Around Ahmedabad

Everyone keeps asking me for a description of the city, my neighborhood, and what Bradd and I have been doing. I personally have a tough time remembering what I tell who. Plus, I cannot remember these kind of details when trying to hold a conversation when I just woke up or about to pass out at night.

Our Hood:

Kind of what may be called "suburban" by western terms. Strange in the sense that the property values are outrageous here but yet we see new apartment buildings across the street from a farmer with a plot of dust, 2 cows and a shack. Both of which pieces of property a worth the same staggering price...upwards of 2.2 million! Even stranger, that same farmer just recently put up a volleyball net. The streets are wider here, most are paved and a short 10 minute rickshaw ride brings us to a hugely developed intersection of some of the tackiest retail ever. 4 malls, 2 cinemas, countless restaurants, shops, and so much traffic.

There are street dogs everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere. There's no escaping their presence whether you see them eating-anything, puppies playing on the side of the road or hear packs of them causing a ruckus at any given moment. I have to walk Duke carrying a large bamboo cane for his protection but the dogs also appreciate a good rock throwing.

We see brand new BMW's and Mercedes pulling into multi-million dollar homes but also goat herders walking with their grazing, crazy-horned flocks (which Duke seems to also be stunned by...). Giant bulls hanging out on the side of the road, small-sad little donkeys hauling construction debris, small herds of cows and water buffalo snacking from the dumpsters, countless camels pulling carts of goods or people and the multitude of auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and bikes on the road.

More to come...