8/jan (2 part)
The street (just to use a word)is surprising me all the time.In one hand for the freshness and innocence of each happening, but in the other hand for the limit and radicality of each situation. Non chosen lives, with the street as a house.
A 4 or 5 years old girl shiting diarrea in the middle of the street, just on the sidewalk, men cleaning themselves with the water of the street fountains, just with a saree (pareo). Barbers shaving men, others cleaning others men ears, children playing to be hairdressers (it might not be a gane for them), barefoot rickshaws running in these dirty streets full of diseases and the most disgusting open sewers (clavegueres), smeling so hard. Famished dogs, with chronic wounds (ferides), goats, caws (probably holly caws), people sleeping on the ground, at any time, covered with trash (also chronic), and families living under a plastic sheets. Only one single space, for everyone, that is kitchen, living room, dining room and dormitories. The bathroom just around the corner. So they cook there, with their dirty hands, with the polution of the huge cars, with the trash... It's very hard actually. They can just have any disease. A little cut might be enough to have anything...
Something strange is that many men dyed their hair. And the color they all have is red. Maybe only wealthy people do that? is that a way to tell the different cast of the people? Most of the men (60%) dress occidentally. The rest with sarres, scarf, long t'shirts, sandals. And most of them, with moustache.
Cars have no respect for other car nor for people. They are always very close to touch everything, but for any strange reason, I havn't seen any accident yet. Like in england (let's remember that india was a british colony till the '50) cars drive on the other side. But here, you never know if they drive like in england or like in catalunya, because theyu are passing from one side to the other without any problem. Of course, horning all the time.
There are no women in the center. All of them are either home or in the markets. India is a very 'male' society, where man brings the money home, and women use it to keep home in conditions and look after the children. Even of that, you see women working in the street, but very few if you compare it with men. There is also an area reserved for women in the bus, and I guess in the train as well.WE have only talked to 2 girls in 2 days. One on the bus and another in the metro. 1 minute each. They look unapproachable, but maybe is not like that. WE Still have to observe more. Women seem to walk on the street with other women. Very seldom alone.
And the general atmosphere is bad paved streets, combined with unpaved, always a little bit muddy, both dirty. And short buildings, almost falling down, grey, without windows...
We have been walking in the center, spent some time in the park, and mostly sleeping since we spent the last night at the airport. Nights are cooler here, even cold. 12 degrees maybe, but without glass on the windows, and without sheets nor blankets. But it's ok with a pullover. The room, with private bathroom costs 200 rupees (4 euro). 100 EACH. It's not the best place in kolkata, but is good enough for sleeping.
13/1/05
A 4 or 5 years old girl shiting diarrea in the middle of the street, just on the sidewalk, men cleaning themselves with the water of the street fountains, just with a saree (pareo). Barbers shaving men, others cleaning others men ears, children playing to be hairdressers (it might not be a gane for them), barefoot rickshaws running in these dirty streets full of diseases and the most disgusting open sewers (clavegueres), smeling so hard. Famished dogs, with chronic wounds (ferides), goats, caws (probably holly caws), people sleeping on the ground, at any time, covered with trash (also chronic), and families living under a plastic sheets. Only one single space, for everyone, that is kitchen, living room, dining room and dormitories. The bathroom just around the corner. So they cook there, with their dirty hands, with the polution of the huge cars, with the trash... It's very hard actually. They can just have any disease. A little cut might be enough to have anything...
Something strange is that many men dyed their hair. And the color they all have is red. Maybe only wealthy people do that? is that a way to tell the different cast of the people? Most of the men (60%) dress occidentally. The rest with sarres, scarf, long t'shirts, sandals. And most of them, with moustache.
Cars have no respect for other car nor for people. They are always very close to touch everything, but for any strange reason, I havn't seen any accident yet. Like in england (let's remember that india was a british colony till the '50) cars drive on the other side. But here, you never know if they drive like in england or like in catalunya, because theyu are passing from one side to the other without any problem. Of course, horning all the time.
There are no women in the center. All of them are either home or in the markets. India is a very 'male' society, where man brings the money home, and women use it to keep home in conditions and look after the children. Even of that, you see women working in the street, but very few if you compare it with men. There is also an area reserved for women in the bus, and I guess in the train as well.WE have only talked to 2 girls in 2 days. One on the bus and another in the metro. 1 minute each. They look unapproachable, but maybe is not like that. WE Still have to observe more. Women seem to walk on the street with other women. Very seldom alone.
And the general atmosphere is bad paved streets, combined with unpaved, always a little bit muddy, both dirty. And short buildings, almost falling down, grey, without windows...
We have been walking in the center, spent some time in the park, and mostly sleeping since we spent the last night at the airport. Nights are cooler here, even cold. 12 degrees maybe, but without glass on the windows, and without sheets nor blankets. But it's ok with a pullover. The room, with private bathroom costs 200 rupees (4 euro). 100 EACH. It's not the best place in kolkata, but is good enough for sleeping.
13/1/05
posted by Unknown at 14:25
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home