India

I have quite literally fled for the hills.
My third day in Delhi, I felt much more capable of dealing with the press of humanity, the noise, and smells that permeate Delhi. Still I was happy to get to my train. Once again I was saved by the advice of my friend Vish, who [...]

Soon I will try to get some pictures uploaded, but in the meantime I want to give a few quick snapshots of things i have found interesting:
From the Minaar (tower) at the Masjid in Delhi, I noticed the colors of the buildings for the first time. Each was washed with a color: blue, green, [...]

Mussoorie is a Raj-era hill station (where the British and well-to-do vacationed in the hot summers), which sprawls along a ridge in the foothills of the Himalayas. Start at the Mussoorie Bazaar, which is full of craft, clothing and gift shops and restaurants which cater to the honeymooning Indians. The bazaar has almost [...]

Please let me vent a bit about the weather. The monsoon is stubbornly holding on — it came late and fully intends to get its due. Every day there are intermittant showers. I don’t mind the rain…it sounds beautiful on the metal roof of the hotel. But the humidity has me [...]

It is 2 in the afternoon and I am sitting at a small cafe cum store in an area called “Char Dukan” (literally “Four Stores”). My hotel is fairly secluded, and this is the closest commercial area on the way down to town.

My hotel as I first saw it.

My friends Inam (seated) and his younger brother Islam in their tailor shop. From his spot in the window, Inam has a view of everybody coming up the street. There is a constant flow of people stopping to say “hi” and/or coming into his shop. He makes friends with every foreigner who [...]

A view of Mussoorie at sunset. I managed to snap this on one of the few days where there was a nice view during the day. Mornings have tended to be the only time when the sun shines.

On Sunday I saw the Ganges river for the first time. Three friends and I took a taxi and spent the day in Rishikesh (where the Beatles went to meet the Maharishi in the 1960s). It is a popular pilgrimage spot for Indians, and a yoga and meditation mecca for westerners. There [...]

I am exhausted! This weekend was the anniversary celebration for the local Gurudwara (Sikh temple). I went Friday night and did Seewa (selfless service). I helped to prepare and serv dinner, which is offered to all who show up. For meals in the Gurudwara, people of all social ranks (and formerly [...]