I decided today to try something different. My hotel offered a car with a driver for 4 hours for 600 rupees. Not wanting to haggle for rides anymore and knowing that I want to go see a couple of things on the outskirts I went ahead with the driver. The driver, papo, was very nice. First thing he asked when we got on the road was if I was married. Hmm, awkward first question but I simply replied no knowing he would ask why not. “Why sir, why not married?” “I’m too busy,” I said. He told me he has been married for 6 years and has a 6 months old boy. Papo is 24. that’s really where the conversation ended for the rest of the time. I felt very strange having my own driver in this big car. I kept wishing that my friends are filling those empty seats. that’s when I realized that I don’t really like traveling alone anymore. At least not in this kind of setting.
Four hours were just enough to go to Qutb Minar, the Bahai Lotus Temple and Humayum;s Tomb. Both the tomb and the minar were interesting sites but Lotus Temple was the most intriguing. Not the structure itself, which is beautiful, but more the overall experience of the site and the Bahai information center there. I didn’t really know much about Bahai’s except that there is a minority in Egypt that is being prosecuted and the they follow a 19century prophet who had very progressive ideas about religion. Despite being smack in the middle of the day’s heat, it was crowded with Indian tourists. It was very clean and organized. Groups are allowed into the building, built in the 80s, and are asked to be pray silently in whatever religion they follow. Inside, rows of wooden bleachers with marble seats are arranged to face one of the corners of the lotus shape. There was a bird inside, not sure what kind, that made a lot of noise, good noise, and flew down to the bleachers. It was a very nice experience overall, but then I went to the information center and was surprised to learn a lot more about Bahaism. The principles are very modern and universal. It kind of reminds me of Deism in the sense that it promotes the idea that all great religions come from one source (a supernatural being) and they they are essentially one, except for "non-essential" rituals. But Bahaism also has a prophet that who is glorified in someways. There were also images of his son traveling the world in the early 20th century promoting Bahaism in places like Illanois where there was a picture of him speaking in a church and where he laid the founding stone of a Bahai'i temple. anyway, it was all very interesting to me.
back out, oh I forgot for a moment how hot it was outside. By the time I walked back to my car I was drenched in sweat and panting. Next and final stop on my 4 hour tour: Humayun's Tomb. This was a beautiful site, if only I can distract myself from thinking of how hot it is. This tomb was commissioned by Humayun's wife and designed by a Persian architect in 1562. I think it was the precedent for the Taj Mahal.
I collected my bag from the hotel then headed to the train station. Feeling like I've been paying too much for transport I decided to walk with my bag to the main road to catch a rickshaw. A very regrettable choice. Did I not think that carrying my backpack and walking for a little over a mile in the beating sun was not going to be painful? What the hell is wrong with me, why didn't I just pay for a tourist taxi? but once I got on a rickshaw, who made excellent time by the way whizzing between cars, I was happy with my decision.
Delhi train station is a pretty miserable place. But I found my train, and my seat and was happy to have the AC blast in my face for 3.5 hours to Chandigarh. They actually give you a bottle of water and food in a second class AC train!! Amazing! and the train was fast too. Things are getting better already.
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