India: The Arc of the Himalayas–Dispatch 1

I suppose it wouldn’t be inappropriate to say that if in 2008 I wrote you from Patagonia via the Anti-Rally Bulletin, now in 2009 I am writing via the Anti-Patagonia Bulletin.  That is to say that, just as our trip through Patagonia was the antithesis of the Peking to Paris rally, so far India is the antithesis of Patagonia.  Now, let’s keep in mind that we are only 5 days into our 2-month trip, but I already feel I have stepped into another element..  There’s earth, wind, fire, air, and then there’s India. 

Delhi is a booming city of  12-15 million (who’s counting anyway), packed with people, cars, construction, ambition.  The impressions come at you fast and furious here, every inch a sight, though not always a pleasant sight.  We chose to do a home stay here, rather than a typical hotel.  This put us in a nice neighborhood called Friends Colony, in south Delhi, a good half hour from the main tourist sights.  Our hosts were Pervez and Lubna Hameed, along with Hameed’s mother Padma….and their 3 servants.  We had one of three guest bedrooms, on the 3rd floor of their home, and ate breakfast, dinner and once also lunch at their table.  

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