Delhi and Deserts.

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Hello you lovely lovely peeps. Yo. Happy Sunday!

Just a quick update from lil ol me. Sorry it has been so long since my last post, I have been oddly busy.

Well.....Delhi. I am not going to go in to huge details about Delhi as I went in to great detail on my last post about the joys of a big Indian cities. I observed that even among the filth and poverty you could find beauty and the same applies to Delhi but admittedly you have to dig a bit deeper.

There does seem be a harder edge to Delhi, but like all these cities it really comes down to where you go. Delhi has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, which I visited, it is just mixed in filth and poverty.

So, as usual there are quite a few pictures of Delhi because it is India, and India is a pretty photogenic place.

Now then. The last couple of weeks have been spent up in a wee town called Jaisalmer working for a Camel Tour company and it must be said I am loving it. I am so lucky have found myself with such a wonderful bunch of chaps. I feel like I have been welcomed and accepted in their family. I was planning on spending two weeks here but I think it will be more like one month, if not longer because I have no desire to leave.

The work is fairly easy, mainly replying to E mails and cleaning. I have decided I quite enjoy cleaning is very therapeutic. The only question you really have to ask is “is that thing as clean as it could be?” and if it is not you clean it some more. It is nice to have a simple life for a while.

I have also been spending more and more time out in their native village which I am also enjoying. Very much. I travel because I want to learn and understand about other cultures and this time is giving me that opportunity. Like with everything in India, village life is all about layers and the longer I spend there the more layers you start to unpeel.

I have started to call India a country without doors and you see this most in the village, it has community in a way that we aspire to in the UK. It is not an easy life, especially for the women, but they live truly communally.

I continue to grow affection for Indians, true, some can be a bit troublesome when it comes to money but this is not reserved for Westerners, Indians rip each other off, it is a cultural thing and really is not personal.

Oh, and this is nothing to do with Indians but it is hot, very very hot. And dry. Nice in the morning and evening but crazy during the day.

As per usual the pictures tell the story much better than I can. Oddly I haven’t really taken many pictures of my desert life, I will try and change that in time for my next post.

So, I am still loving this crazy and complex country and some days I am very sad that I must leave in early May. I need to look in to the possibility of a Visa run, but all the rules have changed recently so I will need to be careful to ensure I get the right information.

Sorry if this is a short post, it has taken many days to self motivation to even get this far…..

All my love.

John

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Photos

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First Delhi shocker, a smooth and fast metro from the Airport. I love cities with Airport metro systems, means you don't end up getting ripped off by taxi Mafias.

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I know I have mentioned this before but booze shops in India are really dingy places. I just want to pop in for a cold ale. I don't know what it is but beer in India always seems a bit of an effort.

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Something has to keep those pesky pigeons at bay. What an utterly beautiful thing.

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So this is where Gandhi was cremated. It is a very significant site for Indians with many coming to pay respects.

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Even though I watched the Gandhi film years ago I had forgotten that he was assassinated. I have downloaded the film and will watch it again soon.

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The Gandhi Museum had a library. To date it was the quietest place I have been in this Country. I can't describe quite why I loved it so much but it had something with the smell of old books.

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A certain Brother and Sister might recognise this book from back home.

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A mock up of the room Gandhi would have lived in. Mattresses have not improved.......

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There you are, wandering down a motorway.

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Following your GPS phone.

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You notice a random corridor.

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And you find yourself in an Ashram. And this is India and why I love it. Mad little events happen.

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I have no idea what was going on but they didn't mind me sitting down and watching.

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This is the dude they were worshiping. Not sure who he is but he has a Twitter feed and Facebook page.

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Is he dead or just having a snooze? Not always easy to know. I have been tempted to prod and check, but it is not my place.

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I love dogs. But I hate dogs in these Countries. Rabies is not a good look and can really spoil a holiday.

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See in the UK we would consider these buildings unfit for purpose, sink estates, pull them down. Not here, these folk are doing very well.

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This is work, home and bed all wrapped up in to one package. Genius. Not much of a work life balance though.

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You start to realise that India is all about layers. There is even homeless real estate. The chap under the bridge is better of then the chap on the side of the motorway. Layer after layer...

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I decided to fly to Paris for a Gay Pride parade.

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Not really!! It was photo exhibition right in the centre of Delhi. Who would have thunked it?