A little bit later wake up to start the day touring seeing the city. Final day of the official tour

Random Observations from the Trip

The colonial period left India with many impressive buildings, but also deeply mixed feelings among Indians. While they acknowledge the architectural and infrastructural contributions, the brutality of British rule remains a painful memory.

Many Indians also have a complicated view of the United States—not towards Americans as individuals, but towards the U.S. government. Historically, the U.S. has rarely supported India, with the major exception of backing them against Pakistan in one instance. However, that was an anomaly; in general, the U.S. government has aligned more with Pakistan and China, often to India’s disadvantage.

India initially saw China as an ally. In fact, India even gave up its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in China’s favor as a goodwill gesture. Ironically, not long after, China turned aggressive toward India.

For a long time, India didn’t feel the need for a strong military, believing its geographic size and position made it secure. That assumption, however, was tested by conflicts with both Pakistan and China.

On a different note, mix of fellow travelers:

• The Seattle Couple – Environmentally and politically conscious, often shopping for their grandchildren. Their grandkids were involved in various humanitarian projects, similar to the Peace Corps, in different parts of the world.

• The Australian Couple – Successful farmers with a background in pottery and home fixtures. Well-traveled, clearly affluent, and with a fine sense of humor.

• The Florida Couple – Politically isolated due to their strong belief that a great leader was being sabotaged by the FBI and CIA, which they saw as the reason for his struggles.

• The Medical Couple – A gynecologist specializing in fetal medicine and his wife, an intensive care cardiac nurse. They had fascinating conversations with Neil about genetics and the drugs he was working on and meant other topics. Main couple I spoke with.

• The Shopping Couple – They carried Vuitton luggage everywhere—two giant bags, plus more over their shoulders, plus anything else they could manage. They bought everything in sight—jewelry, earrings, artwork, scrolls. If it wasn’t nailed down, they took it. One Nehru jacket wasn’t enough. Cute couple, very nice and friendly, but with absolutely no sense of proportion.

• The Dentist Couple – Mike, a dentist, and his wife, a reading specialist. Both were very intelligent, well-informed, and engaging. They kept up with both New York politics and world affairs, making for great conversation.

• The Nebraska Couple – The husband was a railroad engineer. I didn’t speak much with them, as they mostly talked about their family and travels—similar to a lot of other people.

Guide gave, in response to a question, a 30 minute praise of all the wonderful things Modi did, how popular, programs started. All good. No populist or authoritarian difficulties. He walks on water.

Mosque

large outdoor mosque, holds 20,000 people. Guide nicely explained its design what parts are important at least in this part of India. Particularly note how different it looks than the Spanish mosques we have visited.

then to a rickshaw ride on one of the worst roads possible for a rickshaw with two people sitting in it full of potholes bumps one of the most uncomfortable rides I’ve been on, had to hold on with both hands, so almost impossible to take pictures. The ride was to go through a market very similar to the one in Mumbai wholesale stuff seemingly small businesses doing enormous business by a whole sale. 

Ghandi memorial

Mahatma Ghandi memorial. A required visit for every diplomatic visit.

handmade silk carpets and handmade Pashmina   wonderful wonderful exhibit on how the rugs are made by Hand how they are to be cleaned how indestructible they are used rather than hung on walls. clear explanation between what these are an oriental rug stores that we see in United States and elsewhere.  

Tomb of lovers. Taj later modeled on this