India is one of my favourite places in the world. The heat, the noise, the colour, the dirt, the smells.. It is so different from Europe it is amazing.
I was in Patiala in 1997. At the Gmykana Club there a Sikh informed me (over a beer) that there was something of "Old England" in him even though he had never been outside the Punjab. The ease of conversation with implicit shared cultural references and understanding led me to think there was indeed soemthing of England in him. At the rate things are going here Old England may soon only exist in her former peoples overseas.
India is amazingly cheap and safe, though a little weird.
It's a great place to get dental work done (at a fourth the cost of US dentists, by Western trained dentists). Hotel rooms were $10 to $20 a night. Cell phones were ubiquitous, with monthly service charges only $7. Just make sure you ask the price first before hopping into the nearest auto-rickshaw.
I never felt threatened there, but what animosity i did receive seemed to be coming mainly from Muslims, with a few yelling and cursing me out in Urdu, because i wouldn't give or buy their junk.
The beggars were on a whole 'nother level, though: children, amputees, a guy with half his face and body burnt up by fire. Every anomaly under the sun. Cold hearted bastard that i am, i never gave.
Anyway, have fun. Hope to get back there myself...
Yes and getting to Simla was an experience in itself (by bus from Darjeeling with what seemed to be a kamikaze driver).
I saw posters advertising "beautiful Chandigarh" and I took the Himalayan Queen (tiddlywink single track railway) from Simla to Chandigarh. The posters weren't old ones from the time it was built. They were new - and fictitious! Indians must have an ironic sense of humour.
I also went to Jaipur and rode an Elephant up to the Amber Fort. Very scary. I know elephants are supposed to be sure footed but the path wound up the hill with a sheer drop at its side. Elephants rock from side to side and with each move I felt I was hanging over the edge until it rocked back again. If I ever ride an elephant again it will be on level ground.
In India I saw extreme poverty somehow uglier than the shanty towns of Mexico city (which I have seen) where people lived by scaving on rubbish dumps. Yet, India made an indelible impression of sublime beauty alongside ugliness. I will go back one day. The sunsets were incredible, the smells and colours and ... and ...
I was in Patiala in 1997. At the Gmykana Club there a Sikh informed me (over a beer) that there was something of "Old England" in him even though he had never been outside the Punjab. The ease of conversation with implicit shared cultural references and understanding led me to think there was indeed soemthing of England in him. At the rate things are going here Old England may soon only exist in her former peoples overseas.
Chandigarh is an odd place. Did you go up to Simla?
India is amazingly cheap and safe, though a little weird.
It's a great place to get dental work done (at a fourth the cost of US dentists, by Western trained dentists). Hotel rooms were $10 to $20 a night. Cell phones were ubiquitous, with monthly service charges only $7. Just make sure you ask the price first before hopping into the nearest auto-rickshaw.
I never felt threatened there, but what animosity i did receive seemed to be coming mainly from Muslims, with a few yelling and cursing me out in Urdu, because i wouldn't give or buy their junk.
The beggars were on a whole 'nother level, though: children, amputees, a guy with half his face and body burnt up by fire. Every anomaly under the sun. Cold hearted bastard that i am, i never gave.
Anyway, have fun. Hope to get back there myself...
Yes and getting to Simla was an experience in itself (by bus from Darjeeling with what seemed to be a kamikaze driver).
I saw posters advertising "beautiful Chandigarh" and I took the Himalayan Queen (tiddlywink single track railway) from Simla to Chandigarh. The posters weren't old ones from the time it was built. They were new - and fictitious! Indians must have an ironic sense of humour.
I also went to Jaipur and rode an Elephant up to the Amber Fort. Very scary. I know elephants are supposed to be sure footed but the path wound up the hill with a sheer drop at its side. Elephants rock from side to side and with each move I felt I was hanging over the edge until it rocked back again. If I ever ride an elephant again it will be on level ground.
In India I saw extreme poverty somehow uglier than the shanty towns of Mexico city (which I have seen) where people lived by scaving on rubbish dumps. Yet, India made an indelible impression of sublime beauty alongside ugliness. I will go back one day. The sunsets were incredible, the smells and colours and ... and ...
Brilliant!