Shake - N - Wake

Trip Start Nov 21, 2007
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Trip End Dec 30, 2007


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Flag of India  ,
Monday, November 26, 2007

4:42 AM, said the ticker below the news reporter that I could not understand, was when the earthquake hit Delhi!  It was a small one, really- Either 4.2 or 4.3 on the Richter, but it was enough to wake me up and lasted long enough for me to have way too much time to contemplate whether being on the first floor of my guest house or the top floor was best, and if doorways in this neighborhood would count as necessarily "safer" or "not safer at all".  After the rumbling stopped, I sort of waited for more, and when there was no more, I braved indecency (wearing little more than a tank top and shorts to sleep in) and poked my head and relative bear shoulders out to see how the guys in the lobby (where they sleep) were reacting.  One guy was up and looking outside, the other 2 were on their cots and still laying down.  I was sort of waved back in to my room and figured this was the sign for, "No biggie."  So.  Took me an hour and change or so to fall back asleep and it's over and done with!  Seems India's getting it's bumps in the road out of the way for me.  Actually the funny thing is that when I went to bed last night, I was thinking that I was pretty comfortable here, all things considered, and then there comes an earthquake.  Well, Universe, fine, I just won't get too comfortable!!

Yesterday was a whirlwind of sightseeing- the guys at the hotel lined up a driver for me and I was whisked around to most of the big sites in town.  I'd hired him for eight hours and was grateful that he suggested we stop early (it was getting dark) because I was absolutely whipped.  Saw...  A temple that I can't remember the name of, newer, and I think Sikh, Indira Ghandi's museum (where she used to live) including where she was assassinated, Mahatmar Ghandi's assassination spot- Raj Ghat- marked with a black marble square and a flame- lots of flowers tossed on it- and...the Lotus Temple, (Bahai Faith- very new building), India Gate, which was built after WWII and has the names of the lost soldiers all over it (think Vietnam Memorial), and then two shopping places- both sort of state mandated, so no bargaining (and MUCH calmer / quality assured than anything on the street) where I bought my obligatory sari (oh, I'll be wearing THAT every day, smart, smart purchase) and a few pashminas.  No business transpires here without taking tea, so I sipped chai while these poor guys laid out probably hundreds of pashminas and saris- I hated to disappoint by buying so few- but I'm broke, so..  There you go.  It was so much less crazy than on the street though, and while I probably paid more there, I have to believe it was worth it.  Anyway.  Ran out of time and energy and I was really ready to catch a bite and call it a day.  It was the last day of a festival yesterday, and I still can't really figure out what the festival was.  Somebody's birthday and I think it was Sikh though also celebrated by Hindus.  I'll figure it out.  It's not in this damn book, and despite really kind tries to tell me what was going on, I still don't really understand!

So anyway, got back to the guest house and chatted with Kinnar (the guy mainly stationed at the travel desk) and his friend was there, who manages a rooftop restaurant at the end of the strip here in Paharganj, so I went with him while Kinnar fooled with my jump drive (he borrowed to put music on his computer) and it was pretty neat- rooftop by myself, occasional fireworks launching in to the air marking the last day of whatever the hell festival.  I had a really delicious kashmir paneer and garlic naan.. mmmm..  Lukewarm Kingfisher beer and then Kinnar met me there with my jump drive and we walked back to the guest house.  I now have 1,500 Indian songs on my drive.  I hope there's room enough to keep them all by the time I get back.  I can always have someone burn them to CD for me to make room for pictures.

Well, I stopped at this internet place to get my first pic CD made- also gave them my drive to put the pix on there too- and nobody's back yet.  Hmm.  Guess I'll check email quick here and then see what's up with the CD bit...  I'll come back and post pictures later... I hope!
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