Indore

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Yesterday, in Delhi...
- Hot, but very tolerable weather, random rain storms like Boston
- Finally got my McAloo Tiki Burger at McDonalds (best food on Earth)
- Saw Transformers 2(again) in near IMAX size screen, got soda and popcorn, reclining seats, all for under $5
- Someone behind me yelled "Arey, robot naraaz ho gaya!" ("That robot is maaaaadd" in Hindi) when Bumblebee transformed and started shooting the little Decepticons. So funny
- Met 10 or so "Jain Scholars", professors from universities around the world (Spain, China, Japan, US, Thailand, Belgium, UK) who are spending 7 weeks in India and had an eye-opening discussion with them about Jainism

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In Indore today! We flew here in the morning from Delhi. Family from both my mom and dad's sides live around here and we are hanging out with them this week.

Indore is smaller than Delhi, but just as crowded and congested as the capital. Driving here is a nightmare. Traffic rules have yet to be followed by most people. Watch out for cars, scooters, motor cycles, auto rikshas, bikes, people, and the occasional animal on the side of the street- its like Moo Moo Meadows in Mario Kart.

Whenever we come to Indore, the first thing our cousins take us to are the megamalls. We spent a few hours at "Treasure Island" yesterday- hanging out, buying stuff, sitting in Barista (an even fancier version of Starbucks) and playing scrabble, and finally, eating dinner at an awesome Italian restaurant called "Little Italy". Apparently there is a new mall which we will probably head over to as well.

In Indore, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor is too apparent. Enormous, beautiful, modern, centrally air-conditioned buildings stand right next to dilapidated "dhabas" where the poorest people tend to work. Mercedes and BMW's cruise the same roads where makeshift tents are set up. Skinny boys and girls wearing muddy clothes tap on the car windows, pointing to their copies of People magazine (with MJ dancing on the cover) and gesturing to their mouth. While poor people roam around outside, our family lives in a gated villa in an all newly-constructed area, with two cars, a motorcycle, security guard, driver, cook, house cleaner, garden, A/C, multiple rooms, wireless internet, etc.

In India, this is normal. With 1.2 billion people in one country, poverty is something that will always exist while the rich get richer. But, India has many plans to reduce poverty rates within the next 25-50 years. More and more poor people are moving into the middle class, and literacy rates are greatly improving. One day the income equality will dissipate- it will take many years though.

Anyways, we are relaxing here for the rest of the week and spending time with relatives I haven't seen in three years. I've been eating at least twice as much and sitting around talking and playing cards. One more month of this and I'll be a completely different person.

Lunchtime, peace.