e highly atheistic interests that caught my eye - like the little girl in the pink and yellow jacket loudly asking her mother which hymn to chant ("Bam Bam Bhole", "Jai Kedar", "Om Namah Shivaya" and other classics), the security cameras and exhaust fans inside the little ante room just outside the room with the idol where the select few devotess get to sit, our driver telling us the gripping story of how in 1987 he fainted and fell into the Mandakini river just below Kedarnath - the thing that really got me was the innovative road signs. I do declare, no Wordsworth or Byron could have ever matched the genius of the Uttarkhand road department. I figured the poetic abilities of these desi bards deserve some sort of recognition, hence this blog entry.Some exmples of these works of art include:
1. No need for overspeed.
2. No race no rally
Enjoy the beauty of the valley.
3. This is highway not runway.
4. Alert to life
Rough to death.
5. Three enemies of road
Liquor, speed and overload.
6. Drink drive don't mix.
7. Life is journey
Complete it.
8. For safe arriving
No liqour in driving.
9. If you sleep
Your family weeps.
10. On the bend
Go slow friend.
11. Life is short
Don't make it shorter.
12. Mountains are a pleasure
Only if you drive with leisure.
And my personal favourite -
After whiskey
Driving risky.
These fairly brightened up my dreary days driving around the hillsides on horrible roads with scraggly bushes and the occassional high hilltop as scenery. Although, admittedly, the temples themselves were fine architectural works, and the road up to Kedarnath - the 14km long trek which I had to complete on foot, the horses having been laid down by equine flu - was pretty cool. However, the road signs were the highlight of my trip.
I am quite possibly one of the greatest atheists around. Ah well, I did fall sick on the last day of the trip. Possibly a bit of getting his own back. Or just bad luck.
Vacations are cool.
