Welterweights

When I was growing up, I somehow managed to watch a fair amount of boxing, much of it with my father. I have his general preference for middleweights over heavyweights, for example. But most people turn out for the heavyweight fights. Which class is better, now that's the question.

Which is the way I feel about India's armed forces. Sure, the army's the heavyweight. They've clearly got a PR machine, where they whip out classic one-liners ("how's my parking" indeed). But consider if you will the Coast Guard and the Air Force. Nimble, thrifty, forced to compete with a juggernaut. And what do they turn out?

Are you ok with swagger? Confidence? Are you maybe thinking "Talk to me Goose!" Yes, baby, top gun. Top Gun! What are these guys' nicknames? Not Dimple, not Baby. No, these are men who are ready to face the challenge. Air Warriors. (In other news, I hope you can see this picture, at least when you get the larger version. Shooting pics from a rickshaw is tough sometimes. And they don't really understand when you say, "Ooh! Pull over so I can take a picture of that ad."

Next! Here's a counterpuncher for you. Swarming all over you, throwing you a hook, shouting "Feel the Thrill, sucka!" Ok, they're not doing that at all. But you have to give the Coast Guard credit, they manage to get more images onto a billboard than any of the other services. They seem to be saying, "we can afford all kinds of stuff, check it out." I don't know, I associate "feel the thrill" more with maybe bungee jumping, but maybe that's what the new Indian generation is all about? Of course, what's the US Coast Guard catch phrase? I don't know either....

I still haven't found a navy. Maybe the coast guard is the navy? I don't think so, as I believe the Indians and the Chinese recently held joint naval exercises, but that's just a stray memory from somewhere.

Anyway, judge as you like. I'll try to pop a few more pictures up if I can. I love this place.