It's just mad!
Trip Start
Aug 21, 2006
1
55
70
Trip End
Dec 18, 2006
New Dehli,
India
Monday, November 20, 2006
Spent from around 11am until 6:30pm driving all around Dehli seeing stuff. First we saw a large Hindu Temple, Birla Mandir. Some drama surrounding the use of cameras and cell phones but once that got worked out, off went my shoes and I explored the temple a bit. Probably only about 5 non Indians there. Many stares!
Then moved on to the National Museum with a severse two-tiered pricing structure: 30Rs for Indians, 600 Rs for Foreigners
01-Humayun's Tomb
. Quite scandalous if you ask me. I certainly don't mind paying more and expect it but such an upcharge is unprecedented on my trip to date with the exception of perhaps some sites in Tibet. Lots of stone carvings, sculpture, archeological site findings, textiles and crafts and some lovely detailed paintings. Had to pay to bring my camera in so I snapped away at the contents (no flash of course).While driving along the broad boulevards near the government buildings saw the India Gate, which is similar to the Arc D'Triomphe (sp) in Paris. Went to Humayums Tomb, next, a mini Taj Majal. In fact, it is said to be an inspiration for the Taj itself. It was built by his widow Haji Begum in 1565-66. It's quite elegant and striking. Fountains and waterworks and rectilinear water channels run on axis on each side.
Next, we went to far South Dehli to the Qutub Minar. This structure was built in 1199A.D. by a Muslim King, Qutab-ud-din Aibak. Later finished by another Muslim King, Iltutmish. The Minar, tower, is 72.5 meters high and there is a mosque at its base.
We stopped at the Kashmir Haat for some shopping and I got carried away by the amazing carpets and bought one...which I later regretted and spent a few hours the following day getting returned and my money refunded
02-Qutub Minar
. Apparently it isn't possible to just issue a credit to the card after the batch is closed on the transaction??? So after a long expensive phone call to Wells Fargo then a call to the local bank, we came up with an acceptable solution for the credit / refund. In the process I got to know the men running place much better. They were Muslims from Kashmir and they explained some of the details of the problems in the region while we waited for the accountant to show up. Apparently they don't give refunds very often. I think I was lucky!The streets are totally mad...but the drivers are completely without ego it seems. Cars and people and other vehicles going every which way but no one seems to care that they are getting cut off and honked at about 10 times per minute narrowly missing pedestrians, animals (dogs and cows).
We stopped at a deserted ghost town of a market (lower level stores with offices above). The locals were playing cricket in the dirt at the center of the parking lot. Trash was blowing everywhere as we tried to locate the ATM. Was feeling really good about taking out cash in this environment. Glad to have had my driver with me. A young beggar came up to me after I got back in the car. His skin on the left side of his body including his arm was all stretched scar tissue with a light white coating on it. It looked like he was in a current state of actual decay with mold on his skin. It was horrible.
At around sunset we visited the Lotus Temple, a Bahai Temple in the shape of a large white lotus flower. Spectacular at sunset. Long lines of locals waiting to get into the temple...shoes off of course.
It was Sunday so there were people swarming all of the sites. So many beautiful saris and other traditional Indian dress in different colors and designs. Quite elegant and lovely. Really quite elegant! Much nicer than traditional western wear (what is that really anyway?) Everybody seems to stare...like they have never seen a blond westerner before. People are quite nice though when they are not incessantly following me trying to sell me stuff!
