tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387Wed, 04 Sep 2024 20:34:09 +0000Sights and SoundsPeopleTouringtuk-tukDichotomyBombayGurudwaraHumayunLodhi GardensQutub MinarRashapatri BhavanShoppingTitoulanguageThoughts and observations of a 22 year-old American expat living and working in New Delhihttp://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)Blogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-317997934888666711Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:53:00 +00002007-04-04T07:13:59.105-07:00BombayDichotomySights and SoundsTouringI've been quite busy lately, and I apologize for not being diligent about this blog over the past month.As part of my position here at the hedge fund, I've been focusing on one of my firm's deals to finance a few major infrastructure improvements throughout India. Without going into details, I'll say that it's quite large and has required an enormous amount of time in the due diligence phase, http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/04/time-flies-like-arrow-fruit-flies-like.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-5592992223612632983Sun, 04 Mar 2007 05:25:00 +00002007-03-04T10:25:46.957-08:00The entire country stops for the Holi celebration this weekend.Read more about it here.Pictured are the colors that we will mix with water and fling at passers-by. This is all to commemorate the start of the summer planting season here in India.I'll have more pictures and stories later. For now, it's time to get dressed.http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/03/today-is-holi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-2229007419301635095Sat, 03 Mar 2007 06:51:00 +00002007-03-03T07:55:46.323-08:00PeopleQutub MinarSights and SoundsTouringtuk-tuk"Before the Taj Mahal was built, this was the landmark, the face of India to the world," explained a tour guide I hired for a few hundred rupees.Carbon dating has revealed that the foundation of the Qutub Minar was probably constructed between 100 and 200 years before the birth of Christ. That's not to say that tower construction began at that time, because it was built on the foundations of http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/03/evening-with-titou-part-iii.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-1375958222708332143Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:57:00 +00002007-03-02T21:57:43.881-08:00languagePeopleSights and SoundsTouringtuk-tukThe difference between a westernized Indian accent and a true Indian accent, I think, is encapsulated in the pronunciation of the letter "R." An Indian with a western accent will pronounce it fully, whereas an Indian without the accent will add a very soft "d" after every word ending in "r" -- making it sound as if they said the "r" but then lassoed it back into their mouth at the last second http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/03/thoughts-on-language-and-sly-stallone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-7450769336133214196Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:21:00 +00002007-03-02T06:42:57.999-08:00Lodhi GardensPeopleSights and SoundsTouringOn Long Island, archaeologists get excited when they uncover the foundation to a building of an eighteenth century whaling village on the East End. To further illustrate it's infancy, on Long Island, you'd make the most meaningful distinction by identifying "pre-war" buildings as those constructed before WWII.So, I've found it refreshing to come to India and completely overhaul my personal http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/03/saturday-in-park-lodhi-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-6449527406036918552Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:38:00 +00002007-03-02T06:39:42.895-08:00Sights and SoundsWith a rather oppressive work schedule at the office (Mon-Sat from about 9 am to 9 pm, with every other Saturday off), I noticed that I had been getting little or no exercise. Luckily for me, a gym opened up right in the Sunder Nagar market -- literally a stone's throw from where I'm staying.The Barbarian Gym (pictured) is not much different from an American gym, except that it's probably a http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/europe-invades-barbarian-gym-grr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-1934958034210548798Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:02:00 +00002007-02-23T02:08:06.036-08:00Sights and SoundsEnjoying the sun and a cool breeze in the market garden.A stray enjoying the heat of the warm pavement afterwhat was probably a chilly night.http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/afternoon-naps-in-sunder-nagar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-1164872000156509051Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:47:00 +00002007-02-23T11:39:46.432-08:00HumayunPeopleSights and SoundsTitouTouringtuk-tukRead part 1 of this story"You go pay, and I'll be here when you come out" said Titou as we pulled up to the gate of Humayun's Tomb.As I approached the ticket booth, I noticed that they charge more to foreigners than they do to Indians. In fact, it's a 1000% markup. I guess the monument, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is meant to be a park for the Indians who work in the area and as a http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/evening-with-titou-part-deux-humayuns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-6262939933977593122Thu, 22 Feb 2007 10:43:00 +00002007-02-23T01:13:32.991-08:00DichotomyShoppingSights and SoundsRodeo Drive. 54th & 5th. Khan Market?Resting on top of the most expensive commercial real estate in all of India (and 24th globally), Khan Market (pictured) has a most unorthodox way of filling up high-priced FSI.Peaking at a measly two stories, Khan Market serves up anything and everything for a portion of the Delhi population. I like to think of it as a big box retailer without a box (it's http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/super-stop-shop-delhi-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-5645838288755091974Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:26:00 +00002007-02-23T01:14:09.400-08:00GurudwaraPeopleRashapatri BhavanSights and Soundstuk-tuk"You like Bollywood?" asked my tuk-tuk driver as he whisked me away from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, or Presidential Palace (pictured at right)."I'm not so sure," I replied. "There's a little too much singing and dancing for my taste, but the ones I've seen have had their charms.""Ah!" exclaimed Titou. "You're from California! You like Hollywood?!""I've seen my fair share of movies, yes," I repliedhttp://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/evening-with-titou-part-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658083719028666387.post-4996980588788407929Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:49:00 +00002007-02-21T08:30:40.641-08:00DichotomyToday marks the beginning of my fifth week here in Delhi. In my time here on the other side of the world I've seen many things. The more positive elements can be described with words like "glorious," "breathtaking," "life-changing." The less positive elements arouse feelings of horror, pity, and overall confusion.The goal of this page is to document my experience here India, with a keen http://indiandispatch.blogspot.com/2007/02/right-about-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ryan B.)0