It has been hard to find time in a hectic schedule to post from India.  But here I find myself with a few moments in the dusty town outside of Ranthambore National Park (where we saw tigers today) in a small store/internet station.   

    The trip continues to amaze and challenge me.  There are stark contrasts with China – the most obvious being the persistence of tradition here (which I will write something longer on later…) – but also certain similarities, especially with the China I first encountered 24 years ago.  One thing that stands out is the women: their traditonal clothing (one of those practices that has persisted) is fabulously colorful but, at the same time, it is a reminder of the gender inequality that pervades this society, particularly here in Rajasthan, which may well be more conservative on social practices.  As modernity spreads from Mumbai and Delhi to places like Jodhpur and Jaipur (and that process has already started, as evidenced by the image of women on television), it will certianly bring a transformation in the way women see themselves and their role in society, and that will be something close to a revolutionary change I suspect.

     Thoughts are not very coherent just now.  I look forward to the time next week when I will be able to pull my ideas together.

     In the meantime we will be off to Agra tomorrow and the standard tourist experience of the Taj Mahal.  We’ll see if it lives up to its press (I’ve heard that it does).