Monday 2 January 2012

Epilogue

... Don't skip the penultimate excerpt on Delhi, scroll down below....

I am now back home wondering what to make of the whole Indian adventure. One thing is for certain, in all its intensity there was never a dull moment. Apart from acquiring a poor replica of their head wobble, (which to my mind equals 'maybe yes/maybe no'), I've hurtled towards a mass of contradictions from sublime beauty to the hideously hideous; from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows; from heartfelt generosity to downright deceit; from the most sumptuous of healthy meals to those truly unfit for consumption and I've witnessed religious practices that even the artist Hieronymus Bosch could not have imagined.


I feel truly grateful for all the advantages of living in the West, of not having to tolerate regular power cuts, pestering, the unbearable heat, humidity and then freezing cold, relentless noise, bedlam, smells, large creepy crawlies and worse... oh and all the 'in your face' mcp nonsense. Yet for all that, here in London at least, we seem to be spiritually lacking, uninvolved, grey and purposeless. Curiosity, the sense of community and respect for elders cements India as does its colour, jingle-jangle and complete intoxicating zest for life. Why not go there and discover for yourself!

Last Days

The New Year has just rolled in - may it be a happy and healthy one for you all


By the way, Can you see me above in the screeching pink bikini dodging the waves? That is the beach in Varkala and my last breath of fresh air before heading back to Delhi which, in stark contrast, was shrouded in a thick smog.

I was glad to see more of the capital, it is overlooked and under-rated. The Modern Museum of Art alone is an inspiration. To be enveloped by huge, colourful tableaux and sculptures all beautifully displayed makes our contemporary art scene pale into insignificance. For the first time in years I even felt the urge to pick up a paintbrush and just 'do it anyway!' Before waxing more lyrical, below is Subodh Gupta's painting “Three Cows” which is a testament to all our bovine friends stuck in well travelled roads across this enormous country:

I then had the privilege of being shown around other pockets of Delhi by a very interesting architect. After Dilli Haat (arts and crafts), we visited the 18th Century Safdarjung Tomb which was built in the late Mughal Empire style with corresponding gardens. It provides the perfect backdrop for couples who wish to spend quality time together whilst not being judged for their mild PDAs (public displays of affection).


Delhi has a bit of everything but you can also escape from it in the many parks, sadly we only had time to visit the landscaped Lodhi Garden. Spread of 90 acres and has several tombs (yes, even there!) dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It is equally a magnet for birds and the constant traffic is unable to drown out their songs and warblings.

In full circle even my final night in India was bizarre. It was capped by eating at an American style diner at a cultural centre and then watching a surreal 'stupidity clowning' play which had its audience in stitches and me in confusion! Anything is possible in this country....