Delhi Delight & Tsunami News

Day 2 (26 October 2004). We are OK cause we're in New Delhi.




It's a more eventful day today as we have the entire sightseeing place mapped out (with darling uncle's help). Am excited ofcos (what else is new right!). Those day before I own a digital camera, I brought along my analog camera together with 7 rolls of film plus my Lomo, however the pics that I will be posting will be all from Grace's digital camera (more changgih lar).

Oh yah! There was this funny incident happened that I must share. Due to the fact that digital cameras were very rare / scarce / exclusive thus it became an attraction everywhere. While Grace diligently (as usual - my favourite camera woman!) trying to take a pic of cutie me (perasan max here!); out of the blue, a crowd of 10 or even more locals came and stand by her side ie behind her, next to her; basically breathing down her neck trying to peep the tiny screen (those days the screen was super tiny). NOT only that, I remembered them pointing on the screen and followed by pointing towards my direction, I guess as much they were saying "LIVE TELECAST" hahhahahhahaa.....Grace was so upset lar ofcos and me? LAUGHED like crazy lar ofcos.... sTarGe, this will only happen to Grace, when I was using the camera, OK pulak... no one came to watch the "LIVE TELECAST". HAHAHHAHHAA......
:P

First site was Qutb Complex, I think it's pretty near uncle’s house IF my memory doesn't fail me (after all it was 6 years back). I realised that somehow this place doesn't have the much needed publicity as it should.

The most famous monument situated in the complex is the Qutb Minar; other important constructions in the complex are the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, the Alai Gate, the Alai Minar, the Iron pillar, and the tombs of Iltutmish, Alauddin Khilji and Imam Zamin; surrounded by Jain temple ruins. You have to be there to feel it, it’s really unbelievable to see the carving on the bricks. Honestly, I never knew Muslim has a strong foothold in New Delhi.

Next was this interesting looking temple in a shape of a lotus, it’s called Bahá'í House of Worship and apparently serves as the Mother Temple of India. We didn’t go in ofcos as the queue is “fantastically” long and obviously am not surprise. It supposedly look charming at night or especially during sunset… unfortunately those days am not so much into taking pics during sunset nor sunrise - late bloomer!

I was impress as well as shocked with this one. Firstly; I thought the are only ONE, UNO hugely built tomb in India - TAJ MAHAL, I didn’t even know there are others in existence as well….hemmm…. I should read more before I travel! How should I describe this from my angle… let me see…. (Google Wikipedia :P ). Designed by Persian architect - it was the first garden-tomb in India. The complex encompasses the main tomb of Emperor Humayun, which houses the grave of his wife, Hamida Begum plus few more of the nobility. My take? - Super humongous. If you think this is impressive, can you just imagine Taj Mahal?

One thing I like about Humayun Tomb is that the brick is earthy /orangy / brownish in colour, and somehow it blended well with the contrast colour of the sky (which is almost cloudless); makes pics look spectacular. But then ofcos, Grace is a good photographer lar else it won’t turned out nice anyway maah…

This is a must tell story - If I can remember it clearly & well ofcos. There’s a few things that I MUST MUST MUST share! The venue : Purana Qila or Old Fort which is the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah, founded by the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1533 (Yup! As you see his beautiful tomb in earlier story). It is built at the site of ancient city of Indraprastha founded by the Pandavas from Mahabharata period, which is considered the 'First City of Delhi'. In this fort, you’ll be able to see Single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, Sher Mandal - a double-storeyed octagonal tower and was use as library much later and Kairul Manzil - a madarsa.

OK! Here’s the silly story with Grace & moi (Grace, you sure you are not jinx ah? [it is part of “your” name] heehehe - joking yah).

1. Movie - Am sure you’ve watched Hindustani movie before, those days (perhaps now still), they will somehow have a scene where by the hero and heroin “roll” on the plain beautiful grass while singing & dancing and perhaps playing “hide & seek” behind a tree. YUP! APPARENTLY this is normal - I saw kids (either they imitate the movie or vice-versa) doing it and having fun (all al-naturel). SHOCKED I definitely was but chuckled away anyway… aahh… now I can relate more to Hindi movie. Hehhehee….

2. Lost in the Fort - YUP! While smartly LOOKING for the way out (HEY! The complex is HUGE okay!), we sooooomehoooow took one of the gate which lead us to freaking nowhere and to turn back was FAR. We decided to walk ALONG the fortress WALL which is kinda steep/lonely/scary (but then again I can be a coward lar to anything). We soon bumped into the lake with loadsa people relaxing & boating (phew!), climbed quickly over a fence (me in skirt somemore!) to the “human” side. Pic to prove, by the way GPS might be required here! Hehhehee.....

We then past by Red Fort which till this day am still upset that I didn’t manage to go in…. hemm....does this mean I owe myself another trip to New Delhi? Hehhehe…. Any excuse(s) to travel.

Ahhh…. The sun about to set, our final site for the day before we depart to Agra tomorrow - Janta Mantar. You probably be wondering what is this right? (you’ll see more in different part of India as well I should think). Well, basically… and literally it's the 'instrument and formula', consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur from 1724 onwards. The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets or better known as jeng jeng jeng…… astrology. They very terror the merror hor…

I guess we call it a day as uncle & auntie prepared dinner for us. Tomorrow an early day - Agra here we come!

Grace??? Back profile again?


Perhaps… the whole India trip should be dedicated to my dear friend - GRACE
(That evening, we heard that Tsunami hits India - will update you in next entry)

Hyperlink credits : Wikipedia, Jantar Mantar