Some observations from the road

Some observations from the road

The local food has been quite remarkable everywhere along the way. A 1 liter bottle of Aquafina in India costs the equivalent of $0.33.

Japan and India do not have garbage cans anywhere in public, but for very different reasons. Everyone in Japan holds onto their trash and disposes it at home (they generally do not accumulate garbage during their day as they are so efficient). India has no waste management system or recycling. Sadly, garbage is everywhere along the roads and rivers. There is a tremendous opportunity and we're surprised that the government or an entrepreneur hasn't capitalized on waste management.

Our guide in India lived in an Ashram for 3.5 years. At one point, he went without speaking for 10 days. He also opened up a few Equifax offices in India. He is an excellent tour leader.

I think most people know this item but nearly everyone in India speaks fluent English in addition to their native tongue and possibly other languages. There is something like 20 official languages here.

Jet Airways (Indian airline) has the best coach class either one of us has flown.

Poverty is rampant in India but there is an excellent grade, middle, and high school educations provided to all citizens.

Malaria pills have had no side effects (oh well for psychedelic dreams).

The roads in India are pure pandemonium (and that's putting it nicely).

Mattresses in Japan, China, and India are very thin with no coils and no box spring.

The mosquitoes have had a field day with us in India, but we are in a rain forest.

After 3 days of cold water showers, we're looking forward to getting to a place that has substantial hot water (and a shower where the spigot is more than a trickle of water).

So far we've traveled by plane, train, boat, ferry, gondola, high speed hydrofoil, subway, bullet train, magnetic levitation train, rickshaw, bootleg taxi, official taxi, walking, and bus.

Tivon