My first stop in India was New Delhi, for meetings. There is an "old" Delhi, and a "New Delhi". The British built a new city, and made it the center of government, where the main government offices and buildings are located. Finishing our meetings, we had an hour or so before we needed to head for the airport, so we took a drive around.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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The sun makes a pretty powerful first impression. It was 41c (106 F), quite warm, but definitely not a record for Delhi. Really, it wasn't any worse than "West-Texas-hot"...which of course, ain't all that great.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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We drove around the New Delhi government buildings, and over to the Old City, to see "The Red Fort". It was built by invading Mogul Emperors during the mid 1600's. It has an octagonal shape, with two main entrances.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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It's huge. The heat made it seem like a long way round to the Main Gate. These moats were once channeled into the nearby river, so they were always full of water, and no doubt a few crocodiles.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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All along the top of the walls are arrow slits, and regular canon ports, in a Mogul Helmet motif, where this little guy has taken up residence.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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The Brits apparently gutted the main internal buildings some time ago, and erected several "new" buildings they could use as a main headquarters.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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One thing that impresses me about India, is a seemingly universal entrepreneurial spirit. All over the place, sometimes shoulder to shoulder along the street, are vendors, stands, small businesses, all with people trying...trying to move forward. This guy, for example, can get you Visa Forms, "urgent photo copies", or a Coke. Just step up and tell him what you need.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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This guy is another example. His buddy is driving the motorcycle, and he is holding on to a large roll of something. I saw him while riding with my friend Pankil in Vadodara. I told Pankil that an image like this says to me, "Don't tell me it can't be done...find a way ! " If people want to move forward, they can't let little things stand in their way. They have to push forward, like this guy, and like the vendors above, to get the job done. I saw that spirit everywhere I went in India.
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Photo by Mark W. Laughlin
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The hotel in New Delhi was quite nice. The lobby was a cool, quiet, calm oasis, in sharp contrast to the heat and bustle outside.
More to come...
Y'all take care,
- Mark W. Laughlin
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