Hellew ! Are you going to Office ?
What ?
This man is going to office
Well ! David Cameron goes to his office on his bicycle. His shoes, a change of dress, brief case and files go in a car. Security guys in a couple of cars following him. Let 20 cars follow him, what i really appreciate is that he is making a point. He is young. Hope the leaders of other countries follow him.
He's going for work, Deep in thought, no traffic here to bother him.
This is bad, i am sitting in a very ECO UN-FRIENDLY bus
BAM BAM BAM This poor couple is pushed off the road, i think the lady is carrying an infant.
In my opinion, all the eco friendly modes of transport should be given right of way. They should have the road to themselves.
This is one of the reasons why i call the environment series SPEED. Speed is taking us towards extinction. We have to slow down. This can happen only if eco friendly modes of transport is given Priority. Driving hybrids is no answer.
Last year when i visited Rajasthan i was very reluctant to take a cycle rickshaw, prefered Smoky and polluting autos.
Then i realised how wrong i was.
I am contributing to their livelihood and then these rickshaws are eco friendly, cheaper, but i end up paying double than what they demand and i always have my lunch or tea with them. i get to hear their philosophy on the way, i have to tell them about my city, they always ask, they talk about politics but mostly they talk about movie stars. i have only only sweet and pleasant experiences with them.
Old man looks very slim and healthy.
Hello Sir, Look where you are going.
This is the best way to stay healthy. Eco friendly, and it burns your energy. You stay fit and alert with very sharp reflexes all your life. There is a lot of difference between this cycling and the static cycling you do at home. The bottoms spread with static cycling.
Here comes a man with a full load of onions
How do I know that he is carrying onions ?
I know because i was stupid enough to stop the poor guy, and he showed me.
Do you want to take more pictures Sir ? Sideways perhaps, me crossing the frame ?
Well, every one has ideas about making a movie, actually he was describing a perfect shot. Uneducated but with good imagination.
no no no, He went along with his idea and took a u turn and came back, allowing me to take one more picture. He was directing me.
He was acting and directing like clint Eastwood.
Thank you i said, felt sorry for stopping him and wasting his time.
i should have bought some onions.
What will i do with onions in my camera bag ?
Just look at this ! The following pictures
This is SPECIAL
Wisdom and intelligence is not bestowed upon a chosen few. i was wondering what he was selling. not good to stop him and waste his time, unless i intend to buy what he is selling, poor chap. What if he is selling crabs ? they will cut everything in my bag. i couldn't figure out what he was selling. got any ideas ?
little adjustment on the load, wind is on his side helping him.
This boy is carrying his workshop. He would stop at a right place and set it up. Business as usual.
This man is carrying glue in the bucket and posters at the back, his job is to stick posters. Reminds me of Vittorio DeSica's film ' bicycle thiefs ' Such a beautiful movie.
Selling coconut water at a railway station, yes this is a railway station.
'To buy or not to buy' that is the question
i bought a few from this gentleman, i love goa fruits.
This is Hyderabad, you can see Chaar Minaar in the background.
Eco friendly business on the cycle carts in Ujjain.
Chaotic ? Well ! This is Jaipur, imagine the amount of fuel these people are saving.
You don't have to buy an elephant, then you have to buy a car and get four jobs a day to feed the elephant. just a simple bike would do.
Oh! happy he is, This is the way i learnt, my feet could hardly reach the pedals. Parents can't afford to buy their kids small bikes to learn. Well ! you can't stop them. they will learn somehow.
Major religions have nothing to say on our environment, we have discussed this issue already in the environment series.
Priests of all religions could bring about a change of attitude much faster, but they are not doing it. They will never say, please don't bring your cars to the church or mosques or temples please come on your bikes. It will work if they insist. Chopping a tree or polluting the atmosphere is not a sin according to them.
Very Stylish isn't she ? this is Fort Cochin.
Not so stylish but the cycle is taking him where he wants to go.
You cannot fit an air conditioner here but you can fit a 2000 watts stereo, You have to stop the music if the bulls don't agree with your taste.
I think Camels would love Jazz, traditional Jazz in particular.
How do we slow down ? Demand for SPEED is increasing every day.
We want to go faster and faster.
If you have patience, you are called dumb or a loser.
you have to stay in the rat race and go faster even if you have all the patience in the world.
We are not supposed to travel faster than the speed of a camel. Our body cannot take it. It takes 36 days for the body to come back to normal state of functioning after a jet lag.
We are torturing ourselves besides draining our resources faster.
These people are not aware of global warming. They are not draining the earth's resources. They will be punished along with rest of us for no fault of theirs.
she will ask God
What have we done to deserve this punishment ?
They will be the innocent victims of our blunders.
Our future generations will hold us responsible for not taking any steps. i still maintain that the earth has the capacity to heal itself. Earth is not in danger. We are. We have to slow down for the sake of our future generations. It requires a change of attitude. A change of heart.
Blunt knife
Portraits
Passion Green
Wildpic
45 comments:
Yea! I'm the first to post a comment! You must have spent some time uploading these beautiful images! I am glad to see that I am not the only person in the world you would see figuring out creative ways to haul things on a bike. We don't see images like this very often in the USA- but I have definitely had my moments.
Many times in my life I have not had a car and have chosen to ride my bike everywhere. If I needed to buy some furniture, art supplies, or food, I had to figure out how I was going to strap it to the bike.
The only downfall to riding the bike, is that all of the cars around create polluted air to breath. It's such a shame. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing more harm than good to my body by riding my bike.
humorous as usual!! i liked the captions especially. and you ahve said it all, and i couldnt agree more. it IS important to make the changes right now.. and for each person to figure out what they could be doing, besides recycling.. :)). Eco frendly is definitely the way to be. cant leave it upto the politicians anymore, they dont see the urgency of it, each government seems to be thinking.... let this term be over and let the next one handle it...
And the big complanies, well, mostly its just greed.
I could not pu the kids on the bike here like they do in India, too many regulaitons. I would need to have a small trailer behind me, where they are enclosed, but they would be traveling at a lesser height and that scares me. I see your point about ecofriendly transport having the right of way. It would be great if we had a separate lane for this here.. :) just letting you know I did think about it a while back.
Cameron isn't really interested in anything other than being elected. He is a politician after all....
Fantastic pics. I'm goin to feel guilty driving to work tonight. I still will drive though 'cause it's raining. I'd cycle if I lived over there though.
Wish Oldham Athletic luck - their youth team is touring Bangla Desh at the moment - we're in the Division 1 play-offs tonight.
Rachel, you have raised a good point and i completely forgot about it, actually it never occurred to me. Thank you so much for bringing it up. Traffic policemen suffer a lot, they are given masks but they don't wear it. The advantage of cycle is that you can take short cuts where there is no traffic, avoiding main roads. i am sugessting you only movies Rachel, the movie in my mind is 'Quick Silver' You don't have to be that kind of cycling wizard as shown in the movie, i loved it. some breath taking cycling shots and camera follows the cycle. Its sad that you hardly get such interesting and passionately made movies any more.
Fast moving vehicles have scant respect for slow and eco friendly modes of transport. Every one is in a hurry Rachel. Its up to leaders like David Cameron to bring about a change of attitude.
Mystic Rose, Children are more conscious now than what we were at that age. But there is growing restlessness. Children get bored very fast. And they demand speed.
This attitude has to change. You have to teach them to be patient.
When eco friendly modes of transport gets right of way by law, things will slow down. Its a big and bold step. Big multinationals will fight it. But in the longer run, people will appreciate it. You can send your children to school without any fear. Indian politicians will see the polpularity behind this step. People will realise the uselessness of going fast.
Aha ! FOUR DINNERS, yes all politicians are alike, but this young man is promising. He is making a point. He is a breath of fresh air. We need environmentally conscious politicians who rise above petty issues like faith schools in your country. All communities should have the responsibility to feel British above all. They should have the loyalty for England above their religion. Your government is pampering these minorities instead of kicking them for demanding additional unjustified rights. This is not the issue, the real issue is there would be no England in another hundred years unless steps are urgently taken. Your rivers are going dry and rivers of south India barring one have gone dry twenty years ago and still we have not woken up.
And FOUR DINNERS why are you sending Young team of Oldham Athletic to Bangla Desh ? Send a bunch of elematary school girls, need not be eleven, they can defeat the best of indian and Bangladeshi football teams
good to know that we have people traveling by eco-friendly things....
but my g mom gave away my cycle to someone who can make better use of it....
don't want ot ask my father for another one and here a lecture of where my last one is.....and how he used to pedal 6 Km everyday to skl when he was in 6th itself....
i have started using the train to travel to the squash court and swim...its comfie enough......
earth is will get busted when it needs to...who knows it may last till the big crunch..:)
The greatest gift of nature is Life Vishesh, enjoy it. You are too young to be pessimistic.
All the people in the pictures are full of life, they want to live against all odds.
w-O-w...these pics are so crisps! umm...are you one of those amazing photographers? ;;)
i enjoyed reading the captions you put in...it adds beauty to the captured pics...and a sense of humor as always to go with it! ;;)
Hi Shimmer, hope you are enjoying the sunshine and spring. We have just too much of sunshine here, too hot and humid.
You are very young Shimmer and today's young generation is more environmentally conscious than older generation, that is me. You have to contribute in slowing down draining the earth's resources. The best contribution you can make is being patient.
Patience is no longer a virtue now.
Every one is in a hurry.
Let people burn fuel in a speeding Ferrari.
If you wake up early and leave early for your school and take it slow, you would be contributing a lot. This is the first step. You are young and intelligent, soon others will follow you.
what amazing photographs, now if only i can bike my way to work in this horrendous traffic***Sigh***wish I were in Netherlands.
Your Majesty ! Your Majesty !
why why ?
Why a bike ?
a palanquin, a paalki would be most suitable
What an honour to be a your paalki bearer. Airconditioned, 200 Watts RMS surround sound DVD, Wireless net connection, Lapteetoptee. the best thing is, Paalki is eco friendly. I'll drop your paalki and run if you play Tamil Songs Princess. So, your Majesty, you have to keep your Paalki bearer's preferences in mind and i'll ask you to check my mail, and perhaps i'll ask you to chat with my sweet heart in Timbaktu for me, i'll express my feelings and you would convey them to my fiance'
Did you notice a couple of Hyderabaad pictures there Princess ??
no you haven't.
Actually Princess, this used to happen until 50 years ago.
Princess would sit in the palki, curtains drawn.
Stop stop !
i want to buy jewelry
The Jewelry shop owner comes running to the palki with his entire stock of jewels. The owner
would fold his hands and wait for hours for Princess to choose. Princess makes her selection. kaneez, returns the Jewels. Your hand comes out with gold coins and the jewelry shop owner receives the coins and talks about your hands for years.
Stop stop !
i want to buy some jeans
We the palki bearers protest
We want pepsi
We the paalki bearers go on a flash strike and leave you in the middle of the road.
Ok baba go have pepsi
vokkay have pepsi.
gone are my days of riding a bike! great photos and your sense of humour is just marvelous!
Ah HER INDOORS, please don't give up. i can understand the density of the traffic, as Rachel says(first comment) we may do more harm to our body than good. Please try shorter rides and encourage younger people.
Hope you are doing fine HER INDOORS
Smiling, smiling, ear to ear! The photos should be put into a photo coffee table book: bicycles in India. What a fantastic collection!!! Some of these feats I never dreamed possible.
I don't give up, and I do think even hybrid cars matter, because EVERY little thing we do with the intention of changing the scene will help. When I do a little today, I will do more tomorrow.
And I also think that politicians will catch on when we, the people, keep changing our own lives (except for some who are extremely stubborn, but I won't name names).
I've been amazed by Schwarzzeneger. My god, a Republican who cares about the environment! But then, he's a European. He's used to being conservative with space, fuel, etc. We Americans think there is no end to resources.
I feel upset that I live so far from my job. I have a fuel efficient car, but I still feel bad. Not a good time to sell a house and move. The house won't sell in two years. Just have to keep doing the best I can. Currently they're talking about a gasoline tax to discourage driving more than necessary. I support that idea.
Wonderful post, rauf.
i have added two blogs
PORTRAITS
and
PASSION GREEN
Hi Rauf. What very beautiful pictures, so full of life and colour. I like what you are saying and agree that the culture of speed is absurd.
Issues regarding environmental concerns have suddenly snowballed in the British media and we see early signs of positive change here. Ultimately, most of us in the West must radically change our lifestyles to avert further catastrophe.
Such an elegant and positive website. Well done xo
Raufie dear
- never a dull moment or lack a stunning selection of pics. and heartfelt commentery...
Another wonderful post.
I have been long accused to want to go back to the horse and buggy era - and rightfully so!
Love and joy
Ruth, i don't know if democrats would do any better. We need younger environmentally conscious politicians mostly women politicians. Women generally are not in a hurry and they don't demand speed. Lesley is a good example and i feel proud of knowing her. When we have more of Lesleys on the road with the right of way granted to them, the life is going to change. It would become more noisy due to honking of horns. Politicians would start thinking. People would realise the uselessness of faster modes of transport. Trains will be reintroduced in the US. All the abandoned railway stations would come alive. When we slow down we would begin to enjoy life more.
in India gasoline is costlier than in US, perhaps cosliest in the world, but still there is ever increasing traffic on the roads. Gasoline tax is very high here. cost of living goes up everytime gasoline prices are hiked. prices of essential commodities go up. Trains and bus fares go up.
When we slow down, we would depend only on the local products. this would defeat the inflation Ruth.
Hello Benjamin, welcome to Daylight again. You have a Tory leader who is making a point. You have realised the blunders of fast life and have realised the need to change. but we Indians unfortunately are racing to copy the west and we are repeating the same blunders. We want a New York and a London here.
Dearest Angel,
we have bullock carts here, hope you get to have a ride on them one day.
lots of love and Hugs Angel.
Loved ur last pic of kids..My fav that wld be..Also loved all the camels horses and hathi..The earthern pots in one of urs pics are very nice litle diff from every day variety not sure though what the diff might be. Also the kid riding bicycle in weird manner remined me of my days when I used to ride like that though it was for quite few days only :-)
rauf, we laughed when we were in NYC a couple weeks ago to see a sign: $350 fine if you honk. I wonder how they enforce it!
Yes, did you know NYC is one of the most "green" cities because of a) fewer cars per capita, b) efficient use of space, power and heat (and AC, your favorite) in skyscrapers, c) subway usage, etc. But I'm sure it can be better.
rauf take a look at this http://india-views.blogspot.com/
Hi Sangita, hope you are feeling fine. Too hot here in Chennai. Afraid to go out, took my friend kishore to Kancheepuram. i couldn't walk barefoot in the temple, the floor was like a frying pan.
Riding bike in Weird manner is normally how kids learn, this is how i learnt. Only in the cities smaller bikes are available on hire. In the absence of small bike there is no other option but to learn on a big bike. Kids need smaller bikes only for a short period, they go for bigger bikes soon after they learn. so parents don't buy small bikes unless there are other children growing up at home.
Went for 'Bheja fry' enjoyed every minute of it. very well made by Indian standards. hillarious dialogue specially when the girl says that she has left her dogs in the car without A/C. Later I heard that the central idea has been lifted from a French movie. Enjoyable film nonetheless. thanks so much for recommending it. i would have missed it.
Ruth, if you love honking horns you have to come to India. People of Bombay are very patient. But rest of the cities are very noisy and we have very loud horns here. I hear continuous honking of horns now as i am typing.
yes Berlin and NYC are very green. Central park makes a lot of difference. We had such pockets here in Chennai but they disappeared. there are quite a few man made parks but of absolutely no use except for jogging in the morning. Sangita enjoys morning walks in Bangalore. Bangalore was called Garden city of India but it has grown out of proportions and intollerably polluted. I get sick in Bangalore within one day. so i avoid it. But have to be there on the 29th of this month to attend a baptism function. My friends are coming from New Hampshire.
Thanks Vishesh, i left a comment there, two infact.
first time here, nice blog you have...awesome images too. will be back later for more.
I shall check out Quicksilver.
I am not convinced that this David Cameron is the man. It is going to take someone who will not compromise.
We need another Mahatma Ghandi. Still finishing the movie Ghandi in my Yoga class- we watch a small snippet before our practice. I am under the influence of Ghandi.
It seems that people really live their best when they have something important to accomplish. Liberating India was an extremely invigorating task. If only there were an amazing leader who could stir that kind of vigor for our health.
Because, ultimately, it's not the environment we really care about- it's our SELVES- the health of our body, mind and soul, which is dependent upon the environment. Until people start to value their own lives, I do not believe this change is possible. Too many people are in such a hurry as you say, that they do not even know who they are anymore, let alone care about ensuring that whomever they are is healthy in body, mind and soul.
As the proverb goes, we must first learn to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. People have to learn to care for themselves before they can care for the environment.
But how can they value themselves when they pollute their own air, water, land and bodies all day long for the sake of maintaining their status?
How can they dare look themselves in the eye? How can they expect others to change, when they are just as guilty?
It's too bad we can't just have one day where everyone says, "OK, that's enough! We've lived foolishly long enough. It was fun, but now we must get down to the real business of living. Now we must face ourselves and do what is right. Enough lying and deceiving of ourselves and others. I refuse to live this way any longer. I want to be upright and pure. I wish to be noble. I want to fulfill my true purpose and destiny, and I want to help others to do the same. I will not tolerate less of myself or of anyone else."
but i did notice the Hyd photos...
just curious as to the camera that u use....
Rosh, Thank you, Welcome to Daylight again
please check the following photo blogs, you'll find them in the links on the side bar
Ruth's photo blog FLYING
Suresh's nature blog WILDPIC
Nirmal's photo blog Vision 360
I have three photoblogs, you'll find them at the top
BLUNT KNIFE, PORTRAITS and PASSION GREEN
Dear Friends, Rosh has a delightful photo blog MAGIC LENS please check
Rachel, No politician is giving environment any kind of priority. We have to look for those who atleast are promising. Our politicians are not free from petty issues.
What you say is right, we need another Gandhi, he had no selfish interests. The present Indian politicians place their own interests before the country's future, like clinging on the power and making money.
Through out my environment series Speed 1 to 13, i have been repeating that the planet is not in danger, even if we shave off the planet completely, it will go on spinning non stop. We the humans are facing extinction. We are going too fast. Earth will heal itself once we are gone. We can't wait for that to happen
Health, methods of taking care of ourselves will differ one individual to the other. This will generate utter selfishness. This will not solve the problem. We have to make some radical changes which i have discussed earlier in SPEED 13 and THE PLAN
When do we start making sacrifices is the question.
Ah ! Your Majesty
Zahe' Naseeb.
I'll soon post full Hyderabad, Traveling again, you have heard 'pairon mei khujli' ? i can't sit in one place now. Want to travel badly, and keep traveling, for that i have to forget about comforts and just hop in to a train. thats what i have been doing.
The camera i use is a pretty ordinary digital, very cheap but with very good zoom range
it is Panasonic LUMIX FZ 30 now there's a newer model panasonic LUMIX FZ 50
are you disappointed Your Majesty ?
i can't afford a digital SLR, if you really want to blow money please go for Cannon 350D
its an SLR but you have to buy additional lenses which are quite expensive. Please don't spend too much on a growing technology. If you spend a fortune, within three months you'll find a better Model.... i'll look for some models and tell you if Your Majesty is interested in buying in Boosland
Did you see Benjamin put you on his sidebar under "Recent Reads"?
Let's see if I can use your technology.
Did you see Benjamin put you on his sidebar?
haha Ruth, Wow ! You are a fast learner, i am too slow, i had to practice it many times, every time i got it wrong, the blog refused to accept. finally got it. i copied and kept it safe. like a parrot i copy and paste and change the text in between
i was tinkering on the template again. nearly messed it up, you can see a preview of my Portraits and passion green in the side bar
Yes I saw the link on Benjamin's page
Thank you Benjamin I'll add your link here
rauf, ha! I cut and pasted too. That's the smart way!
I simply bow at the pictures you take.. they are simply so so real and in the face!!
Ruth, made some changes in the template, some previews of my other blogs
Abhishek, Thank you, You don't have to bow, if you do, i'll have to scratch my head in the most ungraceful way. i scratch my head when embarassed and when confused and mostly when i don't know whats going on, which is almost all the time.
Aunt Ruth and Rauf, who is Benjamin?
Hiii!!
Wooww! wooww!!! thats what I say for the pictures, they are environment friendly people I agree, and can actually set an example for many...but there is something more, they all have a Nur [light] on their face, full of energy, full of life, unlike the makeup clad society people who take each step as if the earth is their own... I loved the pictures and the post and the message...
Takecare!
and yeah, that reminds me, there is one thing I like about the people here in doha, they try their best to protect the environment, they are trying their besst to turn this desert into a green zone, when I see the work they have done and how careful they are about taking care of what they have nourished, it feels good..ofcourse, thres lot of environmental pollution in here too, but there is lot done to protect it too :)!
Rachel Benjamin is from England and he has a very informative and thought provoking blog, please click on his name, a few comments above to reach his blog
HI Shammu, i was really upset that i lost your link, i am glad you commented here, now i have marked your lovely and imaginative page.
Shammu, yes, There is Noor in their hearts too. i spend a lot of time with the tribals and learn a lot from them, i consider them as my teachers, though i make no attempt to teach them anything but i try to contribute in a small way
I am going again to the Attapadi tribal area in a few days.
Quite true, they are trying very hard to make the entire gulf area green. But the problem is draining of earth's resources. The whole world is completely dependant on your region and things would come to a grinding halt if the resources are dried up. We cannot wait for that to happen. Our life style our attitude has to change. We all have to turn eco friendly very soon.
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