The Delhi Dilemma

When asked how my holiday in Delhi is going I have to provide a carefully crafted answer. You see, unlike the sweet ease of say, a trip to a Caribbean island - relaxation isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Far from it, Delhi is a truly rude awakening to the world that lies outside of suburban lawns and trips to Noah's bagels. I'll paint a picture.

Imagine if you will a world where everything is built and cared for exactly once. Created it now degrades without it's keeper under a pile of dust, dirt, and unwholesome humanity. The streets are crumble at their curbs, bathed in people sitting overcampfires a few feet away from their own waste. Hanging over them by mere feet a wall protecting the average working citizen's watched home. Locked behind gates they engineer their own security, fore the environment gives them none. If poverty were a cold cold winter, each house heats itself in a barren frozen land. The smells and sights can be appalling.

For C and I Delhi has been a growing experience. You see, for the colors of our respective skins, we are strangers. No, really we are opportunities for each and everyone here. There is a perfect storm of indigence and tourism here that leads to a near frenzied attack upon us here. Train stations children come every 30 seconds and tap you on the knee, motioning to their mouths for food from your pocket. Drivers hustle you for 10 times the normal fare to every location, hotel clerks charge as much as they can for dinner, laundry, and paltry services - all in the name of money.

This is not without humor of course. I've come to accept my position seen at the ATM of Delhi's denizens - I tip the man who minds the shoes at the mosque, tipping again the man who points the direction to the bathroom, to tip again the person who's picture I took with a cow - after all it's his cow isn't it. This place hardens one a bit, but I must admit that comfort comes even here - humming a tune as my auto rickshaw pilot steers his way into horn blaring traffic becomes a daily comical event. The presence of death on the roads becomes like passing a funny mask on a merry go round.

One can see opportunity for this land - the Taj Mahal truly is a standing pillar of majesty through time. Truly an amazing work to behold, the single largest testament to love of human work. My guide book says, "one can find how much India has to offer, if one is willing to overlook the taunts and assaults of the deceptors". The book's salesmanship aside, India is a mixed bag - a heritage beyond belief, true beauty and hideous ugliness - decadence and true filth. I turn no blind eye to it.