I flew out of Dharamshala late Thursday afternoon and arrived in Delhi just before dark - yellow smoggy, off smelling Delhi. Wild traffic did not "freak" me as it did the first time.
I am in a flat with 7 others in a triple this time - three beds. We have a TV, and oh yes a microwave - I have missed that convenience, and nonfat milk (I know but after 8 weeks of whole milk it is a real blessing). Current volunteers walked Kai and I around market and got a bit oriented...so easy to get lost. I bought a magazine and found a Daily Goods store and Big Apple grocery where I proceeded to buy some Daliya (porrage mix)....we pretty much do our own breakfasts here, though the cooks do great lunch and dinner. First lunch was FISH CURRY!!! - I have so missed fish and totally pigged out on this.
Kai and I went out Friday (other new vols were arriving later, so we had one more day together - we were flatmates in D/shala). We went to Lotus Temple (those watching Amazing Race - this where they were), and Qutb Minar (very old structure from the Muslim Sultinate and Mogul times. Lotus Temple is the big one for the B'hai Faith (they believe all religions are basically the same - just with different prophets and words of God). The museum there was very interesting -they did not have many postcards - no photos allowed inside - but we will return as a group and I will probably buy the "book".
The seats were a hot flashing woman's dream - sorry guys - Marble floors, marble seats and open wood backed pews! Beautiful religion emblem in the ceiling, showing the integration of man, God, and the word of God and the world. I will try and find it to paste in some time.
We have a great computer at the flat that is pretty fast too -so no more internet cafe's for me.
Between the Lotus and Outb Minar we had to bully our way through rickshaw drivers who either wanted too many rupees for where we were going (got estimate from CCS staff) or wanted to take us "shopping" - they drive you to a shop where they get a commission, etc....very challenging when six are around two of you - you really have to be firm.
The Qutb Minar was built between 1100 and 1300 and is being restored. The pillar is awesome. There are many different buildings in different states of repair...It costs 250 Rs to get in for foreigners (only 10 Rs for Indians)- this is true of most sites including the Taj (25 Rs for Indians and 700 or so for foreigners).
I do feel more of a foreigner here and the "big city" is hard to miss- though I have yet to see skyscrapers, etc. It is over 300 kms (200 miles) around Delhi area, so things are quite spread out. I got a Delhi map and am getting oriented.
I will be working with children of migrant workers at the rebuilding of the Nehru Stadium (mobile creches are set up to help keep the children of the workers safe and give them some socialization and education while their parents are working). I will be working with a lovely woman from the UK (no time yet for pictures- they are coming). It will be challenging - various respiratory bugs and head lice are a problem here - so I will have to keep eating lots of oranges and pomegranates (cheap and plentiful).
Sorry for the lack of detail...this was a trial run of the computer here.
I have found a bookstore close by (across the Metro they are building and a very busy 8 lane street - with challenging crossing but doable. The owner and I chatted and I got a "bookstore discount" on my two books I bought- I will return there - it is small and crowded but full of interesting stuff. Mostly the covers are British and paperbacks run 350-575 Rs (about $7-12 US). They have more current books in paperback - ones still in the US in Hardcover (sorry for those non-bookies - this is for my Bookstore friends!)
Off to get "oriented" and will probably blog more. Questions and requests are welcome. Thanks to those that have.
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