I bought my First Need water purifier which is made by a company out of Pennsylvania called General Ecology?almost ten years ago for a trip to Mexico. Since that trip where I first used it to "make" water it has seen action in seven 3rd world countries, plus in the woods of Minnesota, to provide healthy, clean, pathogen free drinking water. I will reccomend this irreplaceable tool to anyone. Bringing it to India was a last second decision thankfully pushed through by Gretchen.
We have been purifying the tap water out of our hotel rooms since day one. The First Need is the only mechanical portable purifier, to my knowledge, on the market that has the capability to remove pathogens on the virus scale. Do not confuse this tool with the popular "filters" that many of you may have used in the Boundry Waters or on other back woods excurtions.
I routinely quality check the device by mixing a few drops of blue food coloring into a glass of tap and if it comes out clear we are good to drink.
I had my reservations of using the First Need here in Varanasi where the water works pumps its tap water right out of the Ganges where the water has thousands of times the safe limit of fecal parts per million- don't quote me on this mumbo jumbo- lets just say it is shitty water. But I am continuing to use the First Need. The filter has a life of around 150 gallons. I have been making about 2 liters a day for drinking and tooth brushing. At the same time saving the hundreds of plastic bottles we would have used if not for the First Need.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Delhi
We kept pretty chill in Delhi. We walked around Old Delhi's markets. Visited its mosque, the largest in India capable of holding 25,000 Muhamaddans bowing to Mecca. To understand Delhi and much of India one must understand who the Mughals were. Briefly, they controlled much of the Indian subcontinent for several hundred years (until the Brittish invasion) leaving magnificent architecture, food, and Islam. Although India is only 12% Muslim, this over 120,000,000. Islam's influence runs deep. From the sometimes eerie but most often comedic early morning call to prayer heard everywhere to politics. The Mughals also destroyed much of the original architecture, repurposing Hindu shrines and temples for Mosques. They invaded from the northwest through present day Pakistan and (I think) mainly came from Central asia Persia (being Iran, Afgahnistan). Mughals trace their lineage to Ghengis Khan.
Old Delhi is a maze of dark crowded alley ways filled with venders selling spices, cloth, produce, and a million other things. It is overwhelmingly male, as is the rest of public street India. The best way I can describe it is Indiana Jones being chased by Nazis.
On our second day in Delhi I went to a dentist appointment. I got a cleaning and a couple cavities filled. Somehow we managed to find the dentist office in the upper class neighbohood of East of Kalish. Check out their websit- Delhidental.com... It is worth the ticket to India just for the dental work one can have done. If you're in my financial and insurance situation, of course. I am pleased with the work done. They pushed hard on upselling me with a whitening and other cosmetic options. I declined but am thinking of having my front tooth recrowned.
After the dentist we visited the Ba'hai Lotus Temple. A beautiful white marble structure dedicated to anyone and everyone. The Ba'hai faith is accepting of all faiths. We cicumnavigated the campus taking advantage to photograph the play of light on the marble and reflection pool. The angles of the building are soft and sweeping. I can't comprehend the physics behind the construction of heavy stone in such a design.
Inside the temple was modest and quiet. We sat without noise on stiff wood chairs, pleasant and mind calming retreat from the Delhi streets. Field tripping school kids occationally broke the serenity with giggles and playful antics, a great reminder to lighten up in orld often too serious, be it god or everything that falls beneath.
Spending four days total in Delhi we enjoyed lazing away on the roof top restaurants observing the busy streets from a bird's eye view. We also scoped out possible purchases for or April return to Delhi at the State run emporiums were quality is top notch and prices fixed so we have a gauge to haggling game to come.
We then bought a 1st class ticket to Agra to visit the much anticipated Taj Mahal (another remnant of the Mughals).
Old Delhi is a maze of dark crowded alley ways filled with venders selling spices, cloth, produce, and a million other things. It is overwhelmingly male, as is the rest of public street India. The best way I can describe it is Indiana Jones being chased by Nazis.
On our second day in Delhi I went to a dentist appointment. I got a cleaning and a couple cavities filled. Somehow we managed to find the dentist office in the upper class neighbohood of East of Kalish. Check out their websit- Delhidental.com... It is worth the ticket to India just for the dental work one can have done. If you're in my financial and insurance situation, of course. I am pleased with the work done. They pushed hard on upselling me with a whitening and other cosmetic options. I declined but am thinking of having my front tooth recrowned.
After the dentist we visited the Ba'hai Lotus Temple. A beautiful white marble structure dedicated to anyone and everyone. The Ba'hai faith is accepting of all faiths. We cicumnavigated the campus taking advantage to photograph the play of light on the marble and reflection pool. The angles of the building are soft and sweeping. I can't comprehend the physics behind the construction of heavy stone in such a design.
Inside the temple was modest and quiet. We sat without noise on stiff wood chairs, pleasant and mind calming retreat from the Delhi streets. Field tripping school kids occationally broke the serenity with giggles and playful antics, a great reminder to lighten up in orld often too serious, be it god or everything that falls beneath.
Spending four days total in Delhi we enjoyed lazing away on the roof top restaurants observing the busy streets from a bird's eye view. We also scoped out possible purchases for or April return to Delhi at the State run emporiums were quality is top notch and prices fixed so we have a gauge to haggling game to come.
We then bought a 1st class ticket to Agra to visit the much anticipated Taj Mahal (another remnant of the Mughals).
Laguardia-New Delhi
The flight from New Jersey to India was quite pleasant. As Gretch slept on the plane I fidgeted between reading, the bathroom, and watching movies. Take off and landing were smooth. We were welcomed to Indihra Ghandi International Airport with Delhi's winter fog laced heavy with the smoke of burning garbage. Or is it smoke hanging thick with fog? Either way, the campfire comfort of smoke was our first reality that we had arrived.
We breezed through customs after buying a bottle of wine at the duty free shop and had a short wait for our prearraged airport pickup to the Hotel RAK International. We tipped the taxi man a US dollar and dodged the cow pies hidden in the shadows of Paharganj's (Delhi's tourist ghetto) late night shadows. Safe and sound, we checked in and expressed gratitude and awe to each other for the hassle free transition. It could have been worse. Very much so.
Some how we both managed to sleep that night as if the 12+ hour time difference was non existant. I never had a such an easy transition to jet lag. From that night on we went to bed at a reasonable Indian time, waking with the metronome bell outside our window in front of temple around 7 am.
We breezed through customs after buying a bottle of wine at the duty free shop and had a short wait for our prearraged airport pickup to the Hotel RAK International. We tipped the taxi man a US dollar and dodged the cow pies hidden in the shadows of Paharganj's (Delhi's tourist ghetto) late night shadows. Safe and sound, we checked in and expressed gratitude and awe to each other for the hassle free transition. It could have been worse. Very much so.
Some how we both managed to sleep that night as if the 12+ hour time difference was non existant. I never had a such an easy transition to jet lag. From that night on we went to bed at a reasonable Indian time, waking with the metronome bell outside our window in front of temple around 7 am.
Thanks Allison
Gretchen and I are not the most technically suave people. We are neanderthals in the evolutional progression of computer knowledge. I prefer Flintstone gadgetry over digital. A wire bound notebook over the glowing pixels of the computer screen. Gretch and I love to move our bodies as a whole, bicycling and dance, not just finger tips and eyeballs. I have a hard time sitting still. Never would I have taen the time to put this together.
So once again, this blog (like the Corneater) would never have come to kernel without the help of our talented tech support working out of Minneapolis- the lovely Ms. Allison. Gretchen and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With full hearts and Indian smiles we will try to justify your time you stole from your boss or family to read this blog.
So once again, this blog (like the Corneater) would never have come to kernel without the help of our talented tech support working out of Minneapolis- the lovely Ms. Allison. Gretchen and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With full hearts and Indian smiles we will try to justify your time you stole from your boss or family to read this blog.
Monday, January 30, 2012
More...from Agra and the Taj Mahal
Photo shoot while waiting for the ferry.
A friendly boatmam and the boat(ferry) we took out for a short ride on the Yamuna river.
A view of the Taj Mahal at sunset from the boat.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Test Post
This is a test post.
In the case of an actual post this would be followed by images of Steve frolicking through the Ganges, stories of crowded streets and enchanting aromas, Haiku's involving sunsets and food poisoning, and all the other wonderful moments Gretchen + Steve experience along the way.
Enjoy.
Allison
In the case of an actual post this would be followed by images of Steve frolicking through the Ganges, stories of crowded streets and enchanting aromas, Haiku's involving sunsets and food poisoning, and all the other wonderful moments Gretchen + Steve experience along the way.
Enjoy.
Allison
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