After just about 30 hours of airline travel, I finally arrived in India at 4:30 a.m. local time, marking the start of my first (of three) trips to this unique and beguiling country (traveling to India). I’d been warned more than once during my preparation for the trip that the cities would be loud – very loud. All the time. I’ve spent time in Manhattan, London, Rome and several other large cities, so I figured I’d already experienced the sort of noise they were referring to… close, but no cigar.

It is, indeed, loud here. Very loud. Bangalore (considered India’s “silicon valley) has grown by leaps and bounds in recent decades and is currently the third most populous city in all of India. It definitely has the traffic to match. Street lights or signs are few and far between, so drivers instead signal their every intention with a quick honk. This honking, along with the virtually non-existent emissions standards contribute to a vehicular cacophony which is really unlike any other place I’ve ever visited.

It’s hard to get the full impression without being here, but to give you an idea, I stood on a sidewalk and recorded a few seconds of audio with my phone:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Bangalore is busy and bustling seemingly non-stop. There are people everywhere, often darting through traffic with a boldness that would make Evel Knievel look like an amateur. There are stray dogs on most every street corner, and cows do, indeed, roam freely in the streets. I’ve often been told that India is a land of contradictions, and Bangalore is certainly no exception – the buildings varying from crumbling shacks to gorgeously appointed architecture that would make any city in the world proud.

We didn’t do too much today, just spent a little while walking around the city (and a lot more time stuck in traffic). Whenever I think of India, I think of Hindus, and whilst they still make up the majority of the population (around 80%), the Muslim population (at least here in Bangalore) has a strong presence as well; when we got to the market street, I was surprised to see so many of the men and women in traditional Muslim attire. The pollution here is very bad – when stuck in traffic the air can get practically gray from all of the exhaust, and after about an hour of walking around downtown, I felt like I’d just sucked down a carton of cigarettes. Still, I find the city and India as a whole compelling and feel like I haven’t even begun to wrap my head around it. The people I’ve met so far, seem genuinely warm and friendly, and I’ve felt nothing but welcomed (and the object of occasional curiosity).

Time to wind down, pop on the headphones to drown out that noise and get my first sleep in two days that isn’t in an airplane seat. I’m looking forward to seeing what the coming days will bring. I’ll be sure to keep you all posted, but in the meantime, here’s a random selection of pictures from Day 1.

India - Day 1
By Luke Hill  |  View on Facebook

Trackback URL