We finally got to sleep around 4am after being met at the airport by Vijay and Sashi. We then checked into The Imperial Hotel which has been our Delhi
home for all the years that we have been visiting Delhi. It is quite old and
beautifully maintained. It feels like you are stepping into the Raj before the
British left: very spit and polished.
We made it to breakfast just before it closed at
11am, had a full breakfast and then got ready to meet our driver,
friend and member of our family: Vijay. One of my goals was to get Indian SIM
Cards for our iPhones. Data plans are far cheaper in India, so it is advisable
to get an Indian SIM. The hotel Concierge arranges everything. It used to be
quite complicated and difficult to get an Indian SIM card (also a Japanese one,
that process for us was similarly streamlined). The Concierge took a copy of
our Passport and VISA in the morning, and by 5pm he installed it in our
iPhones.
Some notes on 1st full day in Delhi through some Jet Lagged
Eyes. Prime Minister Modi’s plan has pushed Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign in India that
aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities,
smaller towns, and rural areas. It is very popular and clearly is making a
mark. Delhi is noticeably cleaner and greener. Unfortunately, the air is still very
bad but we were lucky and the air quality has been better the last few days. It isn’t affecting
us.
We talk to people about Trump and Modi. Modi is extremely popular among Hindus but not
Muslims. Because Trump's talk and tweets are so anti-Muslim and especially
anti-Pakistan, the Indians with whom we have spoken are supportive of him. India feels
and existential threat from nuclear armed Pakistanis. Since 1947 the two
countries have fought 3 wars and the issue of Kashmir is always an open wound.
The US used to support Pakistan as an offset to
the Socialist India close ties with Russia (in a non-aligned 3rd
way). Trump's boorish / lying ways are noted by the Indians, but they feel “The
enemy of my enemy, is my friend". It is strange for Cathy and me to be in the
company of people we like saying enthusiastic words about Trump.
There is another guy to keep an eye on in
India. Yogi Adityanath is an Indian monk and Hindu
nationalist politician who is the current Chief Minister
(state governor) of Uttar Pradesh, a state of 200 millions Indians. He has an
image as a rightwing Hindu populist and is very controversial
in his views towards Muslims and has allowed extra-judiciary killings that Indians euphemistically call “Encounters”. He reminds one of the Philippines
President Dutarte. He is talked about as future Prime Minister after Modi. Remember
his name!
Enough of politics, let’s talk shopping. We
crossed the Yamuna River, which bisects Delhi and visited an Industrial
area, that was new to us. We were visiting a clothing factory and wholesale
showroom: Péro. Cathy has
previously purchased Péro garments in the States. the garments are all hand loomed, embroidered and died. we watched as several women worked on embroidery while we were there. I found a blue patchwork cashmere
coat I liked but resisted the temptation. Will I regret the non-purchase? Time
will tell.
We then drove through the always crazy traffic
to Rajesh Pratap Singh
a clothing store in the very lush Lodhi colony.
It was nearing 4pm and Jet Lag had returned.
We returned to The Imperial Hotel
for a nap.
Click to see the unending signs of small shops in Delhi.
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| The Cashmere coat I didn't buy |
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| Péro, a great store |
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| Monkey God: Hanuman |
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| Fried Okra - Yummy |
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| Rohit, our friend |
The Delhi streets video was so clear! Which iPhone was that? -Vic
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