india: to NIMHANS (16)

i'm beginning to lose track of the days as i become more accustomed to the pace of life here.. trying to remember what i have been up to since last posting. the major undertaking of this week has been travelling back and forth to NIMHANS, the National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. the investigator with whom i am working at the moment here at NCBS has a former post-doc from this lab who still collaborates on morphological studies. this former post-doc is now a professor at NIMHANS, and has his morphology lab well set-up over there. NIMHANS is pretty much on the OTHER side of Bangalore, usually an hour's drive in light traffic; however, as i learned today, heavy afternoon traffic can render this journey somewhat unpleasant and long. although, this time provides ample opportunity for observing scenes that any North American might find quirky.

Signage. i've been very intrigued and amused by many store names and store signage that i see along the streets in Bangalore. the one that has been BY FAR most intriguing is for "The Physical Cultural Institute". the sign includes this title in text, flanked by images of two airbrushed men flexing muscles and wearing small undergarments. i'm assuming the establishment is what we North Americans commonly refer to as a "Gym".

Things people can carry on bikes and auto-cabs. so far: an auto-rickshaw with a mattress strapped to the roof (this takes trips to Ikea to a whole other level). a motorbike with the driver carrying a bar stool over his head and upper body. a bicycle pulling a cart filled with 6 LARGE propane tanks.

Crossing the street. i consider myself to be fairly observant, but have not noticed many (i.e., any) prominent cross-walks on any of the streets here. the general strategy seems to be to wait until there is a *minor* break in traffic flow, then run. many people, though, just go Frogger style through the oncoming, fast, heavy traffic. every time i watch this happening, i am completely stunned and amazed that the street-crosser makes it to the other side intact. i thought this habit may be only a trend in daring young Indian males, but today i watched a DOG do the same thing.