John, I'm here in a new delhi - no you idiot - New Delhi!!!

Chaos and Calm in Delhi

 

Welcome to India Layne... were so happy to see you were over the mooooooooooooooon.

It is the fulfillment of a dream that took root in my youth while growing up in a small town on Canada's West Coast. Port Alberni was home to many Indian people who had come to Canada for a better life. They took hard labor jobs in the sawmills that no one else wanted (only later to be accused of "stealing" jobs from Canadians when things got tough).  In doing so, immigrating to Canada,  - they left behind so much and had to then endure the racism and associated taunts heaped upon them by myself and others in our small town of 25,000. It was just what you did back then. They were Hindus... a word pronounced with scorn and derision whenever the opportunity presented. 

At the same time, many Indians became my friends. I remember well my good mate Jagjit and recall being curious about the stories he told of the world he'd left behind. I also was conflicted by my inexplicable disdain for Hindus and my burgeoning friendship for this pleasant young Indian man.

I'll never forget when Jagjit and I were caught alone on a trail by the school bully who was "after" me for some alleged slight, misdeed or comment. As the bully closed menacingly on me my friend Jagjit, suddenly Jagjit skinny and short, stepped in front of me and punched the bully right square in the face and then chased him down the trail. When he caught him... he whooped his ass. It was the bravest thing I had seen in my short life and decided at that moment to be more like him and see my new friend as simply that. My friend. Regardless of skin color, accent or even conspicuous bad BO smell. We just kept the windows open in the car after that......

Arriving into New Delhi was to the cacophony of blaring horns -- serine parks and mosques, crowded urban streets -- then desolate jungle, the overwhelming stench of open sewer and sweet and intoxicating smells of the spice market. The smiles of thieves and good-hearted people alike .... and of course cows.

I had planned this trip with my life partner of 26 years.  I think of her often as I walk the streets knowing she would have liked this. It's unfortunate our life went in different directions but not something to be lamented. It's just that way in life sometimes. After all, a good plan today ids better than a perfect plan tomorrow.

Ok - enough of the soul searching navel gazing and introspection about how I came to be here. I'm here and looking forward to getting to know this magical land of contradictions peace and chaos.







Above is a shot from the Red Fort. It's a magical place where once inside you're transported to a different time. The British took the huge fort in the 1800's and cleared out most the the temples and special buildings within though many still remain inside an area the size of 5 football fields. Calm quiet and peaceful, it's mostly scurrying of squirrels and colorful birds that take your attention. Constructed in 1639 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the private apartment off to one side is magnificent in it's architecture and intent. The secret entrance for the harem is still visible and one can imagine the intricate white marble bath surrounded by colorfully draped women draped over pillows and draped over Jahan!!. I'm not saying I agree with all that in this area if politically correct gender sensitivity. I mean clearly wrong wrong wrong!!!! yet super intriguing none the less.

The National Museum of India

The National Museum is a combination of modern and dusty, but full of super cool treasures of all sorts

 The National museum is as interesting as it is large. It's a half day or better especially if you want to try to get a bit of understanding of the very complicated spiritual aspects of India. The Gods and Goddesses are complicated..... with a panthenon (all the collective deities of a religion) said to number in over 3 million deities, but it's easy to focus on the "big 3"and work from there. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are a great place to start and there are more than enough depictions of these three to keep your mind active and entertained. Keeping in mind the Hindu beliefs around birth, rebirth and  Karma can't hurt either.

And Ganesh...Jake's favorite

I also recall a friend Laura from many years ago who loved the Saturday Night Live skit about the reporter sent to do an interview in New Delhi. The report comes on and says "John, I'm here in an excellent new delhi in Toronto, Canada".... to which the anchor yells, "no you idiot!!!!!  you're supposed to be reporting from New Delhi India!!!!! ......"Well isn't this awkward says the reporter" 😝

Thanks for reading.....Layno!!