Entry #20 -- May 20, 2009

We thought that we had been spared of any campaigns, debates, town-hall meetings, political parties, 24-hour news, rallies, conventions, polls, elections and politicians. Here, India just completed their 15th Lok Sabha elections. There are over a thousand people seeking votes and making promises for 543 Parliamentary constituencies. In layman terms, the elected officials recess so they can campaign for a month (or two). It takes India one whole month for everyone to vote -- close to a billion people. There are five dates on which people vote, depending on where you live. They use EVM's (electronic voting machines). Then the votes are tallied and announced.

What is really hard to understand is that there are over 30 national and regional political parties. Sometimes they form alliances if they have a common political agenda. Since everything in India is an acronym, you have to know the difference between the INC (Indian National Congress) which is in the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) which is in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). If you understand the Third Front (or even the Fourth) you are doing better than me. They don't agree with the political agenda of anyone else! Later, there will be a test on the RJD, DMK, BSP, AGP, CPIM and the HJP.

While we were traveling in an "auto" this noisy but peaceful group of election-goers passed us in a little parade as they "voiced" their political rights.

People and the things that they do....

Passengers transporting their goods at the Rajahmundry train station.

This is why we travel reserved seats in the A/C car!

A view out my back window.
This is a servant washing the dishes and utensils.
To the left is a wire basket where the clean items are placed to dry.

This is our second funeral and second cemetery. This cemetery has three separate sections; Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Because there is no way to preserve a body, the deceased needs to be buried within the day. The (black) casket is setting in the grass, to the left. That's right, the lid has not been nailed on yet -- and that's why I am far away!

These young boys are being taken to school by a rickshaw driver.


Residents are coming to fill their pots and buckets with their daily water.

This is our great friend, the security guard at our former apt. He is short, but carries a big stick! The only word in English that he knows is "courier". He holds all of our courier packages for us if we are gone. He does not allow anyone into the parking area with their car or motorcycle unless they are a resident. He always has a big smile, but as soon as you want to take a picture, they think they need to be serious.

Women bearing gifts to give to a god at their local temple.

My husband thinks I am a nosy neighbor.

They are always doing something interesting!

On this day, they are drying chilies, and possibly flour, grains, and seeds.

This is our local recycling center. They bundle and weigh cardboard, paper, newspaper, tin cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles and more!

Children sitting in front of a stand where people come to purchase snacks.