Incredible India.

November 13, 2015

Incredible India!

• I saw that today on a city bus and decided it was pretty accurate.

 

 



At YVR waiting to begin my journey.

KLM Airlines from Vancouver to Amsterdam, then on to New Delhi.

I arrived here sometime in the middle of the night last night after 16 hours flying and a 13 1/2 hour time change.      



In Amsterdam airport just long enough to admire the tulips everywhere.

Ambassador Hotel in New Delhi.

 
 
 

The room was quiet, just the gentle humming of the ceiling fan. Faint rays of sun tried to peak through the thick silk of the draperies. It was a good sleep, albeit very brief. Then I remembered, I am in India!  It was dark when I got in last night, or more correctly early this morning so I didn't have a chance to see anything.  Pulling back the drapes I see there is a glass door onto some type of little balcony. I see that it just opens onto a central courtyard centred around a type of round tower, all part of the hotel and not that inviting. The small amount of the sky I can see is a hazy of smog and the smell of smog and smoke lingers in the air.

 

Today is a free day before we start our workshop and tour tomorrow so I set out the explore the surrounding area.

 

 

 Just a short walk away is the Khan Market,  mix between a strip mall and market stalls. Little shops selling everything from pashminas and saris to fruits, vegetables and children's toys... Even India Barbie!

What strikes me is the beautiful fabrics, brilliant colored silks and cottons. The women all wear traditional saris and tunics with flowing scarves. However, most of the men just wear jeans and shirts. The only turbans are on the older men. I am told that most of the younger ones no longer wear them, except for the Sikhs.

Renting a taxi for the afternoon for the grand sum of 77 Rupees (about $20) I decide to go to the Central Market, a larger market where the locals shop, mostly for fabrics. It is in the older downtown area, about a 20 minute taxi ride in relentless traffic. Cabs, trucks, motorcycles, tuktuks, rickshaws and bicycles are all competing for lanes on a two lane thoroughfare, the incessant blaring of horns until my ears were ringing.

It seems funny to see families riding on a motorbike, the dad driving with a helmet on, the mom sitting side saddle with her silk sari billowing behind her a one or two little children tucked in between them, only the dad with a helmet. Can you imagine that in Canada!













At the Central market there are street after street of stalls offering brightly colored fabrics and clothing. It is all locals, I seem to be the only white person around.

 

 The saris are so bright and colorful and beautiful. I am so tempted to buy one. It must feel amazing to wear one. But I resist, so far!


From there we continue on. I want to see the Lotus Temple which is an amazing piece of architecture, constructed in the shape of a lotus flower. My driver braves the traffic once again and we wind in and out amid the never ending chaos and din.

The streets are dirty and dusty. The smog hangs in the air. I can feel it in my throat and nostrils. There is a lot of garbage everywhere, but so far no cows in the street!

The Bahaii Lotus Temple.

Nearby is the Indian National Arts Factory and Market. Here hundreds of workers make beautiful pashmina and silk scarves, wall hangings, bedding, table runners and clothing. As well as the ornate jewellery that is as big a part of their dress as the sari itself. Semi precious and precious stones, silver, gold. Here the fabrics are fine and soft, natural wools, pashmina, silks, not the cheaper synthetics and blends of the mass market. But also much more expensive.

Just a little taste of India so far and I have come away with some impressions, perhaps not valid or lasting, but first impressions nonetheless:

- There are a lot of people here. I am told there are as many people in the Delhi area as all of Canada.

- I am quite surprised at the widespread use of English, not only being spoken but also most of the signs are in English. It seems more Anglicized than Surrey or Richmond these days.

- It is dirty and dusty and smoggy and garbage along the roadsides and streets everywhere.

- There certainly are not the rules and regulations we have in North America. Families on motorcycles with no helmets or protection for the kids. Kids sitting on the parents knee on the front seat of cars just like we used to do decades ago.

- The noise level of the traffic makes your ears ring and head hurt after a while. But that's because there are just so many people and so many cars all trying to get wherever they are going on congested motorways. Traffic moves quite quickly and I have yet to see an accident.

- The people are friendly and happy. Most speak at least a degree of English and are not hesitant to communicate with you in English. That makes it much easier to get around.

- It is interesting, fascinating, stimulating all your senses at once. The sight of the brilliant colors not the way the people dress. The touch of the silks and soft cottons. The noise of the honking horns in traffic. The smell of the smog in the air and spicy smells wafting from the restaurants and kitchens. And the taste of the distinctly Indian spices and foods. (Yes, I had Tandoori chicken for dinner along with coconut chutney and cucumber yogurt to cool the heat of the spice!)


I can't wait to dig a little deeper into this fascinating culture, to learn more about and experience the traditions and culture at a deeper level. 

Come With Me.....


-