tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post7645059628759721496..comments2023-11-03T00:56:22.486-07:00Comments on better living: IndiaMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-12975481135443881262008-05-19T07:22:00.000-07:002008-05-19T07:22:00.000-07:00I spent 6 months in India in 2001 (mostly in Vijay...I spent 6 months in India in 2001 (mostly in Vijayawada but also spent about 2 weeks in Hyderabad).<BR/><BR/>It truly was a turning point in my life.<BR/><BR/>It really opened my eyes to how it is possible to live (and be happy) with so much less. <BR/><BR/>I remember those bucket showers well!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456879031634848302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-60557792063388495482008-04-29T19:06:00.000-07:002008-04-29T19:06:00.000-07:00green bean - travel is an issue that is a struggle...green bean - travel is an issue that is a struggle for me; our families live on the east coast and India, unfortunately, so I am trying to find a balance - but it's tough. I'll check out that book - pictures work for me!<BR/><BR/>heather - isn't it amazing how much stuff we "need" in this country compared to other places? I think you're exactly right about the mindfulness...like with most things in life, it's key.<BR/><BR/>arduous - I totally forgot about the glass bottles; you're right...I was thinking about plastic, since I drank a crazy amount of bottled water trying to not get sick, but the glass bottle thing is a good point. When I was in Zimbabwe they did the same thing - I imagine lots of non-US places do since outside of this country resources seem to be valued more; I wish we reused bottles here (for things besides milk, which can be hard to find in the glass anyway). <BR/><BR/>And I was totally amazed at how the labor vs. capital thing. I'd heard that before we went, but I could not believe how inexpensive it was to have the laundry done, like you said...and even my pajamas came back ironed all nicely!<BR/><BR/>I also meant to mention that I thought it was very cool that there are people who come around to buy old rags, and newspapers and such. So even though they can't be recycled, they're not regarded as garbage either.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00683655933935098511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-11547826087838037692008-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:002008-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:00Great post! I have a couple of points. First of al...Great post! <BR/><BR/>I have a couple of points. First of all, there isn't "recycling" as such in India because glass bottles get reused. If you have a drink at say a small snack stand or such, you're not allowed to take it with you because the shop keeper needs the bottle back.<BR/><BR/>Second of all, one of the huge reasons that Indians don't use washers/dryers/other convenience items has to do with the cost of labor relative to capital. In non-econ terms, that basically means that in India human labor is cheapar than machines ie it is cheaper to have a washer woman wash your clothes than to get a washing machine. <BR/><BR/>That's because India has such a huge population. Even middle class Indians tend to have at least a couple servants who come in to sweep, wash clothes, etc. It's an important aspect of the Indian economy. So unless the population takes a sharp turn downward, I think you are unlikely to see most Indians, even upper-middle class and upper-class Indians, start to purchase these convenience items. Why buy a washing machine that you'd have to load, when you can hire someone to wash your clothes, dry them, and fold them for less money?ruchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-44592676648286008092008-04-26T16:45:00.000-07:002008-04-26T16:45:00.000-07:00Your trip reminds me of my visit to China back in ...Your trip reminds me of my visit to China back in 2003. It has to be one of my all time favorite trips, but it was a real learning experience too. I have a photo of an area in Shanghai of a gold-ish looking building (financial district) next to a slum area. You can see both in the photo and it's very striking. <BR/><BR/>The other memory that comes to mind is I got talking to a woman on the train from Beijing to TaiAn and I asked about clothing because I could see poverty was an issue, but their clothes were just gorgeous. She told me that people bought one or two outfits a year and they just wore them everyday. I was amazed. Can you imagine anyone in the US doing that, but it's real life in other parts of the world. <BR/><BR/>Traveling truly is an amazing learning experience and has helped shape who I am today. It also can be brutal to the environment. But I think that somewhere there is a balance (what Buddhists would call the middle way). Learning about other cultures is wonderful and I want it to have a place in my life, but I also think it should be done with great mindfulness.hmdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13424022504830645523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302480784488907086.post-27007231581573047312008-04-26T14:33:00.000-07:002008-04-26T14:33:00.000-07:00Interesting post. As to the travel, I've eschewed...Interesting post. <BR/><BR/>As to the travel, I've eschewed major travel since I "went green" because it is such a carbon suck. I just finished Common Wealth, though, and at the end, the author (a UN dude) lists 8 or so ways that an individual can act. One of them was travel. I'm not sure how I feel about that on one hand but his point was that we need to experience other cultures, get face to face with the not so pretty side of life that people outside of North America live on a daily basis. Compelling argument.<BR/><BR/>My other thought was that you might want to check out Hungry Planet: How the World Eats from your local library. You commented on how much STUFF we have here and I thought you might enjoy this book which gives visual images of families all over the world with their food for a week. I didn't even read the book - too many books, too little time. But the visuals were arresting. They really drive the point home.Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.com