Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
City Guide Part 16
The Louvre, London's National Gallery, The Hermitage, and the Museum of Modern Art. I stood at the doors to one of the greatest collections of art in the history of the world. New York's MOMA holds six floors containing some of the most valued human creations of the last three hundred years. I hadn't even entered the building, and I was already overwhelmed.
Upon entering at street level, a foyer greets guests and connects the museum with several staircases, elevator banks and lounging areas. We decided to begin at the 6th floor and descend floor by floor to finish at the sculpture garden.
The 6th floor was devoted entirely to Salvador Dalí.
I was never a great fan of Dalí, and after glancing at each exhibit piece, my lack of fan status remained intact. Descending from floor to floor, I was immersed in the work of familiar artists as well as artists I had not yet heard of. Besides the art on the wall, I was also immersed in the wide variety of languages spoken by the people around me. I challenged myself to guess the languages that reached my ears. Most of the languages were easily recognized: German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and French. But there were some languages I had never heard before that sounded as colorful and lively as the art on the surrounding walls.
The area of the museum with the most admirers was the section containing "POP ART." Most predominant among these were the works of Andy Warhol.
It seemed as though everyone wanted to be photographed in front of an Andy Warhol piece. Non flash photography was allowed inside the museum, and the security posted in every room made sure people turned off the flash before taking a photo. A young French woman approached me and asked if I could take a photo of her in front of her favorite Warhol piece. I placed her in the lower right corner of the frame with the Warhol dominating the photo.
Rounding a corner on the next floor, I found myself standing before Monet's Water Lilies. It was an image I had seen in art books since I was very young. Now, seeing its immensity in person was a little overwhelming. I sat on a chair and slowly took it in from end to end. In the next room one entire wall was dominated by a piece created by Jackson Pollock. I had seen photographs of his work in books and was never convinced of their status as "masterpieces". But as I stood dwarfed in front of an actual Jackson Pollock piece, the style and emotion he portrayed swayed me now to define him as a master painter.
We finished the inside tour with a stop at a room on the ground floor featuring every day design. This room held common items, ranging from flashlights and blenders to furniture and toys. A typical shopper at Wal*Mart would walk past any of these items without a second glance. The display reminded us that everything has a design and a thoughtful designer.
After a quick rest in the peaceful Sculpture Garden, we were back on the streets headed toward the New York City Public Library.
Continued in part 17
The Louvre, London's National Gallery, The Hermitage, and the Museum of Modern Art. I stood at the doors to one of the greatest collections of art in the history of the world. New York's MOMA holds six floors containing some of the most valued human creations of the last three hundred years. I hadn't even entered the building, and I was already overwhelmed.
Upon entering at street level, a foyer greets guests and connects the museum with several staircases, elevator banks and lounging areas. We decided to begin at the 6th floor and descend floor by floor to finish at the sculpture garden.
The 6th floor was devoted entirely to Salvador Dalí.
 |
| From New York City |
I was never a great fan of Dalí, and after glancing at each exhibit piece, my lack of fan status remained intact. Descending from floor to floor, I was immersed in the work of familiar artists as well as artists I had not yet heard of. Besides the art on the wall, I was also immersed in the wide variety of languages spoken by the people around me. I challenged myself to guess the languages that reached my ears. Most of the languages were easily recognized: German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and French. But there were some languages I had never heard before that sounded as colorful and lively as the art on the surrounding walls.
The area of the museum with the most admirers was the section containing "POP ART." Most predominant among these were the works of Andy Warhol.
 |
| From July 8 |
Rounding a corner on the next floor, I found myself standing before Monet's Water Lilies. It was an image I had seen in art books since I was very young. Now, seeing its immensity in person was a little overwhelming. I sat on a chair and slowly took it in from end to end. In the next room one entire wall was dominated by a piece created by Jackson Pollock. I had seen photographs of his work in books and was never convinced of their status as "masterpieces". But as I stood dwarfed in front of an actual Jackson Pollock piece, the style and emotion he portrayed swayed me now to define him as a master painter.
We finished the inside tour with a stop at a room on the ground floor featuring every day design. This room held common items, ranging from flashlights and blenders to furniture and toys. A typical shopper at Wal*Mart would walk past any of these items without a second glance. The display reminded us that everything has a design and a thoughtful designer.
 |
| From July 8 |
After a quick rest in the peaceful Sculpture Garden, we were back on the streets headed toward the New York City Public Library.
Continued in part 17
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
City Guide Part 14
We exited the Brooklyn Tabernacle along with hundreds of worshipers. As we walked slowly with the crowd of people, I was impressed at the care that most people took to look their "Sunday best." After we departed the building Dad began a search for a nearby restaurant he had previously selected. The restaurant was nestled in a former working class neighborhood of Brooklyn. I had heard of the "gentrification" of certain areas in cities where large numbers of young people move in to previously run-down neighborhoods. I could tell that this neighborhood at one time was probably not the best place to be after dark. Now it is an upscale area enjoyed by young professionals. After lunch, we walked over to the New York Transit Museum. The museum itself is a decommissioned subway stop. The displays began with the building of the first roads in lower Manhattan and continued on to the future of transit in the greater NYC area. Some of the most interesting displays were of old style turnstiles and actual subway cars from the early part of the twentieth century. Advertisements featured in each car correlated with the era the car was used. On special occasions, these antique cars are used on actual train routes for a day. We stayed until museum closing time and then took a train into Manhattan. I now had a new appreciation of the people and machines that made our vacation more enjoyable.
We stepped off the train at Bowling Green Park in the lower tip of the island of Manhattan and walked down to the South Ferry Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry. Security scanners and bomb sniffing dogs were in full effect. Walking into the terminal gave the impression that I was walking into an airport. But unlike an airport, no ticket or payment is required. We walked onto the enormous boat, found an empty bench and enjoyed the leisurely cruise to Staten Island. From the deck of the ferry, I could see The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, The Goldman Sachs Tower in New Jersey, The Island of Manhattan into the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
In front of the ferry and down the coast stood the Verrazano-Narrows bridge and beyond that, the open Atlantic Ocean. We disembarked at St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and walked back onto the same ferry which was now headed for Manhattan. Staten Island from my view on the ferry looked very different from its fellow burroughs. It has the feel of a small New England city with rows of colonial houses nestled in rocky hills.
The towers of Lower Manhattan soon loomed over us as the ferry nimbly pulled into it's spot at the South Ferry Terminal. Many of the passengers looked like janitorial personal ready to clean the office buildings above us. On the street outside the terminal, men with large plastic garbage bags full of imitation designer handbags greeted passengers as we passed into a now quiet Lower Manhattan.
Continued in Part 15
We exited the Brooklyn Tabernacle along with hundreds of worshipers. As we walked slowly with the crowd of people, I was impressed at the care that most people took to look their "Sunday best." After we departed the building Dad began a search for a nearby restaurant he had previously selected. The restaurant was nestled in a former working class neighborhood of Brooklyn. I had heard of the "gentrification" of certain areas in cities where large numbers of young people move in to previously run-down neighborhoods. I could tell that this neighborhood at one time was probably not the best place to be after dark. Now it is an upscale area enjoyed by young professionals. After lunch, we walked over to the New York Transit Museum. The museum itself is a decommissioned subway stop. The displays began with the building of the first roads in lower Manhattan and continued on to the future of transit in the greater NYC area. Some of the most interesting displays were of old style turnstiles and actual subway cars from the early part of the twentieth century. Advertisements featured in each car correlated with the era the car was used. On special occasions, these antique cars are used on actual train routes for a day. We stayed until museum closing time and then took a train into Manhattan. I now had a new appreciation of the people and machines that made our vacation more enjoyable.
We stepped off the train at Bowling Green Park in the lower tip of the island of Manhattan and walked down to the South Ferry Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry. Security scanners and bomb sniffing dogs were in full effect. Walking into the terminal gave the impression that I was walking into an airport. But unlike an airport, no ticket or payment is required. We walked onto the enormous boat, found an empty bench and enjoyed the leisurely cruise to Staten Island. From the deck of the ferry, I could see The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, The Goldman Sachs Tower in New Jersey, The Island of Manhattan into the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
In front of the ferry and down the coast stood the Verrazano-Narrows bridge and beyond that, the open Atlantic Ocean. We disembarked at St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and walked back onto the same ferry which was now headed for Manhattan. Staten Island from my view on the ferry looked very different from its fellow burroughs. It has the feel of a small New England city with rows of colonial houses nestled in rocky hills.
The towers of Lower Manhattan soon loomed over us as the ferry nimbly pulled into it's spot at the South Ferry Terminal. Many of the passengers looked like janitorial personal ready to clean the office buildings above us. On the street outside the terminal, men with large plastic garbage bags full of imitation designer handbags greeted passengers as we passed into a now quiet Lower Manhattan.
Continued in Part 15
Sunday, December 19, 2010
City Guide Part 13
Sunday: a day meant for relaxation, recuperation and rest. Participation in this typical Sunday routine was high on our list as we strolled out of the hotel in Queens. Instead of rushing to the elevated tracks to catch the next train, we ambled along the sidewalk toward the station taking in the warm mid morning sun. We rode the train towards Manhattan then transferred to an underground train headed south and into Brooklyn. We emerged in Downtown Brooklyn to find the warm sun was replaced with ominous rain clouds. Our destination was a few blocks away: The Brooklyn Tabernacle. The Tabernacle holds several services throughout the day and we were told the line to enter the next service would not be allowed to start for several minutes. To fill up time, we decided to walk around the block. Downtown Brooklyn on a late Sunday morning had little to offer. The traffic was very light and few people were out on the street. All the shops were closed except one: a dollar store. We stepped inside and started looking around. The merchandise in the store was phenomenal. It was as if the value of the dollar had risen several hundred percent overnight! There were classic button up dress shirts, one pound bags of premium chocolates and authentic Rastafarian hats. I enjoyed walking the aisles and finding valuable merchandise on every shelf. Some say living in New York is expensive; but finding quality household items in New York is not. We left the store and walked back to the Tabernacle where we joined the line of people waiting for the next service. The outside of the church is drab, grey and blends in well with the warehouses that line the street. However, as the line we had joined entered the building, the grey exterior gave way to a brilliant white, red, and marble interior. We found our seats and the service began. The world famous Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir began to sing and their music enveloped the enormous sanctuary. The sound filled my ears without the sensation of being too loud. After announcements and the offering, the pastor introduced a professional football player who ran an after school program for "at risk" youth. After his presentation, the pastor led the congregation in prayer for the continued success of the charity. The pastor then started with his sermon. I believe the sermon was about Jesus's love and how we should reflect that love to others around us. During the sermon, the pastor asked everyone to stand, look into the eyes of the person sitting next to you, give them a big hug and say " Jesus Loves You." The young lady sitting next to me looked into my eyes with much sincerity and gave me a hearty hug. I will never forget her.
Continued in Part 14
Sunday: a day meant for relaxation, recuperation and rest. Participation in this typical Sunday routine was high on our list as we strolled out of the hotel in Queens. Instead of rushing to the elevated tracks to catch the next train, we ambled along the sidewalk toward the station taking in the warm mid morning sun. We rode the train towards Manhattan then transferred to an underground train headed south and into Brooklyn. We emerged in Downtown Brooklyn to find the warm sun was replaced with ominous rain clouds. Our destination was a few blocks away: The Brooklyn Tabernacle. The Tabernacle holds several services throughout the day and we were told the line to enter the next service would not be allowed to start for several minutes. To fill up time, we decided to walk around the block. Downtown Brooklyn on a late Sunday morning had little to offer. The traffic was very light and few people were out on the street. All the shops were closed except one: a dollar store. We stepped inside and started looking around. The merchandise in the store was phenomenal. It was as if the value of the dollar had risen several hundred percent overnight! There were classic button up dress shirts, one pound bags of premium chocolates and authentic Rastafarian hats. I enjoyed walking the aisles and finding valuable merchandise on every shelf. Some say living in New York is expensive; but finding quality household items in New York is not. We left the store and walked back to the Tabernacle where we joined the line of people waiting for the next service. The outside of the church is drab, grey and blends in well with the warehouses that line the street. However, as the line we had joined entered the building, the grey exterior gave way to a brilliant white, red, and marble interior. We found our seats and the service began. The world famous Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir began to sing and their music enveloped the enormous sanctuary. The sound filled my ears without the sensation of being too loud. After announcements and the offering, the pastor introduced a professional football player who ran an after school program for "at risk" youth. After his presentation, the pastor led the congregation in prayer for the continued success of the charity. The pastor then started with his sermon. I believe the sermon was about Jesus's love and how we should reflect that love to others around us. During the sermon, the pastor asked everyone to stand, look into the eyes of the person sitting next to you, give them a big hug and say " Jesus Loves You." The young lady sitting next to me looked into my eyes with much sincerity and gave me a hearty hug. I will never forget her.
Continued in Part 14
City Guide Part 12
It was late Saturday afternoon, and window shoppers were in full force, eyeing the delicate and edgy window displays along 5th Avenue. One display that caught my attention was in the window of Louis Vuitton. A glass lined exhibition reflected light from dozens of multi colored florescent tubes which enveloped the newest line of merchandise. The display at Tiffany & Company made me feel as if I was peering in at a queen's personal jewelry collection. Soon, we arrived at The Trump Tower, and recognized its setting for "The Apprentice" television program. The entrance is a fixture in the progression of the show. Typically, the losing contestant leaves the building, walks across the sidewalk and is let in to a waiting cab. We reversed this pattern and walked from the street into the brilliance of the main atrium. The building was built in the early 80's and the period style was plain to see. Gold, orange and brown dominate the building's public areas. A five story waterfall cascades down the far wall of the building. We rode a series of escalators where we absorbed the peaceful experience of standing at the top of the waterfall. After collecting ourselves in the tranquil surroundings, we continued down 5th Avenue.
After walking several blocks, we found a subway station and headed back to the hotel in Queens. Back at the hotel, Mom and Dad chose to call it a day. Although Scott and I were tired, we wanted to take the train to the far end of the #7 line to the site of the 1964 World's Fair at Flushing Meadows. The train stopped many times along the way, but we finally made it to the end of the line. We got out and ran up the stairs to find a teeming neighborhood where everything was written in Korean . Although it was not what I was expecting, I was amazed at how concentrated the Korean culture was here. Scott soon reminded me that our original plan was to visit the World's Fair Unisphere and not Korea Town. We found our way back to the train and took the short trip back to the second to last station at Shea Stadium. Unlike the Korea Town station, this one was deserted; when we exited, we were all alone. We could see the Unisphere looming across the park. Dusk closed around us as we stood in the center of the enormous fountain. After a short time at the Unisphere, we walked back to the station. Although it was now very dark, there were many families with children and pets making the most of a warm Saturday night at the park. When we got back to the train station, we noticed a group of people crowded in a corner of the raised platform. I could tell they were watching the Met's game inside Shea Stadium. Scott and I walked over and found a spot among the fans and watched the last innings of the game. When the Met's were up to bat, one of the players hit a triple. I could feel the crowd's excitement as cheering boomed out from the stadium. When the game was over, Scott and I rushed to the train to beat the crowds. But our haste to leave the station before the crowd was in vain. The train engineer waited for all the cars to fill to maximum before the train left. On the ride back to the hotel, I thought of the soon demise of Shea Stadium. In just a few months, the Stadium would be razed to make room for a new venue. I thought of the people we joined on the platform watching the game from a distance, and wondered if people stood on the same platform in 1965 when The Beatles made their inaugural North American Tour.
The train was still fairly crowded when we reached our hotel stop in Queens.
Continued in Part 13
It was late Saturday afternoon, and window shoppers were in full force, eyeing the delicate and edgy window displays along 5th Avenue. One display that caught my attention was in the window of Louis Vuitton. A glass lined exhibition reflected light from dozens of multi colored florescent tubes which enveloped the newest line of merchandise. The display at Tiffany & Company made me feel as if I was peering in at a queen's personal jewelry collection. Soon, we arrived at The Trump Tower, and recognized its setting for "The Apprentice" television program. The entrance is a fixture in the progression of the show. Typically, the losing contestant leaves the building, walks across the sidewalk and is let in to a waiting cab. We reversed this pattern and walked from the street into the brilliance of the main atrium. The building was built in the early 80's and the period style was plain to see. Gold, orange and brown dominate the building's public areas. A five story waterfall cascades down the far wall of the building. We rode a series of escalators where we absorbed the peaceful experience of standing at the top of the waterfall. After collecting ourselves in the tranquil surroundings, we continued down 5th Avenue.
After walking several blocks, we found a subway station and headed back to the hotel in Queens. Back at the hotel, Mom and Dad chose to call it a day. Although Scott and I were tired, we wanted to take the train to the far end of the #7 line to the site of the 1964 World's Fair at Flushing Meadows. The train stopped many times along the way, but we finally made it to the end of the line. We got out and ran up the stairs to find a teeming neighborhood where everything was written in Korean . Although it was not what I was expecting, I was amazed at how concentrated the Korean culture was here. Scott soon reminded me that our original plan was to visit the World's Fair Unisphere and not Korea Town. We found our way back to the train and took the short trip back to the second to last station at Shea Stadium. Unlike the Korea Town station, this one was deserted; when we exited, we were all alone. We could see the Unisphere looming across the park. Dusk closed around us as we stood in the center of the enormous fountain. After a short time at the Unisphere, we walked back to the station. Although it was now very dark, there were many families with children and pets making the most of a warm Saturday night at the park. When we got back to the train station, we noticed a group of people crowded in a corner of the raised platform. I could tell they were watching the Met's game inside Shea Stadium. Scott and I walked over and found a spot among the fans and watched the last innings of the game. When the Met's were up to bat, one of the players hit a triple. I could feel the crowd's excitement as cheering boomed out from the stadium. When the game was over, Scott and I rushed to the train to beat the crowds. But our haste to leave the station before the crowd was in vain. The train engineer waited for all the cars to fill to maximum before the train left. On the ride back to the hotel, I thought of the soon demise of Shea Stadium. In just a few months, the Stadium would be razed to make room for a new venue. I thought of the people we joined on the platform watching the game from a distance, and wondered if people stood on the same platform in 1965 when The Beatles made their inaugural North American Tour.
The train was still fairly crowded when we reached our hotel stop in Queens.
Continued in Part 13
City Guide Part 11
As we walked along Central Park South, with the park to our left,
and the impressive Plaza Hotel to our right we came across several art
vendors. These vendors were not selling original and unique pieces of
art. They were selling refrigerator magnets and small unframed mass
printed photographs. I was not impressed. It seemed as if every other
vendor was selling the same thing. The sidewalk was packed with
people. It was difficult to pass between the crowds of tourists. We
eventually made our way out of the crowds and emerged in Grand Army
Plaza.
The main feature of Grand Army Plaza, is a large gold colored statue
of General William Sherman on a horse being led by an angelic figure.
Beyond the statue, and across 5th Avenue, stood the glass entrance to
the flagship Apple store. After first seeing a photo of the glass
Apple Cube, I assumed the whole store was inside that Cube. But I now
realized The Cube is simply a fancy entrance to the actual underground
store. There was a small line of people waiting to visit the store.
Mom and Dad opted out of the line, and decided to wait for Scott and me
among the dozens of chairs and tables outside. After descending the
stairs and entering the main retail area, Scott and I realized that this
store was no more special than any other computer store. We browsed
the merchandise, blending in with homeless people checking their emails
at the demo computers. We soon decided to walk back up the stairs and out of the Cube.
Dad and Mom were enjoying the fresh air outside. Behind them, I
noticed the main entrance to the FAO Schwarz store.
The FAO Schwarz store, along with the 5th avenue Apple store were
grandiose institutions in my imagination. As I neared the front door
to the building, my anticipation of the most fabulous toy store in the
world grew. I was greeted by a friendly doorman dressed as a toy
soldier. And as I stepped inside, I quickly scanned the front showroom
for amazing toys. I was quickly disappointed when most of what I saw
in the store were plush toys and candy. After I gave up trying to find
the actual toys, I began to notice the detail of the stuffed
creatures. Most were incredible in size and full of character. Some of
the items could not fit into a normal sized bedroom.
With my preemptive 5th Avenue Retail expectations lowered, we exited
the FAO Schwarz store and walked down 5th avenue toward the looming
Trump Tower.
Continued in Part 12
As we walked along Central Park South, with the park to our left,
and the impressive Plaza Hotel to our right we came across several art
vendors. These vendors were not selling original and unique pieces of
art. They were selling refrigerator magnets and small unframed mass
printed photographs. I was not impressed. It seemed as if every other
vendor was selling the same thing. The sidewalk was packed with
people. It was difficult to pass between the crowds of tourists. We
eventually made our way out of the crowds and emerged in Grand Army
Plaza.
The main feature of Grand Army Plaza, is a large gold colored statue
of General William Sherman on a horse being led by an angelic figure.
Beyond the statue, and across 5th Avenue, stood the glass entrance to
the flagship Apple store. After first seeing a photo of the glass
Apple Cube, I assumed the whole store was inside that Cube. But I now
realized The Cube is simply a fancy entrance to the actual underground
store. There was a small line of people waiting to visit the store.
Mom and Dad opted out of the line, and decided to wait for Scott and me
among the dozens of chairs and tables outside. After descending the
stairs and entering the main retail area, Scott and I realized that this
store was no more special than any other computer store. We browsed
the merchandise, blending in with homeless people checking their emails
at the demo computers. We soon decided to walk back up the stairs and out of the Cube.
Dad and Mom were enjoying the fresh air outside. Behind them, I
noticed the main entrance to the FAO Schwarz store.
The FAO Schwarz store, along with the 5th avenue Apple store were
grandiose institutions in my imagination. As I neared the front door
to the building, my anticipation of the most fabulous toy store in the
world grew. I was greeted by a friendly doorman dressed as a toy
soldier. And as I stepped inside, I quickly scanned the front showroom
for amazing toys. I was quickly disappointed when most of what I saw
in the store were plush toys and candy. After I gave up trying to find
the actual toys, I began to notice the detail of the stuffed
creatures. Most were incredible in size and full of character. Some of
the items could not fit into a normal sized bedroom.
With my preemptive 5th Avenue Retail expectations lowered, we exited
the FAO Schwarz store and walked down 5th avenue toward the looming
Trump Tower.
Continued in Part 12
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
City Guide New Delhi Part 11
Modern met ancient as digital security cameras scanned the
centuries old entrance to the Nizamuddin Dargah courtyard. Dozens
of foot-high stone burial vaults scattered the entrance area around
us. Rod hastily warned us that stepping over one of these
sarcophagi would bring great dishonor to the deceased and possible
eviction from the area. Shuffling behind Rod in my socks, I
noticed flies congregating in areas of the floor. I tried not to think
of what I was stepping in as we walked.
Outside the inner burial room, dozens of pilgrims sang and prayed in the shade under a cloth canopy. Women sat around the outside of the canopy, leaving the area near the front for the men. Rod led us to the inner tomb. Its doors were carved with a labyrinth of gold inlays in wild patterns. The two side walls were nothing more than carved stone lattices. The back wall was filled with intricate Arabic calligraphy. A boy helped his father lay
a sheer sheet over the bones of the saint while another man buried his
head in the layers of cloth, his prayers muffled in the fabric pile. The
procession of male pilgrims slowly circled the tomb clockwise. Some leaned over the sarcophagus to place flower petals, and the candy I had tasted earlier.
Others picked up these items as they made their way around the circle. Back in the corner of this room I noticed a man holding a small infant and a bottle of what looked like
medicine. The baby in his arms looked very ill. His eyes were glassed
over and his mouth was ajar. This man had come to the saint's tomb to
pray for his son's healing. It was a very sad sight.
Upon exiting the tomb, men with long beards and white clothes asked uncle Jay to
sign a paper. Jay told them that he was alright and passed them by. I
followed his lead. We found my cousins, and Rod led us back to the shoe
attendant.
As I walked back through the maze of shops and stands, I
wondered at the difference between the lives of the people here and
people living in other parts of the world. Would these people even
enjoy living in suburban United States?
Rod knew of a good restaurant in the neighborhood. At the time I did not know that Karim is part of a very well known chain of exclusive restaurants and hotels in the Delhi
area. A few months after returning home, I watched a television travel segment featuring Karim. As we waited outside the restaurant, the doorman
shooed away a particularly stubborn lady who repeatedly asked us for
money. Inside, Rod ordered the brains of a goat, and invited us all to join him in sampling this delicacy. It had a slight fish flavor.
pray for his son's healing. It was a very sad sight.
Upon exiting the tomb, men with long beards and white clothes asked uncle Jay to
sign a paper. Jay told them that he was alright and passed them by. I
followed his lead. We found my cousins, and Rod led us back to the shoe
attendant.
As I walked back through the maze of shops and stands, I
wondered at the difference between the lives of the people here and
people living in other parts of the world. Would these people even
enjoy living in suburban United States?
Rod knew of a good restaurant in the neighborhood. At the time I did not know that Karim is part of a very well known chain of exclusive restaurants and hotels in the Delhi
area. A few months after returning home, I watched a television travel segment featuring Karim. As we waited outside the restaurant, the doorman
shooed away a particularly stubborn lady who repeatedly asked us for
money. Inside, Rod ordered the brains of a goat, and invited us all to join him in sampling this delicacy. It had a slight fish flavor.
Leaving Karim's, we strolled through the neighborhood toward our taxi. Suddenly, about ten feet away from us, two bicyclists collided head on. The incident sent one cyclist straight to the ground while the other momentarily wobbled, and then continued. The cyclist who had fallen to the ground promptly picked up his bike and peddled furiously in an attempt to give the offending cyclist a piece of his mind. Sliding into the taxi, I could still hear his angry shouts as he wove through traffic in pursuit of his assailant.
Continued in Part 12
Modern met ancient as digital security cameras scanned the
centuries old entrance to the Nizamuddin Dargah courtyard. Dozens
of foot-high stone burial vaults scattered the entrance area around
us. Rod hastily warned us that stepping over one of these
sarcophagi would bring great dishonor to the deceased and possible
eviction from the area. Shuffling behind Rod in my socks, I
noticed flies congregating in areas of the floor. I tried not to think
of what I was stepping in as we walked.
Outside the inner burial room, dozens of pilgrims sang and prayed in the shade under a cloth canopy. Women sat around the outside of the canopy, leaving the area near the front for the men. Rod led us to the inner tomb. Its doors were carved with a labyrinth of gold inlays in wild patterns. The two side walls were nothing more than carved stone lattices. The back wall was filled with intricate Arabic calligraphy. A boy helped his father lay
a sheer sheet over the bones of the saint while another man buried his
head in the layers of cloth, his prayers muffled in the fabric pile. The
procession of male pilgrims slowly circled the tomb clockwise. Some leaned over the sarcophagus to place flower petals, and the candy I had tasted earlier.
Others picked up these items as they made their way around the circle. Back in the corner of this room I noticed a man holding a small infant and a bottle of what looked like
medicine. The baby in his arms looked very ill. His eyes were glassed
over and his mouth was ajar. This man had come to the saint's tomb to
pray for his son's healing. It was a very sad sight.
Upon exiting the tomb, men with long beards and white clothes asked uncle Jay to
sign a paper. Jay told them that he was alright and passed them by. I
followed his lead. We found my cousins, and Rod led us back to the shoe
attendant.
 |
| From New Delhi |
As I walked back through the maze of shops and stands, I
wondered at the difference between the lives of the people here and
people living in other parts of the world. Would these people even
enjoy living in suburban United States?
 |
| From New Delhi |
Rod knew of a good restaurant in the neighborhood. At the time I did not know that Karim is part of a very well known chain of exclusive restaurants and hotels in the Delhi
area. A few months after returning home, I watched a television travel segment featuring Karim. As we waited outside the restaurant, the doorman
shooed away a particularly stubborn lady who repeatedly asked us for
money. Inside, Rod ordered the brains of a goat, and invited us all to join him in sampling this delicacy. It had a slight fish flavor.
pray for his son's healing. It was a very sad sight.
Upon exiting the tomb, men with long beards and white clothes asked uncle Jay to
sign a paper. Jay told them that he was alright and passed them by. I
followed his lead. We found my cousins, and Rod led us back to the shoe
attendant.
As I walked back through the maze of shops and stands, I
wondered at the difference between the lives of the people here and
people living in other parts of the world. Would these people even
enjoy living in suburban United States?
Rod knew of a good restaurant in the neighborhood. At the time I did not know that Karim is part of a very well known chain of exclusive restaurants and hotels in the Delhi
area. A few months after returning home, I watched a television travel segment featuring Karim. As we waited outside the restaurant, the doorman
shooed away a particularly stubborn lady who repeatedly asked us for
money. Inside, Rod ordered the brains of a goat, and invited us all to join him in sampling this delicacy. It had a slight fish flavor.
Leaving Karim's, we strolled through the neighborhood toward our taxi. Suddenly, about ten feet away from us, two bicyclists collided head on. The incident sent one cyclist straight to the ground while the other momentarily wobbled, and then continued. The cyclist who had fallen to the ground promptly picked up his bike and peddled furiously in an attempt to give the offending cyclist a piece of his mind. Sliding into the taxi, I could still hear his angry shouts as he wove through traffic in pursuit of his assailant.
Continued in Part 12
Sunday, June 13, 2010
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