The five senses...stimulated and over-stimulated

The sound: We hear roaring engines and constant high-pitched honking of rickshaws, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. We hear people singing, playing instruments, chanting, and the “call to prayer” from the mosque down the street. We hear meditation. We hear sweeping. We hear the popping noise our metal beds make when we sit on them. We hear the buzz of fans in every room and the water dripping from the toilets. We hear music playing, both Indian and Western. We hear children screaming and laughing, dogs barking, fighting, and howling. We hear the sounds of construction—drills, saws, hammers, and hoses. We hear explosions of sparklers and fireworks and the loud clanking of pots and pans.

The smell: We smell garbage…the stench of garbage that has been sitting on the street and the garbage that has been put in small piles to burn and release an even more foul odor. We smell candles and incense burning. We smell rich food simmering, baking, and frying. We smell animal secretion and decaying animal. We smell tobacco. We smell exhaust from the pipes of the hundreds of motors that pass by. We smell mosquito repellent and sunscreen. We smell urine. We smell body odor and sweat. We smell fragrant flowers, chai tea, and spices.

The sight: We see people, and the people see us. They really see us. We see children laughing, following us, and putting their tiny hands out to touch ours. We see people on the ground with polio or missing limbs. We see cows. We see goats. We see dogs. Everywhere. We see garbage. We see women rummaging through the garbage piles to find anything of use. We see dogs and cows eating the garbage. We see men selling chai, fried snacks, vegetables, coconuts, accessories, and clothes off of transportable carts or blankets on the ground. We see smiles and tears. We see traffic. We see women walking and balancing large baskets on their heads. We see people sitting on the backs of trucks and hanging off the sides of buses. We see ten people in a five-person car. We see accidents happen and almost happen. We see large mansions next to tent-like shacks. We see slum communities. We see temples, shrines, and mosques. We see gods and goddesses. We see ornate architecture and vibrant colors. We see palm trees. We see people on the street washing babies, clothes, and vegetables. We see bright garments hanging to dry. We see naked toddlers. We see people working—lifting, sawing, soldering. We see beautiful vegetation. We see men peeing. Everywhere.

The taste: We taste curry, hot peppers, tamarind, chilies, onions, garlic, and cilantro. We taste the cold yogurt sauces contrasting with the hot and spicy Southern Indian dishes.  We taste spices brought from the Middle East. We taste fried and oily snacks. We taste ghee. We taste dirt from our fingers when we eat with our right hand. We taste water that has been sitting too long in our water bottles. We taste very sweet desserts. We taste the occasional tear that made its way to our lips and the bug repellent on our faces that did the same. We taste sweet chai tea. We taste King Fisher beer. We taste wine that has gone bad. We taste succulent, new fruits. We taste onion and lime with every dish.

The touch: We feel hot dirt and sand on our feet as we walk down the street. We feel the warm bodies of others pressed up against ours in crowds, lines, buses, and while crammed in a rickshaw. We feel the hands of beggars tapping our shoulders. We feel the sun beating down and the sweat on our bodies. We feel the cool breeze at night. We feel the bumpiness of the rickshaw rides and the bruises we constantly acquire. We feel the headaches and stomach aches. We feel the itch of the mosquito bites. We feel the cold shower water. We feel a shock every time we turn on a faucet in our apartment, leaving our hands tingling for minutes. We feel our sore legs from sitting on the ground longer than we're used to. We feel soft silk and cotton fabric wrapped around our necks and bodies. We feel the cold tile on our bare feet. We feel our hearts race as we dodge another head-on collision. We feel relaxed after a session of rejuvenating yoga.