Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Chak de India- My Days in Delhi
I arrived in India in the most comfortable way possible, with a friendly driver holding a sign with my name on it outside the Delhi airport. (I have never had someone waiting with a sign with my name on it before.) I stayed with my friend Vandini, her husband Rohit, and his family in a comfortable home in New Delhi near Lodi Gardens.
My first day I walked around the neighborhood visiting the tombs in the gardens, as well as the larger Safdarjang's Tomb.
On my second day I took an uniformative bus tour, in which I visited the beautiful Bahai Lotus temple, which some Australian tourists I met insist was inspired by the Sydney Opera House.
The next day I took a heritage tour of the Qutb Minar area, and adjacent Mehrauli Archaeological site.
My fourth day I visited the old city, forgetting of course that the Red Fort was closed, but winding my way through the streets to the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) just in time to hear the midday prayer call. I hid out in an ajacent restraunt until i was allowed in, where I witnessed the some last late prayers, napping, and washing.
Besides sightseeing I also went to see a hindi movie, "Chak de India" about a women's hockey team and went shopping and bought several kurtas (long tunic shirts) at Fab India and Anochi, and some beautiful tie died dupaatas (scarfs)at the Gujarati State Emporium.
On my last day, I had an allergic reaction to a bug bite, and my foot swelled up again (even worse than in Thailand). So I spent the day as a tourist at home, here in the Raj family living room, and visited a nice skin doctor at her home in the Defense Colony. The cheap twice daily doses of steroids, anti-allergic medication, anti-bacterial, and creams together cured in foot in a matter of days.
Overall am loving India and Delhi. despite a few mis-starts, and despite not seeing two of the major architectural sites of Delhi the Red Fort, and the New Delhi Capital Complex, I feel like I learned a lot of useful things here, like how to eat, how to dress, and how to hire a rickshaw. Now I am ready to go off on my own.
My first day I walked around the neighborhood visiting the tombs in the gardens, as well as the larger Safdarjang's Tomb.
On my second day I took an uniformative bus tour, in which I visited the beautiful Bahai Lotus temple, which some Australian tourists I met insist was inspired by the Sydney Opera House.
The next day I took a heritage tour of the Qutb Minar area, and adjacent Mehrauli Archaeological site.
My fourth day I visited the old city, forgetting of course that the Red Fort was closed, but winding my way through the streets to the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) just in time to hear the midday prayer call. I hid out in an ajacent restraunt until i was allowed in, where I witnessed the some last late prayers, napping, and washing.
Besides sightseeing I also went to see a hindi movie, "Chak de India" about a women's hockey team and went shopping and bought several kurtas (long tunic shirts) at Fab India and Anochi, and some beautiful tie died dupaatas (scarfs)at the Gujarati State Emporium.
On my last day, I had an allergic reaction to a bug bite, and my foot swelled up again (even worse than in Thailand). So I spent the day as a tourist at home, here in the Raj family living room, and visited a nice skin doctor at her home in the Defense Colony. The cheap twice daily doses of steroids, anti-allergic medication, anti-bacterial, and creams together cured in foot in a matter of days.
Overall am loving India and Delhi. despite a few mis-starts, and despite not seeing two of the major architectural sites of Delhi the Red Fort, and the New Delhi Capital Complex, I feel like I learned a lot of useful things here, like how to eat, how to dress, and how to hire a rickshaw. Now I am ready to go off on my own.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Last Days In London
It’s been a long time since my last post. So here are some images of what I have been up to in London.
Here are some pictures The Thames Festival on the Southbank (which included many performances from Tower Bridge to Waterloo) and the City Biking Festival (which shut down the streets for a day i the West End), both showing the people of London at play.
Here are some images from Open House Day, when the city opened up many of its famous and innovative building to the public. I toured and documented, the Lloyd’s of London Building.
Here are a few images from my stay in the south east suburbs of Richmond and Kew, where after working at the National archives, I explore the Thames shoreline and did a bit of jogging.
Here are some pictures The Thames Festival on the Southbank (which included many performances from Tower Bridge to Waterloo) and the City Biking Festival (which shut down the streets for a day i the West End), both showing the people of London at play.
Here are some images from Open House Day, when the city opened up many of its famous and innovative building to the public. I toured and documented, the Lloyd’s of London Building.
Here are a few images from my stay in the south east suburbs of Richmond and Kew, where after working at the National archives, I explore the Thames shoreline and did a bit of jogging.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Surrey with a Fringe on Top
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Location: Surrey, UK
Weather: Partly Cloudy
This weekend I explored beyond the bounds of London, gaining the ever so English experience of country life, by visiting market town, farm and village. First I visited the town of Guilford in the North Downs, to see its lively high street, hill top fortress, and lovely views. (And buying some delicious English strawberries.)
Later, I took a hike along the Wey river, one of the tributaries to the Thames. I had already walked along a lively path where the two rivers meet, along the shore at Weybridge, populated by walkers with strollers, runners, and fishers. Now I followed the tow-path upstream, to a quieter area passing a horse ranch, river boats, a priory, and an old a mill, as well as the less picturesque golf course.
Back in London I also enjoyed a walk through Chelsea, with its ornate Victorian row houses, which by the way cost about $1 million dollars to buy a one bedroom flat, or $650 a week to let a studio! (Housing costs in London went up 25% this year alone.) I followed the joggers across the river to Battersea Park where I nearly fainted from exhaustion, but dearly wished I had brought my running shoes and Ipod or tennis racket, so I could join in. That's all for now. Cheers!
Location: Surrey, UK
Weather: Partly Cloudy
This weekend I explored beyond the bounds of London, gaining the ever so English experience of country life, by visiting market town, farm and village. First I visited the town of Guilford in the North Downs, to see its lively high street, hill top fortress, and lovely views. (And buying some delicious English strawberries.)
Later, I took a hike along the Wey river, one of the tributaries to the Thames. I had already walked along a lively path where the two rivers meet, along the shore at Weybridge, populated by walkers with strollers, runners, and fishers. Now I followed the tow-path upstream, to a quieter area passing a horse ranch, river boats, a priory, and an old a mill, as well as the less picturesque golf course.
Back in London I also enjoyed a walk through Chelsea, with its ornate Victorian row houses, which by the way cost about $1 million dollars to buy a one bedroom flat, or $650 a week to let a studio! (Housing costs in London went up 25% this year alone.) I followed the joggers across the river to Battersea Park where I nearly fainted from exhaustion, but dearly wished I had brought my running shoes and Ipod or tennis racket, so I could join in. That's all for now. Cheers!
Bank Holiday
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Location: Islington, London, UK
Weather: Sunny
The sun came out, and so did all of London to celebrate one of the last weekends of summer. It was a Bank Holiday Monday, so a three day weekend, and the first sunny one since I arrived. On the Southbank, Londoners and tourists alike swarmed the parks and public spaces, and even the temporary beach at low tide to take advantage of the sun.
I started the weekend with a visit to Kew Gardens, famous for some of the first and most amazing Green Houses, i.e. Palm House below. They also had an amazing Minka House imported from Japan, that somehow in my wonderment I forgot to take a photo of. :(
On Monday, I went to a dance weekend at the Watch This Space, and open air performance space outside the National Theater. In the continued celebrations of India Now! (the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Indian independence) they had a whole day of classical Indian dance performances, Bangra music, and Bollywood dance lessons. I ended up partnered with a 70-year old lady (playing the male part too!) but I had a great time. And I now know you can Samba to Bangra music, and true to the hybrid nature of cultural events here, I wasn’t the only one (one of the Bollywood performers seemed to be Brazilian.) Well, I hope the weather stays good for more urban adventures! Cheers!
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