Delhi Ever After (+ Jaipur!)

Namaste all! Long time no blog. It has been a terrific past few weeks. The more time I spend at WPC the more I love it. I'm getting to know my co-workers and my boss quite well, in and out of the office. The things I am working on are so incredibly interesting for me and keep me quite busy. I've gotten pretty comfortable in my routine and started running and doing yoga in the morning before I kick off to work. At night I've been spending time with Kanta (my boss), continued exploring the city (which I just can't get enough of), and relaxing at home sweet home Haryana Bhawan.

Last Friday, Mr. Sharma (Kavita, the women Katie and Dot are working for's, husband) picked me up from Delhi and brought me back to Rohtak where Kavita and he live (and Katie and Dot are working).  From Rohtak, Saturday morning, Kavita, her two kids Himanchu and Shiva, Kaite, Dot and I all took off for Jaipur. Our mission was to drop off Shiva at the boarding school she attends and get in some sight-seeing and adventure as well. For tourists, Jaipur is part of a "must-see" triangle in north-east India composed also of Delhi and Agra. All three cities have lots of ancient forts/structures, Delhi is the Capitol, Agra has the Taj Mahal. 

Once in Jaipur, we went first to the Amer (or Amber) Fort, a huge ancient fort built in the 16th century (I think), surrounded by great wall of China looking walls, and filled with various courtyards, and cool architecture including a hall of mirrors.  Last I'll say about this is at the end of our tour, I rode down from the fort to the next sight on the back of our tour guide's motorcycle. He asked if he could have my number and I told him that I would let Himanchu (14) decide. Himanchu said no. :P

 

Saturday night in Jaipur, Shiva, Himanchu, Dot, Katie and I went to Chokhi Dhani. Absolutely amazing. It is basically a giant night carnival/festival that runs year round and is fully equipped with snake charming, magic shows, traditional Rajasthani dancing, elephant rides, camel rides, man-propelled ferris wheels, mazes, and great food. Need I say more? It was completely unbelievable.

Here you see my girl Shiva and me on our camel in Chokhi Dhani. I have to take a minute to give a shout out to Shiva. In the time we spent together in Delhi, during the research trip in Himachal, in Rohtak and then in Jaipur I have fallen absolutely in love with this girl. She is brilliant and passionate and yet completely silly and hilarious. She is going to make an unbelievable politician someday. In the mean time she is an absolute riot to spend time with. She is one of those people whose life is contagious. I just know we are going to be friends for a long time. (She is coming to UMM next year!)

Here are Shiva and I at her school in Jaipur.

The next day in Jaipur (Sunday) a ridiculous series of events got me back to Delhi. So convoluted, but let's just say we ended up at a rest stop at 9pm in the middle of Rajasthan where Kavita convinced some strangers with a bunch of children and a pimped out SUV to take me back to Delhi.

Like I said, work has continued to be completely illuminating and elevating. I have never felt so fulfilled or content and yet utterly curious and electrified by my work and surroundings. I have been experiencing this feeling of new depth and elatedness. I feel as if how I love now is more than I have ever loved or could have ever loved. Last Thursday I was in Khan Market and bought a copy of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Though I've read bits and pieces I've never read  it straight through so I hunkered down in a coffee shop and did just that. If you are interested, go to the section on love and then the section on work. These seem to touch on how I feel here.

This weekend, Katie and Dot are back in town. I had planned on seeing a bunch of sights in Delhi this weekend that I can't see during the week because of limited hours and Katie decided to tough it out and power sight-see with me. Highlight of the day: Akshardham Temple. Absolutely magnificent. Katie and I spent hours inside; we got there early and it was so peaceful and serene. We both decided that we were most likely in heaven. Even if they had allowed pictures inside I don't think I would have taken any. Some places are better remembered without pictures. After Akshardham we hit up Gandhi's Memorial and then headed to Old Delhi to see the Red Fort. Great day over though I will admit at the end of the day I was beat, and very sun-burned.

All of this, everything I am writing in this blog, is such a small fraction of my experience here. I hope more than anything that with each person that reads this blog, I will someday share in person over dinner or tea the the more unique details of each story. Until then, I'll keep up the Work In Progress blog.