Description

It is four am and India sleeps soundly, exhausted from a hectic day. From this bird's eye view, the streets lie empty. They will be bursting with activity in a few short hours.

Travelers, don't believe the hype - it's not dangerous. I have been wandering these streets alone and never once felt threatened. Sure, cabbies and vendors can be persistent and aggressive, but they're harmless. They are doing their best to earn a living in a very competitive market. They, no doubt, have mouths to feed.  

Yet, daily life for the Indian people is surprisingly inexpensive. Yesterday, I bought a bottle of water for two cents. I ate at the local restaurant for a few dollars. Gasoline costs 30 cents a kilogram, and domestic flights are less than $80. As for cabs - they practically give rides away. Life is manageable here even with meager means. 

When I first arrived, I was overwhelmed by the traffic. It seemed like a chaotic free-for-all. Now, I understand that it is an exercise in unity. It is the flow of a hive - a beautiful unchoreographed dance. It is not each man to himself; it's a unified collective.

The streets are an assault on the senses, which I have come to appreciate.

Even now as the sun creeps over the horizon, the day awakens to a cacophony below - the blaring tuk-tuk horns, the melodic call to prayer, the thumping clatter of construction, and the chugging of motorcycles. They all blend together in a discordant symphony - an Ode to the Indian Street.

There is a visual bombardment as well - not the curated beauty of magazines, art galleries, or holiday postcards. It is grit; it is life; it is people surviving in a city bursting at the seams. 

The air is rich with aromas - subtle perfumes, sweet incense, tempting street food. It's all enticing. It's all exotic. 

All of this - the sound, the sights, the smells, the chaos makes this place extraordinary.

It is no wonder God lives in India. With 1.4 billion of his children here, he, too, has mouths to feed. And he manages it without the hand of Big Brother. I am told every temple gives free meals to anyone who asks. Good job, God. No one starves here.

But perhaps I am romanticizing. Travelers, don't believe my hype either. 

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