August 29, 2013
Who needs roller coasters when you can dart through the streets of Old Delhi in a rickshaw! We dodged oxen and monkeys, tuk-tuks and fellow rickshaws, cars and lorries. One-way streets with two-way traffic challenged the hordes , upon us beeping and rushing toward the Spice Market or the Wedding Street or the Silver Market. We held on for dear life!
Who's on first: the Moguls, Hindus, Muslims, or Brits? All have vied for power over time, but the Hindis are winning currently by a thread. Mosques and temples and churches abound. But the dead are the most honored ; they dominate the green spaces dotting the city. in sometimes forgotten cemeteries and ancient tombs, and sometimes in the gloriously preserved gardens and .memorials, well-guarded by the India army.
The contrast between the intensity of inner city rampant poverty and clutter and the grandeur of the surrounding wealth continues; also, in the mix is beloved Gandhi 's teachings of unity, simplicity, non-violence, and peace.
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| Humayun Tomb & Mosque |
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| Buddhist Temple with bird hospital |
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| Mosque |
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Wedding Street
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Delhi is, as so many have said:, color, vibrancy, contrasts, and pride. Delhi wants to be loved. Delhi captures your imagination and stretches your perceptions. Delhi breaths you in. .
Following you, Joanie and Carolyn with great enthusiasm. From your descrition, it sounds like you might have been able to walk to the school faster than driving! I'll share this with Karen as she visited her daughter, Jessica in Nepal where she was studying there.
ReplyDeleteHere it has been rainy (again), humid, and hot for several days. I told Kate on Friday when driving to Peggy's that we were living in a cloud which she thought was very funny. The Mitchell granddaughters have arrived with all their incipient enthusiasm! We'll share pics with them tomorrow night over pizza cooked in our outdoor oven.
Cheers,
Nan