My goodness August has sneaked up on me but I´m already making plans for Christmas, what´s going on??

This shot comes from Calcutta taken at the end of last year and shows a Rickshaw Puller sitting in his cart in Calcutta.

1/50 sec, f4, ISO 160. 22mm, 1Ds MIKII. Calcutta, India. December 2009

Rickshaw Pullers lead incredibly difficult lives, of that there is no question. In almost every other part of the world this form of transport has been made illegal due to the strenuous conditions they face.  Working in such extreme environments, pulling heavy loads & passengers in weather ranging from temperatures that often  reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to the monsoon floods that can last for months. The constant pounding of the Pullers feet and hands as he runs with his cart across the pit holed roads of Calcutta, receiving very little pay, its difficult not to feel for these folk.

These Rickshaw Pullers are now seeking new ways of making a living & can often be found hanging around tourist areas and are slowly becoming more of a tourist attraction than anything else, charging well over the odds to transport tourists. Is this a positive move? Well I believe so, the Pullers are leaving a better style of life, even if it is spoiling what many would consider the real India. I´d love to know your thoughts on this, its a complex subject and would appreciate you comments.

Anyway the wallpaper

download it here:  1024×768 | 1440×900 | 2560×1600

Tags: The streets of India, Travel, wallpaper