This is a very mild example of what's labeled "eve teasing", but it's one of the reasons I'm really glad for the Ladies Only metro car.
I wish there were more uncles and other decent people standing up to punks who harass young women, instead of just turning away. Maybe it would even slow the increase of violence against women in the city.
Showing posts with label bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bus. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Close enough to lick
Riding in an auto really never gets old.
There is always something new and wild to see. Or something wild that has become commonplace. Gone are the days of speeding along at 55mph, safely inside the individual environment of your moving vehicle.
No. In an auto, the entire environment assaults you: the feel, sound and smell of the traffic is right there with you. Inescapable.
You can smell the chickens next door in their truck. (Take a look at those birds and remind me why you like chicken nuggets?)
You can lean over and shake the hand of the man in the colorful magenta sweater, ask him how work was today.
You can reach out and...lick the giant, bright green bus that is close enough to inch over and crush the eensy auto in which you ride.
Maybe "lick" is a gauche word to use about traffic, 'cause you for sure shouldn't lick traffic. Far too dirty.
But the phrase "reach out and touch" just doesn't seem to convey the proximity between you and the next roaringly close vehicle. Really big vehicle with wheels half the size of the sum total of your own mode of transportation.
I mean, those big buses are breathing down on you and all you can do is hope the yellow canvas top of your auto is bright enough to have been seen by the driver.
Eek.
Adventure around every corner, I tell you.
There is always something new and wild to see. Or something wild that has become commonplace. Gone are the days of speeding along at 55mph, safely inside the individual environment of your moving vehicle.
No. In an auto, the entire environment assaults you: the feel, sound and smell of the traffic is right there with you. Inescapable.
You can smell the chickens next door in their truck. (Take a look at those birds and remind me why you like chicken nuggets?)
You can lean over and shake the hand of the man in the colorful magenta sweater, ask him how work was today.
You can reach out and...lick the giant, bright green bus that is close enough to inch over and crush the eensy auto in which you ride.
Maybe "lick" is a gauche word to use about traffic, 'cause you for sure shouldn't lick traffic. Far too dirty.
But the phrase "reach out and touch" just doesn't seem to convey the proximity between you and the next roaringly close vehicle. Really big vehicle with wheels half the size of the sum total of your own mode of transportation.
I mean, those big buses are breathing down on you and all you can do is hope the yellow canvas top of your auto is bright enough to have been seen by the driver.
Eek.
Adventure around every corner, I tell you.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The travel factor
Yes, my tickets to the Commonwealth games events include passes on the metro. But is it worth it?
Is it worth--
Wrong.
It was the average India bus experience.
We queued for the arrival of the bus in men's and women's lines, but when the bus pulled up it did not line up with our queues and people made a mad rush to get on.
I'm not an aggressive person.
In about forty seconds, the 743 (you know, estimate) of us waiting to get on the bus were on the bus.
Except me.
I was still standing there.
The CWG helpful-guy-in-uniform said to me, "I'm sorry, you can catch the next shuttle."
After I'd already been waiting there fifteen minutes and just missed the last one--I was at the front of the line, even! "My Aunt and Uncle are on that bus," I replied, referring to my travel companions.
The helpful guy turned to the man with his leg sticking out of the bus door that could not close. "Move over, she has to get on the bus," he said.
And they moved.
There's always room for one more.
Last passenger on and off we went.
But where was the a/c for the hundreds of us crammed in there? Not turned on.
One awesome thing I discovered: there are cars on the metro trains reserved for women only.
Wow is that a breath of fresh air. Literally.
Is it worth--
- the squish,
- the arms upraised in your face,
- the violation of personal space?
Wrong.
It was the average India bus experience.
We queued for the arrival of the bus in men's and women's lines, but when the bus pulled up it did not line up with our queues and people made a mad rush to get on.
I'm not an aggressive person.
In about forty seconds, the 743 (you know, estimate) of us waiting to get on the bus were on the bus.
Except me.
I was still standing there.
The CWG helpful-guy-in-uniform said to me, "I'm sorry, you can catch the next shuttle."
After I'd already been waiting there fifteen minutes and just missed the last one--I was at the front of the line, even! "My Aunt and Uncle are on that bus," I replied, referring to my travel companions.
The helpful guy turned to the man with his leg sticking out of the bus door that could not close. "Move over, she has to get on the bus," he said.
And they moved.
There's always room for one more.
Last passenger on and off we went.
But where was the a/c for the hundreds of us crammed in there? Not turned on.
One awesome thing I discovered: there are cars on the metro trains reserved for women only.Wow is that a breath of fresh air. Literally.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Zombie eyes
What was I thinking?
Four hours of Hindi class every day? How can I maintain that pace?
I saw the back of this bus on my way to class today. The before and after look of an intensive Hindi language student.
The boy on the right looks fairly normal, but the girl student on the left has scary zombie eyes. Yes, it looks just as if she's been in four hours of language class.
In case you can't see the zombie-eyed look, here is a close up.
Oh sure, I'm learning things and all, and it's good to put time and effort into something as important as learning Hindi.
But I might have jumped in the deep end without being certain that I remember how to swim.
Oops.
Life preserver, please?
Four hours of Hindi class every day? How can I maintain that pace?
I saw the back of this bus on my way to class today. The before and after look of an intensive Hindi language student.The boy on the right looks fairly normal, but the girl student on the left has scary zombie eyes. Yes, it looks just as if she's been in four hours of language class.
In case you can't see the zombie-eyed look, here is a close up.Oh sure, I'm learning things and all, and it's good to put time and effort into something as important as learning Hindi.
But I might have jumped in the deep end without being certain that I remember how to swim.
Oops.
Life preserver, please?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Random
I never get over the things I see while in an auto ride through the city.
Here's a list:
Here's a list:
- Girl slaps guy at bus station
- Man with chicken under his arm
- Man on the back of scooter holding a ladder straight up in the air
- Construction worker digs around dog
- Horse carrying bricks stumbles over speed bump, drops bricks all over the street
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