Saturday, November 19, 2005
Was today really only my second day in India? It seems that I have seen done experienced so much. The crowded market that is a few steps from my hotel. Breakfast was in a rooftop cafe - a filled parantha with milk tea marsala. The cafe was exclusively backpacker tourist. I walked to Connaught Circle, the center of upscale shops. Couldn't avoid a bookstore, and ended up with the copy of The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid that I have been wanting. It is printed by Wharton Press in Phila., but I had to come here to buy it. But the Indian version is about $3 instead of maybe $39 or so in the US - although I really haven't looked for it on Amazon.com. Also stopped in at this place Bananas because they were advertising a Real American Banana Split. It has been more than two years since my last one of those. But they didn't actually have it. Surprise? So, two small scoops of vanilla with two of chocolate. Still tasted pretty good.
Spent a few hours at the Sikh Gurdwara here. Huge. There is a big pool - called a tank - with huge carp swimming in it that is part of the complex. I think Sikhs can take spiritual baths in it although I am not sure, and nobody was. They were having a book fair. Lots of interesting books, some even about other things than Sikhism. I bought a book. How could I not? They were also selling piles of the steel rings that Sikhs wear, but I am sticking to the copper bracelet I bought at the Makonde Market about a year ago that turns my wrist green if I don't wash it every day.
Really, I wanted to do something cultural tonight. The only Music/Dance item in the paper was a program of Bharatanaatyam classical dance at the India Habitat Center. So I negotiated for an auto-rickshaw ride. 70 rupees - about $1.75 - for a half hour behind a Mario Andrietti wannabe in a semi-covered three-wheel motor scooter. Reminiscent of the tuk-tuks in Bangkok, and just as fearless. Quite a ride!
The dance was ---- I don't know what word to use. Incredible sounds so trite. It was long solo evening performance of a young girl of this unpronouncible classical dance form. She was the pupil of her parents, who are both gurus of this dance form, and their guru was there also. So, three generations of serious practitioners. Her Mother was also one of the five instrumentalists accompanying the dance. They were not disappointed, and it showed in their intense involvement in her dance also. Sharanya's eyes hands fingers flowing dress movements... just memorable. What a country, what a profusion of culture, here.
Spent a few hours at the Sikh Gurdwara here. Huge. There is a big pool - called a tank - with huge carp swimming in it that is part of the complex. I think Sikhs can take spiritual baths in it although I am not sure, and nobody was. They were having a book fair. Lots of interesting books, some even about other things than Sikhism. I bought a book. How could I not? They were also selling piles of the steel rings that Sikhs wear, but I am sticking to the copper bracelet I bought at the Makonde Market about a year ago that turns my wrist green if I don't wash it every day.
Really, I wanted to do something cultural tonight. The only Music/Dance item in the paper was a program of Bharatanaatyam classical dance at the India Habitat Center. So I negotiated for an auto-rickshaw ride. 70 rupees - about $1.75 - for a half hour behind a Mario Andrietti wannabe in a semi-covered three-wheel motor scooter. Reminiscent of the tuk-tuks in Bangkok, and just as fearless. Quite a ride!
The dance was ---- I don't know what word to use. Incredible sounds so trite. It was long solo evening performance of a young girl of this unpronouncible classical dance form. She was the pupil of her parents, who are both gurus of this dance form, and their guru was there also. So, three generations of serious practitioners. Her Mother was also one of the five instrumentalists accompanying the dance. They were not disappointed, and it showed in their intense involvement in her dance also. Sharanya's eyes hands fingers flowing dress movements... just memorable. What a country, what a profusion of culture, here.
