Sam's BlogLet Sam motivate you and read his lastest musings and observations.

My first trip to India just earlier this year was a true eye opener as I experienced so many things about India. It was a life changing experience for me and I have been forever changed and impacted by this first experience.

This trip I’m learning more about the Indian way and the culture that it currently lives by. I think India is a split culture. On one hand you have the religious traditional culture that has been ingrained into the Indian way for hundreds and thousands of years. But there is NOW another side of India, which is currently predominantly within Metropolitan regions at the moment but spreading fast around the entire country of India. It’s the entertainment and media industry that is beginning to take over from the traditional religious culture.

GET THIS…. To buy the most read newspaper in India it costs less then 10cents (4 Rupee). To buy a movie ticket in India is less than $2(50-80 Rupee). They have made it accessible to everyone and this influence is shaping the NEW India.

Just in the last couple of days in Delhi (the capital of India) there has been a Leadership Summit of all the most influential and powerful people in all of India, the true leaders within India that has dominant influence. The ex President of the United States, George W Bush, was one of the keynote speakers. But one thing which I noticed made all the media and attention was the Bollywood actors and singers. It was a select few of the most dominant and recognizable faces of the entertainment industry as part of the Leadership Summit…

I have been watching a little TV while here to understand more about the Indian way, and I noticed that most of the channels were music videos and movies where the same celebrities starred. After doing some more research I found that there are about 10 celebrity entertainers that are so popular and dominant that they are alone shaping the NEW Indian culture and pop culture. It is NOW huge! the way Indians idolize these celebrities is more then anywhere in the world, I’ve found. If you can influence these people you can influence India!!!! (My Goal in the next year is to meet some of these people!)

Today I’m flying to Kolkata, which I’ve been told is the true heart of India. I’m going to see my parents and a lot of my family who flew in earlier. The last few days have been a little blurry as when you travel here you most certainly get diarrhea and I’ve been busy with some speaking engagements and media attention here. My guides and party that organized my trip here have been exceptional. They have organized drivers everywhere we go and would just do anything for you. I have hardly carried a suitcase as they insist to do everything for you. I trust them as I have a good and strong relationship with them all.

Did you know?

Delhi, the capital of India has the same population in the one city as the entire population of Australia.
It is hard to find a western toilet in country and rural India as many of the are squat toilets or no toilet at all. I remember when I was on a train the other day. I saw 20 or 30 people all spread out over this paddock all squatting. I thought what the heck are these people doing… then I saw the pants around their ankles or the dresses lifted up. It was a very interesting site to ay the least!

Attached a photo: Look at the back ground of this photo… You have to wonder how the heck did that cow get on top of that!!!! (This picture is quite a standard site in many areas around India)

How did that cow get up there?