Cultural Observations

Trip Start Dec 26, 2008
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Trip End Feb 06, 2009


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Flag of India  , Uttar Pradesh,
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Notes from a Canadian who can't resist a bit of cultural observation.

As Michelle and I sat on the rooftop of our hotel in Agra, we got chatting to a number of other groups of travellers.  One of these groups included two girls and a guy from Utah.  As we chatted, the guy leant forward and something fell out of his pocket.  It was metal, about 6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.  Jokingly, I said, I think that you dropped your knife.  He picked it up and said "Wow!  Thanks man, I wouldn't want to lose that."  It actually was a knife!  I asked him why he was carrying a knife and he said, for his and the girls' protection"". 

Now, after a month of travelling through India, Michelle and I have only felt uncomfortable once or twice in Mumbai.  But the discomfort was more about too many people crowding around us than any real danger from anyone.  I cannot, for the life, of me think of a single situation where a knife would have been required in our entire trip.

My comment to our Canadian friends today was, "I'm glad it wasn't a Canadian because I'd have been ashamed for my country."
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