74. Legal Information

Every time I visit Puducherry, I find it more crowded and more humid.
It is becoming more and more commercial and the peace is disappearing.
However, in the evening, with the breezy wind from the sea waves, it is more beautiful; and even crowded peaceful too.

The Promenade beach road is closed for vehicles from 6.00 in the evening to 7.30 in the morning. Yes, everyday!

This photograph is taken in the afternoon, but evening are crowded. Some people walking (exercise), some just facing the sea, children playing, people eating ... overall relaxed atmosphere.

I see thousands of people here in the evening.

While taking an afternoon walk, I came across this board and was surprised and glad.

Kudos to Puducherry Police for choosing the right spot and taking initiative in making people aware of the legal provisions. It also emphasises Women's Right  to move freely and comfortably.

Hope, all tourist spots have such "Legal Information" boards. 

69. Gangtok Market

After a rather hectic day, my colleague wanted to me visit the Market.
I am not much into shopping and I don't like to be surrounded by crowds. 
When I explained my views, my colleague , a local official said, "Oh! But it is Gangtok Market!"

According to me, all markets are alike. However, I did not want her to feel bad and hence went with her. 

When I realized  the vehicles had 'no entry' in the market,  I felt good. 
The first impression was amazing.

To be able to walk freely in the market (for that matter on any road) was an experience in itself. 

Suddenly it started raining. Up came the umbrellas.

You can see how clean and how specious is the word within the market. It is also safe for women. 
If you get tired of walking, you can sit on these benches - take rest, talk, listen to music, consume food, just relax - whatever you want. 

I wish there were many more such markets in the country! 

52. Outsiders

They all had come to the place from outside.
Even I was an outsider.

I was at Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Some of them had come there to enjoy and relax.

Obviously they had good time.

And there were others too, who also came from a distance of at least two thousand miles.
But they were here to earn their livelihood, do some hard work.
Food is different, language is different, living away from their dear ones.

Still it was amazing to see them smiling.

We were all outsiders .. to Golkonda Fort! 

14. Contrast

Visit to Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a five minutes ‘sea journey’. After spending about half an hour in the queue (if you are not so lucky, you spend more time in the queue)  tourists get ride in a  good looking boat; with roof protecting people  from Sun and rain,; with proper sitting arrangements, people helping getting in and out of the boat.

Tourists pay for and get amenities and facilities. Right.

The ‘life jackets’ seems to be a recent addition – though looking at the conditions of life jackets one can understand that it is  not very recent and it is only a ‘tick mark’ activity. Most of the life jackets are in such a condition that they would not save any life when situation demands.

On the other hand, there are so many people out there in the open sea – without any safety measures, without any security assurance, without any protection, without place to sit comfortably and of course they don’t have life jackets – which they actually require.

Luxury is taken care of; livelihood is not.

Life around shows so many such contrasts.

12. I Wish ...

They seem to be very creative.

They manage to achieve their goals even when the situation is not conducive, even when the resources are scarce.

They seem to have some rare skills.

They seem to have strong will power.

They seem to have a mind which can see things differently.

They seem to have attitude for change.

Their number seems to be amazingly large. The fraternity seems to have a ‘code of conduct’ – if that can be called a code! But they seem to follow the same rules.

I meet them everywhere.

The more famous the spot, the more dominant presence they have.

I met them in September at the site map of Golkonda fort.

In the same month I met them in the passage that takes tourists from jetty to Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari.

Earlier, in the month of May, I had seen that even a 200 year veteran tree was not spared in Lalbag at Bangalore.

I wish:  they use all their skills, dreams, goals, paths, attitudes for making things better.