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These are recent stories - the rest are in my latest book,"Walking Through Adversity."

Stories about Asian Trips (2)

Rob bryant
2006-01-07 11:18:24

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at the Taj Mahal hotel in New Delhi (web site). It was a restored castle with gorgeous old furniture, tapestries, Kashmir, chandeliers and Asian art. My floor had servants that catered to my every wish. Each morning after my wake-up call, steaming hot tea was delivered to my door with crumpets. The Canadian Prime Minister was staying at the hotel as well, so security was high and I met many of the embassy ante rage traveling with him. I was treated like a prince by the staff and local people. The local management assigned a driver and servant to me all week as getting around India in a wheelchair is very difficult. The Indian hospitality is unrivaled by any country I�ve been to. I worked 14-hour days and saw the city at night with a local guide. On almost the same day the pope was making Mother Teresa a Saint, I saw where she changed the world from her humble quarters in New Delhi. The driver and guide took me to ancient ruins dating back to the 4th century (more than 1,000 years before Columbus). I also saw the grave of another world changing person � Gandhi. I saw forts over 1,000 years old used to defend India against the Turks, Afghans, Muslims (Indians are Hindus) and of course the English who ruled here up until the last century. I saw snake charmers (I know the trick now) and ate wonderful Indian foods. It is very HOT consisting of curry, red and green peppers, garlic and onion. I spoke to Indians about their country and ancient culture. On the last day, I took a day off and shopped for what India is most famous for � Kashmir Silk. I bought Kashmir Silk carpets, sweaters, scarves and bed/table spreads. I�ll be paying for them for quite some time but they will be heirlooms for my children to pass down to their children.

Why do Americans fuss? I was taken to work by chauffer each day from my hotel to work in New Delhi, India. I was truly in awe of what I saw. India has a caste system (station in life they are born into). The lowest caste members live beside the streets in cardboard or anything that provides shelter from the elements. They keep warm with fires and their clothes - the lucky ones have blankets. The poverty is truly unmatched by anything in the states other than the US homeless (who still have soup kitchens and charities catering to them � so this still does not compare). Elderly people work until near death since retirement for the lower class is nonexistent. The streets are dirty, pollution fills the air and the masses of unemployed is staggering. The middle class live in condemned style buildings and either rode a bike, took a pony driven buggy or if lucky ride on a 3-wheel taxi. Upper class citizens are few and live like most Americans and drive their own cars so the streets had few cars. The streets were filled with cattle (which roam free) pedestrians, bikes, very old buses, pony-drawn carts, 3-wheel taxis and dilapidated trucks. We passed a few accidents due to people and carts being hit by much faster vehicles. On one side of the road were 1,400 year-old castles, mansions for the rich, exotic government buildings and palaces for royalty. The other side of the road was filled with starvation and poverty. I only ate one meal per day due to my inability to enjoy a meal surrounded by starving masses. The next time you are tempted to fuss about cold food, slow service or driving a three-year-old vehicle, remember how most of the rest of the world lives. In what US citizens consider poverty is how only the top 10% of the world live.

Copyright by Rob Bryant

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