Little pictures of indian life
Pictures of Indian life
I am now past 30 years since I came to India the first time, arriving by road from Italy. He was an adventurous journey, but interesting for the knowledge that you did and the wonderful places that we passed through, some of them now destroyed by wars fraticide.
I turned India far and wide, first as a young man with little money in your pocket and then, because of the work that I do as a tourist to luxury. I have learned, however, that India should be seen in pieces, a square, because it is impossible to incorporate into a 'unique idea.
In particular I like to come into contact with the people of the villages in which step. Now live in the state prehimalayano dell'Himachal Pradesh, who every day gives me glimpses of rural life that I forgot. For example, in my daily walk to get to a big meadow where the port to play my dog, I have to go through two or three villages where life takes place at a slow pace, almost medieval. Walking people that I encounter smiles and greets me, but without the falseness of the people of the city accustomed to tourists, whose smile is a bait to sell you something. Meeting the carrier of stone slate with his horses, which descends from the mountain toward the town of Dharamsala. The desired trend madam (the lady who sells fresh eggs and tasty its chickens that roam free and where my dog plays quietly) greets me at my every move. Meet the pastor dell'etnia gaddhi, with the unmistakable caps of wool, the jacket of rough wool and gold earring, which is transhumance with his flock of sheep. Step in front of beautiful houses and humble huts of Bihari those recently arrived from Eastern India in search of work. Meeting the children, many children, who first put a scream nonappena Bestione saw the tick that is my dog, but now, after a few months, have become his friends, and every step I hear that they call him by name. Dogs, of course, I know them all. With the little India in particular that the dogs are aggressive, as most are randaggi. Meeting some cows, walking freely, as in the whole of India. And then there are so many birds. And the gorgolio water. And that just lift our eyes to see the chain of Dhauladar (4500 m) blanket of snow illuminated by a winter sun. Not for nothing is hot now, but inside me there is the heat of momentopresente, why not relax I can live in the present reality.
Traveling this way is extremely fascinating. Also in Ladakh, located in the far north of the country and the Buddhist culture, often travel well. In the morning I take a walk in the afternoon arrival in the house where I stay. The reception is just warm! The hospitality is honored with the offer of a cup of hot tea, while it is located the "bedroom". Step in the afternoon with the lady who went to milk the cow or dzomo, or, if the time is right, I follow the villagers in the fields for harvest. The work, instead of being accompanied by motions of reproach or dissatisfaction, is punctuated by songs blend from the group of workers. You stop, they drink tea, it continues! The range of colors offered by nature takes away attention from the soil, and naturally one turns up. When the sun set and the cold you feel back at home, around the stove with the owners. We talk about various things, waiting for dinner, a frugal meal but especially good and hot. Then, always around the stove, drinking the s'incomincia chang (local beer), someone pulls out a metal tank (petrol tank type military) and how he was striking a drum, it pulls out a rhythm sound, it's fantastic for the instrument is, and intones a song Ladakh, chè to stand up men and women, and dancing local dances. Within minutes the house is crowded with many other villagers came to see the tourists but also to participate in songs and dances. Wonderful to have the certainty that this is not a spectacle for tourists, but are they happy everyday people who live in a happy but impervious. Then all of a nanna in a hot room and very clean though Spartan! In the morning it is still a bit with them, and then again to a new home.
In short, in some areas, India is ahead even without the structures of super luxury, although in some places are essential, we can move even staying in simple guesthouses - very Spartan-course, on foot rather than in the car with air conditioning , walking from one country to another without having to undertake this arduous' trekking '. To conclude a sentence citerei of Mahatma Gandhi: "The real India is rural India"! It was true then, and largely still is .......
Pizzi Franco and Kristin Blanck
Dharamsala 26/01/04