have to work at all.  Their presence is frightening enough. 

Note how their tails are longer than their bodies.

 

Here’s a posting from our local community web site looking for guidance.  This could have been titled “How do you hire a hit man?”

 

Langurs are more than just security guards.  They are revered in the Hindu religion as the deity Hanuman who helped rescue Rama’s wife Sita from the demon king Ravana (see last week’s blog for the huge statue of Hanuman in Chhatapur).

 

Personally, we’ve not had any monkey issues and find them very entertaining.  We all still run to the window when someone shouts “MONKEYS.”  We are guests in their habitat.   

 

Lots to keep in mind should you visit India.  Sorry if any bubbles have been burst, but it’s important you know the truth about monkeys.  Enjoy your week.  ts