Flying to Delhi

Two uneventful flights brought us to North India and the capital of India - Delhi. Delhi has a population of 18 million, half the population of Canada. I was most surprised at the greening initiative that has taken place over the last 15 years. There are so many trees that have been planted and the young ones are encased in Eco Messages about keeping Delhi clean and green. The air quality is much improved as the auto-rickshaws and the buses now run on natural gas. There are also a lot of bicycle rickshaws, unlike Bangalore. Delhi is putting in a real effort to manage its garbage and they are doing a reasonable job. The city is filled with beautiful gardens and parks. The landscaping is very creative and they include lots of interesting trees and bushes of different heights to add interest. Finally you have beautiful mosques and temples glittering with gold. It would appear that the greening initiative has relaxed the atmosphere and congestion, helping the health of the city. Tarun, our guide, remembers being a child in Delhi and never being able to see blue sky!

Without doubt though, there is still lots of poverty here. You can see tarped shelters on sidewalks and small communities of people living in tarped shelters in the middle of large roundabouts. We passed one shanty town located by the Yamung River and most of the shanties had a satellite dish. Hawkers are illegal, but our guide explained in a very matter-of-fact way that they are everywhere because they pay bribes to the police and that policing is a very good job because of all the 'extra' income. This is just the Indian way. It is interesting how the city does not try to hide poverty and they just seem to accept and tolerate each other. Perhaps this is due in part to the cast system where you are not to try to break out of your cast, but you are to accept your position and hopefully get a better position through reincarnation.

At one point on the freeway, I saw a young man driving a motorcycle with his girlfriend dressed in a sari sidesaddle on the bike. They had a parcel in between them and he was driving with one hand while shaking Skittles into his mouth with the other! Safety isn't a top priority, but when some teachers have to take ladder safety training it makes you wonder which society is crazier!