From A Bus Named TOURIST

(Alice) Thoughts roll along with the landscape as we motor into Rajasthan, caught in bumpy road-notes:

Potential road kill now includes monkeys, peacocks, camels and water buffalo. So far our extraordinary driver has negotiated all traffic, human and otherwise without sending anything into its next incarnation. Along with a small "American Planning Association" sign, the front of the bus is decorated with a Ganesh decal, two small strands of chili peppers and lime whose significance has yet to be revealed, and a monkey-demon image.

Vernacular architecture is good for the planner soul, especially when you can’t even guess the function of a particular structure.

The long-haul truckers drive rolling works of art, message fused to image, to be further discussed in another blog entry. Meanwhile, HORN PLEASE, and USE DIPPER AT NIGHT.

Planners everywhere are constructing thoughtful and current master plans, but none of us on either side of the globe has any novel or better ideas about implementation.

Regarding Chandigarh: a planned area always draws a line and the periphery will always become a question and a problem: infill? Go higher? Change the boundaries?

Not all superblocks are created equal. While we all want to walk to everything we need, we will drive across town if the shops or schools are perceived to be better elsewhere.

And yes, 8 or more people can get into an autorickshaw, even if they’re not going to a better superblock.

A busload of planners, architects and attorneys on the same journey begin to feel like family even after just a few days. Especially when we’re all nerdy about the same or similar interests. It was cool to see the Indian highways through Cheryl’s transportation planner eyes. She snapped photos from the front aisle and kept a running commentary on tollbooths, bus stops and signage.
Ganesh, one of the more beloved Hindu deities, is the remover of obstacles and the deva of intellect and wisdom, and is thus (I declare) the God of Planning.

Way back in Delhi, a sign displayed the motto of the Indian Coast Guard: "We are swift, professional and humane." Wouldn’t that be a great slogan for a planning department?
Being at the Taj Mahal is a walking, waking dream state. Ecstasy by design, bliss shared with strangers, smiles exchanged.