The nice things beyond the seas

Back in the day, when Indians used to travel abroad, they would buy products that weren't available here. The latest nike shoes, the levis jeans, a sony TV. After 1991, we started getting this here too so it is no longer so valuable. Snacks are another category which could be considered as something that has lost its value but it has mixed results, with some being available domestically and some not. So it continues to come back as gifts or souvenir. But what are today's nice things beyond the sea?

1. Quiet and peace compared to the Noise here - Its loud in most parts of the country reaching undesirable levels quite frequently. Whenever I go abroad, what I love more than anything else is the drop in noise pollution. From the lack of honking, to lack of construction noise, to no dogs barking, to no one talking loudly, it all just feels so nice.
2. Order & Chaos - I feel India is so much more chaotic with so much going on. You step outside, there's bikes rushing past, auto's honking, so many people walking (the population density is so high), potholes, open wires, lot of under constructed things. Its excessive and it feels out of control. In foreign lands, its orderly and structured which I personally love.
3. Civic Sense - People respecting other's personal space, waiting in lines, just being polite, nice to each other, its just limited to top 1% of the country. For the most part, we don't care about how our actions impact others. Overpopulation and poverty has led to a "survival of the fittest" mentality. We will liter, touch others, push others, not wait, not properly use public spaces, using up all the resources, maintaining decorum in public places, Obeying traffic laws, Paying taxes and avoiding corrupt practices, all this is limited to the very few here while abroad its better. In my recent trip to Thailand, a small act of taking a U-Turn to drop me at the exact location I had setup in my taxi app really stood out for me. Here in India, drivers stop on the opposite side and expect you to cross over while in Thailand they go to the exact location.
4. Air Pollution - Most of all I feel this in Delhi with other cities having some of it.
5. Women's Freedom and Rights - You can tell how free women feel when they travel to developed countries. They are more free, like themselves, safe and comfortable. Back here, you can sense they feel eyes on them and feel threatened and judged.

Most of this is due to people's behavior and attitudes. Unlike changing laws that brought in foreign goods, this is harder to change this. Perhaps over generations this might change as we get more educated, richer, travel abroad and most of all mimic what other people do. Stronger enforcement of rules and laws can also lead to betterment. A lot of it is due to Overpopulation and being Poor in my view.