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From: Ruby in New Delhi, India My day usually begins at about 5:30am since the heat is so immense. It is a sticky, humid heat that becomes quite strong in the afternoon. We are living in a flat in Vasantkunj, South Delhi. There are two bathrooms, two large bedrooms, a spacious living room, a large dining table and two couches. Every morning, we go for a walk in the nearby park where there are yoga classes and tae chi classes that take place near the swing sets. My brother and I are both in awe as we listen to men and women "grunt" unusual noises. As we drive through Delhi, there are many fascinating sites. Men stand on the street selling coconuts to the passengers in the cars. There is absolutely no sense of order in the non-existent traffic lanes. The car lanes go in various directions where chaos is apparent. Cows stand on the side of the road waiting patiently to be fed while some are waiting for the lights to turn green with the cars! In the slum area, poverty is spread widely. I see a woman pour a bucket of water over her head sadly watching us drive by. Labor is very cheap here. One rupee equals about four Canadian cents while one can get hired help for only twenty rupees. This afternoon, we went to the marketplace called the "Mehrauli" in a ricksha. My mom bargained with the driver so he charged us only one hundred rupees. The Mehrauli is one of the cheapest marketplaces in New Delhi. There were many alluring shops with unusual odds and ends. Vendors were trying to sell me items everywhere I went! One man was selling "hukka" which is a large pipe to smoke tobacco out of. Many elaborate posters and calendars were being sold outside the marketplace. We bought a cooler for 1200 rupees (about $40.00) from a local vendor. Today, we went to the Qutab Minar Complex, which is located 15km south of Delhi. It is an early example of Afghan architecture. These decorative buildings are made of red sandstone, with third and fourth pillars made of marble and sandstone. With five distinct stories, a projecting balcony marks the tower. The view was beautiful! There is a slight tilt to the tower with an iron pillar and large courtyard. Throughout the courtyard, there were several mosques and gateways Unfortunately, the electricity went out at 7:00pm. My family and I went out on the roof to sleep on mats outside. The night air was fresh and revitalizing. We slept for about three hours until the electricity returned. Ruby is a high
school student in Saskatoon, SK |
