Real World India
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About Me
- Sebastián Patiño
- B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Global Management with minors in Accounting & Finance and Spanish.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ojala pueda regresar....
PROJECT KRUSHI
They are fed, clothed, disciplined, and most importantly educated. The ideology of Krushi is "to help the child realize his full potential for his all around development" and "to treat every child as our own child."
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
First Glimpse at India from Siddhartha
Monday, January 17, 2011
Transportation for the Masses
The Indian Government highly subsidizes public transportation for the common man. We wanted to see this for ourselves. During our stop in Chennai we had one of our most eye opening experiences (cultural shock) when we were a among the masses and used the train and bus to get around the city. Up to that point we had been traveling in comfortable tourist buses. I do not think any one of us was prepared for what we witnessed on that day. I noticed that the public transportation in India is so well subsidized for the common man that it cost us only 3 Rupees (approximately less than 7 US cents) to travel for a minimum of 20 kilometers, both on the train and on the bus , an incredibly inexpensive fare.
On Saturday January 8th, during the afternoon we decided to leave the hotel and go explore Chennai, to be among the masses. Some of us did not believe we were doing this and I think some of the locals did not believe it either. It was definitely new territory for us, we felt like celebrities the way they were looking at us. In order to get in the train we all needed to push each other to make sure no one was left behind. There is absolutely no 'elbow' room on the train. Once we arrived at the location and stepping out of a suffocating experience, we stepped out into the fleet market where the common people go to shop. Taking into account people were shopping for the national festival Pongal which was coming the following week. The fleet market was an alley way approximately one mile long in which thousands bargained for the best deals. I could not believe the number of people that were in front of me, around me, I was in awe. After walking through the suffocating fleet market, we regrouped and decided to go to the mall, so we took a bus. We walked to the bus terminal where people push each other to make sure they get inside the buses. Take a look below...
India is making strides to provide its citizens with better public transportation. We saw a metro being build in Bangalore, new highways in Chennai and Hyderabad. The government realizes that these concerns need to be addressed in order to improve the traffic congestion. India's population will only increase so improving the public transit system will positively benefit the country in the long-term.
Indian Cuisine
PONGAL FESTIVAL!!
On our last day in Hyderabad, we went to a shopping/entertainment center called "Shilparamam" where some of us got henna tattoos. In the middle of the shopping/entertainment center there was a big field where families could bring their kids to play and enjoy the weather. AS you walk around you see various statues of deities.
Pongal Festival is one of the most popular harvest festival in South India, and it lasts for four days. Schools were cancelled and businesses were closed. This tells us the importance of this harvest festival in this region. It is mostly celebrated in the rural areas and not as much in the main city. While in the shopping center, I got a video of one of the ways they celebrate Pongal.
Later on that day, we were invited to a kite festival at Golconda Golf Club by Dr. Rao's childhood friend, Amarnath.
The weather was amazing and the people were very friendly. There was dozens of colorful kites in the sky. Going to this kite festival put the icing on the cake to the study tour.
OMMMMM!!!!!
Wow! Now I understand why many people often compliment yoga as a great way to get away from reality and get in touch with your inner self. While we were staying at the Fireflies ashram in Bangalaru, we met a yoga instructor from Canada named, Marc Joseph. We were the only ones visiting the ashram around this particular time. Marc was kind enough to offer us a yoga group session. I can honestly say that on Thursday, January 6th, 2011, I did yoga for the first time in my life, in Bangalaru, India! I was introduced to another form of art. I have done similar stretches before but never to this level of intensity and concentration. My entire body felt rejuvenated. I do admit that it felt awkward and painful at times but the end result was all worth it.
We enjoyed doing yoga so much that Barry and I woke up at 6:30 next morning to practice it once again. Barry and I walked in to the yoga room where the instructor was meditating and waiting for us. It felt great to start of the morning in a peaceful state of mind. Some of the stretches were demanding and made me break a sweat but it was all worth it. The perseverance, motivation and relaxation that I gained from YOGA these first two times will motivate me to keep practicing it. Below is Marc Joseph giving Barry a Thai massage. This picture captured the moment before he accidentally dropped him.