Just North of Calcutta

We are staying in an area just north of Calcutta where we are just relaxing for a day. I have been really thinking about transportation a lot lately. Of all the countries I have ever been to, this country seems to have the most chaotic transportation system. However....

It is the country that seems to be dealing the best with the energy crisis.

I had this in the back of my mind and thought it was just a random thought that should be ignored, but then I noticed a letter to the editor in the paper here.

The writer praised bicycle riders for being the solution to many problems. Three of them were:
1. The energy crisis
2. The problem of pollution
3. The need for exercise

Now, this solution is something I hear practically no one talk about with the exception of my friend Jamie Kalven. Certainly the vast majority of people on bikes would probably prefer a Lamborghini were all expenses paid for so the problem seems to be economic.

India is the country where I have seen compressed natural gas being used along with propane. I also saw some evidence of electric powered motorcycles. The real price of transportation, however, is not just the fuel price but also the road construction, the price of the vehicle and the price of parking. Many countries can barely afford to maintain these things just for the use of the very wealthy.

So much for transportation. I will have to solve this problem some other day. haha

While running today, I was again struck that the heavy labor of carrying dirt in construction seems to be done mainly by women.

Other random thoughts:

-There are so many people who open doors and serve here. It is so much different than Korea and the US, but very similar to the Philippines.

-In Korea, I wanted to write down the name of a political figure, but I only had a red pen. Tom told me not to write his name down in red. It is apparently bad luck or perhaps an insult.

-In Korea, people celebrate the 100th day after someone's birth or the 100th day that a couple has been together.

-In India two cars often share one lane in passing and often a car will pass a truck on the left with inches between the vehicles leaving one to think the end is near.

I have little time for the internet here so I will have to race to a finish. Bye for now.