Monday, November 21, 2005
Impressed as I am with India, I gotta say that their Gallery of Medern Art in New Delhi is just the pits. Really bad art, most of it looking like studies from a second rate art school. I haven't seen such a poor collection since I was in Warsaw way back in the 80s, but Poland had a reason. Their collections had been raped by both the Germans and the Russians during and after WW-II.
That said, I think maybe I made a mistake in coming to India right after leaving Africa. The contrast does not favor Africa. Much of India is very poor, on a scale not much better than Africa. From the train last night, some of the local markets looked just like Africa, to the point that I almost spaced out on where I was. But India is DYNAMIC. People here are working, scrambling, doing everything they can. Even the beggars seem to be working at what they are doing. The inescapable touts are a continual nuisance, but at least they are trying to DO something for you to earn a few rupees. Annoying, when you don't want anything done for you, but ya gotta cut them some slack for at least trying.
Africa? It is all just I Am Poor So Give Me Money.
Thinking about my potential project to harvest eucalyptus oil. I think that in India, that idea would have people scrambling to see if there was any value there, and people would already be scheming to figure out how they could take it over if it turns out to be worth something. In Africa, it is a relaxed Maybe we will get around to it - and by the way, Who is going to pay us to prepare the samples?
OK, I have vented. I'm in Agra today. Visited the Red Fort that dates from when the Mughols controlled India, and saw the Taj Mahal off in the distance. Looks like a fantasy floating oasis off in the distance from there. I hope my pictures give it that feeling. Tomorrow I will see it up close and personal. Those Mughols were incredible - overran China, overran India, gave Rome nothing but trouble - and I'm sure did a lot more I have no concept of. Overran Turkey too?
Looks like I will have to go back to New Delhi to sort out my flight ticket from Delhi to Guatemala. I made reservations in Africa, but didn't buy the tickets. Now I hear that I can only buy them from my travel agent in Africa or from the airline office itself and that is in Delhi. Rats!
That said, I think maybe I made a mistake in coming to India right after leaving Africa. The contrast does not favor Africa. Much of India is very poor, on a scale not much better than Africa. From the train last night, some of the local markets looked just like Africa, to the point that I almost spaced out on where I was. But India is DYNAMIC. People here are working, scrambling, doing everything they can. Even the beggars seem to be working at what they are doing. The inescapable touts are a continual nuisance, but at least they are trying to DO something for you to earn a few rupees. Annoying, when you don't want anything done for you, but ya gotta cut them some slack for at least trying.
Africa? It is all just I Am Poor So Give Me Money.
Thinking about my potential project to harvest eucalyptus oil. I think that in India, that idea would have people scrambling to see if there was any value there, and people would already be scheming to figure out how they could take it over if it turns out to be worth something. In Africa, it is a relaxed Maybe we will get around to it - and by the way, Who is going to pay us to prepare the samples?
OK, I have vented. I'm in Agra today. Visited the Red Fort that dates from when the Mughols controlled India, and saw the Taj Mahal off in the distance. Looks like a fantasy floating oasis off in the distance from there. I hope my pictures give it that feeling. Tomorrow I will see it up close and personal. Those Mughols were incredible - overran China, overran India, gave Rome nothing but trouble - and I'm sure did a lot more I have no concept of. Overran Turkey too?
Looks like I will have to go back to New Delhi to sort out my flight ticket from Delhi to Guatemala. I made reservations in Africa, but didn't buy the tickets. Now I hear that I can only buy them from my travel agent in Africa or from the airline office itself and that is in Delhi. Rats!
