Part 2: The Bovines

Riding down the streets of Bangalore, I have seen many, many, many...cows. The first week I was here, I was so worried that I would see one get hit, as back home cows are just simply not on the sidewalk. I would cringe as we passed one who was dangling a hoof off the sidewalk.....about to make her move. I was constantly thinking "Oh, no". Expecting the worst. And if I see a cow get hit, I will simply not.make.it.to.work. (from an emotional perspective!) And upon seeing cows in the medians of busy streets, I wondered, "How did they cross this busy street to get there?". During the first 2 days I was here, I discussed these cows, again, with everyone I met. After being here, at present, over 30 days, I have not seen one get hit, and also have found out that there is a hefty fine if you do hit one. So this fact, along with the people loving the cows as a rule, keeps them out of a lot of the danger and a little more protected, as they are higly regarded. Also, most interesting, when cows DO make their move.....and head into the street....and the traffic is obviously still moving.....I have seen them pick up the pace in a way that I had never imagined a cow could. The pictures above are of the cows that graze behind the building where I work. They are literally 200 yards away from the building! I took these pictures today from the 3rd floor. There is a daily migration of a herd that passes through, with a cowboy and little herding dog, rope (?) and everything. I love it when I see them all go by. Somehow I don't think this particular cowboy is listening to Kenny Chesney on his headphones.....