Today was basically a museum touring and shopping day.  We first stopped by the National Museum, packed with exhibits ranging over 5000 years;then the Crafts Museum, which displayed rural arts and crafts from villages of India.  In both museums, there were many depictions of Lord Krishna, Shiva and Shakti.  (Many others, but I remember these Hindu deities).

Lord Krishna (I’ll see his birthplace tomorrow in Mathura) was predominate in Southern India around the 7th-9th centuries.  He is mostly depicted in artwork as “blue”….he was considered a god-child, prankster, lover, hero, and supreme being.  (Pretty much everything).

Shiva (the destroyer) is said to be the founder of yoga.  He represents supreme consciousness whereas Shakti is his counterpart and represents energy (cosmic force in all beings).  Basically, the belief is you can’t have one without the other….

My guide was so knowledgeable, so, of course, the day was “information overload”!  I did end the day with the purchase of a sarees (not the one I wanted, but I got a cheaper version)….they are works of art! 

Tomorrow I travel to Agra for the highlight of my visit to the Delhi region…….

Until then, Namaste!

Oh yes – I got to see the wild monkeys roaming the city today!  How bizarre – a pack of monkeys just roaming around….

One of the big issues in Delhi this week is the murder of a 25-year old TV Journalist on Tuesday morning about 3.40am (she was shot while driving her car).  A comment from a chief minister (woman), which has certainly outraged friends and colleagues of Miss Soumya, was that she should not be ”adventurous” in driving at such a time in the city - Indicating that women should not be out alone at such an hour (meaning without a male escort).

Dengue cases are on a rise in the city (need to wear that mosquito repellent)… 599 to date.  No worries – it was much worse in Rio, Brazil.

The President of India is speaking very favorably about the N (nuclear)-deal that passed the Senate yesterday, saying it is a historical moment for the US.  (As we all know, India stands to gain a lot with this arrangement….)

Things to buy in New Delhi:  Kashmir Rugs (I bought a GORGEOUS one yesterday for my sweetie!).  Kashmir is suffering because it’s no longer safe for tourists to visit.  There is much political unrest and the city is under a government lock down.  Therefore, the government allows “brokers” to bring various items, rugs, clothing, etc. to Delhi to sell on behalf of the families.  I went to such a government-approved place yesterday and the quality of the rugs was amazing.  The rug I wanted was $22K (USD)! WOW, was it FANTASTIC….but I found a much more affordable one to give to Richard for our anniversary…;)  Each rug comes with a book of history about the family, how the rug was made, the quality and the story on the rug.  My rug has a “hunting scene”, which I really liked (the colors will match my home…) and it’s just neat.

Kashmir Green Tea, in my opinion, is the best in the world! Wow, am I looking forward to trying ALL the green teas here!

I’m still confused on the tipping issues.  I think it’s customary to tip 5-10% at restaurants – tipping is not accepted at the hotel (personal trainers are complimentary at the hotel and they won’t accept tips – my trainer, Arun, even printed out my exercises for me to do later), but baggage handlers/bell hops take tips.

I weigh 52 kgs….I like that – 52!!! (I have yet to convert it) and why is the US the ONLY country that doesn’t use the metric system?

Palin is even in the news here……

Happy Gandhi Jayanti!!!