Blake Plastering®

As part of The Ocean Cleanup’s expansion into India, I got to spend some time there earlier this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really fell in love with the country! A few travel notes from a first-time visitor: - There is a degree of chaos unlike anything I’ve experienced. Yet, paradoxically, I found there’s something strangely soothing about it. It invites you to let go of the instinct to control and systematize everything; clearly, society can function without it. The intensity also forces you to be truly present by crowding out whatever is preoccupying your mind. - Then, the roads. You’ll regularly see trucks overtaking trucks that are overtaking a car which is already in the opposing lane because it’s avoiding a cow. - Especially outside the biggest cities, you really stand out as a Westerner. I’ve never been asked to pose for so many selfies merely because of how I look. - I generally found people exceptionally helpful, hardworking and very direct. As a Dutch person, I can appreciate that last part. - India is *loud*. As someone who is sensitive to noise, I was basically wearing noise-cancelling earphones all the time. - Yes, India has a waste problem, although in general it didn’t seem worse than what I’ve seen in the other countries we operate in. I think a city like Mumbai is a top plastic emitter mainly because of the combination of its sheer population, the monsoon and inadequate waste collection in the many informal parts of the city.