Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Delhi Round Up.
There is a lot to report on. Shopping bazaars. Poverty. AMAZING historic sites. The bliss of eating anything (no we have not been sick, not once). This strange brew that is Delhi, a true clash of east meets west and past meets present at a scale that is not fathomable in the United States. Commercials for the morning after pill ("Nah unexpected pregnancy. Nah abortion," says the voiceover at the end of the ad, and a young woman's expression shifts from panic to relief).
We're working on posting about our various experiences and observations. We've got digital photos and a few digital recordings (of the traffic described in the post below), and hopefully we'll be able to post some of these soon.
We've been in Delhi since Saturday night (May 23) and we leave tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 28). We'll take a bus to Chandigarh, which is the capital city in the state of Punjab. We'll visit with my dad's brother, two of my mom's sisters and my cousin's husband who is in Chandigarh trying to get to her in the states. We'll also explore the many gardens and Le Corbusier's architectural legacy. From there, we head into the hill stations of the Himalayan Mountains where we'll get some relief from the heat (107 degrees F/42 degrees C today!).
Here is a fact - the joke about Indians running on IST time is no joke. Days do not get started until 11 a.m.; though people seem to wake early, they ease into the day. Nights end around 1 or 2 a.m. (I think that I could actually get used to days that run on this schedule.) IST, it seems to me, is a mentality, and it spills over into the rate at which business is conducted, how efficiently tasks are completed (like obtaining a cell phone), etc.
Well, it's 12:30 p.m., so I guess we better get our day started! Maybe we'll pause for some hot chai first. We are having a wonderful time, and I can already tell that it feels as if we'll need another month.
We're working on posting about our various experiences and observations. We've got digital photos and a few digital recordings (of the traffic described in the post below), and hopefully we'll be able to post some of these soon.
We've been in Delhi since Saturday night (May 23) and we leave tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 28). We'll take a bus to Chandigarh, which is the capital city in the state of Punjab. We'll visit with my dad's brother, two of my mom's sisters and my cousin's husband who is in Chandigarh trying to get to her in the states. We'll also explore the many gardens and Le Corbusier's architectural legacy. From there, we head into the hill stations of the Himalayan Mountains where we'll get some relief from the heat (107 degrees F/42 degrees C today!).
Here is a fact - the joke about Indians running on IST time is no joke. Days do not get started until 11 a.m.; though people seem to wake early, they ease into the day. Nights end around 1 or 2 a.m. (I think that I could actually get used to days that run on this schedule.) IST, it seems to me, is a mentality, and it spills over into the rate at which business is conducted, how efficiently tasks are completed (like obtaining a cell phone), etc.
Well, it's 12:30 p.m., so I guess we better get our day started! Maybe we'll pause for some hot chai first. We are having a wonderful time, and I can already tell that it feels as if we'll need another month.
Lotus temple
Yesterday we went to the Lotus Temple in Delhi. One of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen, excellent quality of construction and largely built by hand!
Holy Cow!
Chris and I play a game in the states called "Two Points." This is how we play. Whenever one of us sees a Sikh man in a turban, we call out, "Two points." The game has no end. There are infinite points allowed. 's sort of like playing the card game War. Pointless and never ending.
We decided on the plane that trying to play Two Points in India would be impossible. So instead we decided on a new game called "Holy Cow." Anytime we see a cow, we are to call out, "Holy Cow."
But for days we saw no cows in Delhi.
Instead we have seen the glorious madness that is Delhi traffic. Bicycle rickshaws, busses, automobiles (which, with the exception of some newer Honda SUVs, and some sedan Benzes appearing here and there, are compact to mini sized cars), tiny toy-like taxicabs, swarms of moter cycles and pedestrians of all ages share the roads - every road including the highways. There are no lanes, and where lanes are marked they are not observed.
The night of our arrival, my cousin's husband drove us through this traffic maze. It was midnight on Saturday (May 23), and cars weaved and zoomed in between each other, drivers keeping one hand on the steering wheel and one pressed down on the horn at all times. It's like being inside a game of Frogger, or any video game where you are dodging bullets.
On Tuesday, as we were again zooming terrified and excited in the traffic, I remarked, "I guess there are no cows in Delhi."
Chris answered, "They all got smart and decided to get out of this traffic."
That evening, my cousin dropped us off at my aunt's house after a full day of sightseeing and shopping. Chris and I were walking up to my aunt's door, passing the little square park that is situated in front of her building. We were exhausted and sticky with old sweat. I looked into the park.
"Have you ever noticed that sculpture?" I asked Chris, nonchalant as could be. It was a gigantic black figure and the sun was shining down on it.
"I don't see a sculpture, but I see a cow." Then quickly, while I stood processing the still beast in front of my, Chris exclaimed, "Holy cow!" and she lazily turned her head to us.
Holy Cow.
We decided on the plane that trying to play Two Points in India would be impossible. So instead we decided on a new game called "Holy Cow." Anytime we see a cow, we are to call out, "Holy Cow."
But for days we saw no cows in Delhi.
Instead we have seen the glorious madness that is Delhi traffic. Bicycle rickshaws, busses, automobiles (which, with the exception of some newer Honda SUVs, and some sedan Benzes appearing here and there, are compact to mini sized cars), tiny toy-like taxicabs, swarms of moter cycles and pedestrians of all ages share the roads - every road including the highways. There are no lanes, and where lanes are marked they are not observed.
The night of our arrival, my cousin's husband drove us through this traffic maze. It was midnight on Saturday (May 23), and cars weaved and zoomed in between each other, drivers keeping one hand on the steering wheel and one pressed down on the horn at all times. It's like being inside a game of Frogger, or any video game where you are dodging bullets.
On Tuesday, as we were again zooming terrified and excited in the traffic, I remarked, "I guess there are no cows in Delhi."
Chris answered, "They all got smart and decided to get out of this traffic."
That evening, my cousin dropped us off at my aunt's house after a full day of sightseeing and shopping. Chris and I were walking up to my aunt's door, passing the little square park that is situated in front of her building. We were exhausted and sticky with old sweat. I looked into the park.
"Have you ever noticed that sculpture?" I asked Chris, nonchalant as could be. It was a gigantic black figure and the sun was shining down on it.
"I don't see a sculpture, but I see a cow." Then quickly, while I stood processing the still beast in front of my, Chris exclaimed, "Holy cow!" and she lazily turned her head to us.
Holy Cow.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Needle in the Eye.
When we arrive at JFK on Thursday my friend Ragini picks us up and carts us off to the East Brunswick, New Jersey burbs to meet her mom and sister and to give us a good night's rest. The next day, after driving us around for a series of pre-trip big box errands, we go to her nearest "little India" for a tiny taste of what is to come.
"I need to get my brows done," I had told her earlier in the week.
"Great. There's a threading place we can go to. It's only three bucks. Or, there's another place nearby that's a little more. Maybe four bucks." Literally, only a little more.
When I tell Chris I'm getting my brows threaded, he asks how they do it.
"I think they take a needle and poke it through the top layer of your skin and the thread loops around the hairs. Then they yank the needle and pull it all out at once." This is a lie. I have no idea how threading works, but I'm pretty sure there's not really a needle involved.
Do you know how threading works? Regardless of the technical aspects, aesthetically, it works much better than waxing, and it's a good $16 cheaper. After the threading, I feel so India ready - having done as the Indians do. We all go eat some Indian food and then rush back to Ragini's house to get our luggage and go to the airport for the longest flight ever.
"I need to get my brows done," I had told her earlier in the week.
"Great. There's a threading place we can go to. It's only three bucks. Or, there's another place nearby that's a little more. Maybe four bucks." Literally, only a little more.
When I tell Chris I'm getting my brows threaded, he asks how they do it.
"I think they take a needle and poke it through the top layer of your skin and the thread loops around the hairs. Then they yank the needle and pull it all out at once." This is a lie. I have no idea how threading works, but I'm pretty sure there's not really a needle involved.
Do you know how threading works? Regardless of the technical aspects, aesthetically, it works much better than waxing, and it's a good $16 cheaper. After the threading, I feel so India ready - having done as the Indians do. We all go eat some Indian food and then rush back to Ragini's house to get our luggage and go to the airport for the longest flight ever.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Chris and Herpreet's Big Adventure Begins.
I forget my jacket in the car when I arrive at the Austin airport and have to call our friend who then turns around and returns to the airport. Chris goes on to the security check while I wait at the check-in area.
By the time I have my jacket again and am in the security check line, Chris and I are texting furiously.
WHERE R U?
in security line. where r u?
PLANE BOARDS @ 12:35. (text received at 12:20)
go 2 gate without me. i'll meet u there.
I M IN LINE.
what line? security or at gate?
SECURITY.
i don't c u in the line.
***
The crossed signals continue while I wait behind 35 teenage soccer players who have all chosen to wear laced up tennis shoes to the airport. Bright idea, boys.
As soon as I make it through the check (12:38), I begin running to the gate. I make it there and Chris and I are reunited.
I-exhale-Need-inhale-Water-exhale...
The steward looks at me. "You've got time for water. We boarded the plane early."
I look around at the empty gate area. Apparently, all of the passengers have arrived early enough to also board the plane during its early boarding call.
We would have had to arrive at the airport 3 hours late to really be on IST, but we're definitely getting into the mindset.
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