Happy birthday Richard.......

 
Today we got a well earned long lie and a lazy day. I slept until 09:50am, which must have been a good 11 hours sleep. Must have needed it as feel better for it. Especially when Ache-lal (AKA Good man) brewed me another cup of the special spicy tea to help my cold and cough. The guy is a legend! Haha. We all sat down to another brilliant breakfast of omelettes, toast and mango juice - oh how I have missed Good man's cooking - and wished Richard a happy birthday, then commenced our lounging about. Sudarshan then arrived with a box for Richard which contained a huge birthday cake with his name on it. It was like a black forest gateau with loads of cream and fruit on top. After a quick chorus of the birthday song from all of us - Hema, Aryon and Ambica too - we scoffed a huge slice each, it was good.  After some more lounging around Sudarshan and Hema drove us to the local mall for some retail therapy. But first they treated us to lunch at an authentic South Indian restaurant which they like. The meal was the best that I think I have had since coming to India, and that is saying something since all of the food is delicious. We were served drinks of bottled water - for us sensitive stomached foreigners - and a big glass of white stuff that kind of tasted like the mint and parsley yogurt raita. The food comprised of a huge crispy pancake called a dosa filled with tasty vegetables in a spicy sauce. It was accompanied by a delicious bowl of lentils and 3 small dipping bowls of mint, spicy tomato and coconut. I can honestly say it is the nicest meal I have had in a long time, it was so flavoursome, my taste buds were thrilled. After a bowl of sweet candied spice mix was passed about. Sudarshan said it was to refresh the mouth and to help digestion. We all grabbed a handful and knocked it back in one go, and I was in fits of laughter because it tasted like pot pouri, but after swallowing the taste was rather pleasant.  We then got left to do some shopping at the mall. It was interesting to see how contrasting it was in there to outside. It was very westernised, even the women were walking about in mini skirts and stilettos! Us girls treated ourselves to some beautiful Indian outfits - mine was a petrol green tunic with gold designing and green scrunch leggings too match. Some of the clothing was so stunning, all glittery and covered in sequins. Meeting up later with the guys they had all bought matching Indian cricket tops to join in with the celebratory mood from their recent world cup win. To finish off our shopping experience we bought some silly gifts for Richard - a large pointy party hat and two huge helium balloons, one of a glittery golden tiger and the other a pretty pink unicorn. He got a few laughs walking through the mall. Then we went to the Ice Bar - literally a bar with everything made out of ice including all of the chairs, the bar, statues and even the drinking glasses. It was minus 10 in there so we all had to don some rather attractive hooded fur ponchos and gloves so we wouldn't lose any digits. With vodka mixers in hand we had a little boogie in this huge freezer, surrounded by ice in the middle of tropical India, who would have thought it. But it was a good way to end our day and have a little fun for Richards birthday.

A hectic few days....

 

 
I never thought I would be in India, never mind seeing and doing so much over such a short period of time. We have been here for a week already and I feel like I have been here for months. The days are filled with so many different experiences, it’s no wonder they seem so much longer. Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week have been amazing; late nights, early mornings and a lot of travelling, but well worth it in the end. We had an early start to Thursday for the 4 hour drive to Jaipur, while passing by plenty elephants, monkeys and camels on the way. We had the chance to visit the Amber Fort, an incredible building housing a museum of traditional textiles, clothing and armoury, with views over the entire city. We also had the chance to visit the Chokhi Dhani resort for a traditional Rajasthani dinner which was fantastic even though it was really spicy, and we also had the opportunity to ride on camels and elephants, as well as watching traditional dancers and getting henna tattoos done. The resort was pretty amazing, it was like experiencing everything Indian culture had to offer all in one place. On Friday, we stopped off on route to see the pink buildings of Jaipur and the beautiful Water Palace, which is situated in the middle of a lake. It was a very picturesque sight to see, surrounded by water with the rolling hills in the background. After taking in the glorious surroundings, we then headed for a visit to the Indian Institute of Health Management Research, and then onwards to the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, both extremely interesting visits with the opportunity to share a lot of interesting information. There are so many opportunities for students to come out here and sample the great work these institutions do. So after another long day, we finally set off for another 4 hour journey to Agra, with even more to see and do. We started early again in Agra, with a trip to the Taj Mahal at around 6am to witness the sunrise. I must say the experience was more incredible than I ever thought. Definitely an amazing “once in a lifetime” opportunity, the building itself and surrounding areas were beautiful! To think this building has been here for centuries, and the architecture involved with the symmetry is breathtaking. After our visit to the Taj, we then headed to visit the Agra Fort, another amazing fort with beautiful views of the surrounding area and the Taj Mahal along the river. Certainly a brilliant opportunity and a very memorable experience! A crazy few days but definitely worth it when considering how much we’ve managed to see and do over the course of three days, pretty amazing to be honest!  Jayne Duncan 09/04/2011

In Perfect harmony.....

 
Both of my parents are architects and I have been lucky enough to go on a number of architectural visits inside and outside the UK, but nothing is like what i have seen in India, which makes it very interesting to me and tells me a lot about other aspects of life here. There is wide range of living conditions within the city with the poorest people that live on the street in self made tents or using old cut-offs of corrugated metal stuck together as a home with one light tied to the roof in the odd one or two tents. One the other end of the scale is large high-rise hotels with bright lights and an incredible amount off glass and marble that must be worth millions. What makes this so interesting is that these two types of property are right next to one another with no conflicts or crime between these people. What is amazing about this city is that with a extreme poverty and extreme affluence next to one another the people still manage to get on amazingly well, with no looking down on people with pity and little crime as everyone is smiling to one-another. In the city the businesses are in rows of terrace shops that are only about a meter wide with a wide range of goods from selling shirts to Internet cafes to fridge repairs that are businesses that have just been passed down from one generation to the next with no greed or envy of one-another with a perfect harmony. This just shows that the city can work around anything and it is unbelievable how well such different communities can work with and alongside one another no matter what. Tom Pearce 07/04/2011

Time to get to work.....

 
We managed to get a later start today, which for me didn't work out too well. By having a later start it meant I managed to get a lie in till 8am, which in turn meant I was last in the shower, which of course meant I had no hot water. Even though we are in Delhi, and the temperatures are hitting 30 degrees +, I still hate starting a day with a cold shower.....it's not right!

Anyway, after I manned up a bit, we sat down to a breakfast of macaroni pasta which was fairly bizarre, and more omelette's which are steadily becoming a favourite. We needed a good breakfast today as we had another busy day planned. First up we were heading to a place called Film City, which was the hub for all media companies based in Delhi. This is where all radio, film, and TV studios are based in Delhi. Our first meeting of the day was with the Group Head of the biggest Radio station in Delhi, Radio Mirchi.

They had recently moved to the new building they were situated in, and all the tell tale signs were still there. Polythene lying everywhere and the smell of new tiles and carpet throughout. After having to declare five separate gadgets for security purposes, we went to meet Abhinav Gupta, who was the Group Manager for the Entertainment Network Ltd who own Radio Mirchi. After explaining that they had a party in the office last night to celebrate the cricket world cup victory, and that there were a few sore heads around, we cracked onto business. After a bit of 'work' chat, we were given a guided tour of the station offices.

The atmosphere in the building was laid back, and seemed conducive to a good working environment. We were lucky enough to be able to sit in with the female DJ on her live broadcast, as she explained how the radio desk worked, jingles and all. After leaving the studio, we said our goodbyes and thanked Abhinav for his hospitality, and hoped that we would be doing business in the future. By the time we left Radio Mirchi, it was round about Midday, which in Delhi means it's hot!

Today was easily the hottest we have experienced so far, so Sudarshan decided it would be best for us to head back to the apartment for a couple of hours before our next meeting at 3.30 with the Times Business School to keep us out of the searing heat. This gave us time to catch up on our journals, blogs and sleep etc. As we left for the times Business school, Sudarshan Pandey, our host and program co-ordinator in India, explained how we were going to be hearing a lecture from his old mentor and former Dean of his old University, Professor Sengupta.

 

 

We were greeted by the Times Business school in the gracious way that we have become accustomed to in India. Sudarshan also explained how when greeting men of respect, this respect is shown by touching them on either foot when you meet. This is how he greeted Professor Sengupta. We introduced ourselves to each other, and discussed our initial impressions of India, all of which were glowing references. We then had a chat about what we each did as a business, and exchanged stories of travel, as Professor Sengupta is a very well travelled man, on account of his work and being asked to lecture throughout the world.

The feeling I got from the times business school is that it is very much a family atmosphere, where everyone is happy in their work, be that that students, lecturers or internal staff. We were shown around the building and our guide was so proud of the establishment they have grown over a number of years. From here, we went on to meet some of the students and sit in on a lecture from Professor Sengupta on International Business which was extremely interesting and he spoke with real passion and enthusiasm for the subject.

After Professor Sengupta spoke, I was asked to get up and explain a little about ICS, who we were and what we do. I then thanked Professor Sengupta for his lecture, and also for the hospitality we had been shown by everyone at the institution. We then chatted with some of the students who had sat in on the lecture, and answered a number of questions they had on ICS and the UK education system in general.

Their thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for education was truly refreshing to see. As we got back to our apartment, we sat down to dinner, and as group including our two American friends Jessica, and Tricia. Everyone is getting to know one another, and feels comfortable in each others company. I think India has incredible power to bring out the best in people and as far as I am concerned, the whole experience just keeps getting better and better, and I can't wait for tomorrow to begin.

Steven Duff 08/04/2011

Sometimes you take things for granted...

 

Sometimes you just take things for granted. Today, we were given a first hand experience of how many people still live in extreme poverty and have no access to sanitation, something we all take for granted. Our first day of the program involved a visit to Sulabh International, a non-profit organisation. Sulabh is an Indian based social service organisation which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management, non conventional sources of energy and social reform through education. It is the largest non-profit organisation in India and has close to 50,000 volunteers.

Sulabh was founded by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak in 1970. During this time they have came up with a number of innovations that are designed to improve sanitation throughout India. Some of these innovations include safe and hygienic waste disposal technology and the producation on simple toilet facilities for towns and villages in both rural and urban areas. They also provide public toilets which are used by more than 10 million people throughout India every single day. In addition to this work they have also set up an English-medium public school in New Delhi as well as a network of centres throughout India to train boys and girls from poor familes, specifically scavengers so they can compete in the job market.

Scavengers was the name given to those workers who in the past made their living from the removal of nightsoil from homes, where there was no sanitation, and were seen as the lowest of the low by society throughout India, this is where the term 'Untouchables' came from, as nobody wanted to be associated with them or their families. In the 40 years that Sulabh has been running, the numbers of scavengers, or 'untouchables' in India has fallen from 3.5 million to now only 100,000.  Dr. Pathak proposes that within 2 years, this number will be down to zero. The work he has done, with the help of his passionate and enthusiastic staff and volunteers cannot be underestimated. When you see the look on these 'reborn' women's faces, you understand that he has given them the basic human rights they deserve, and the self confidence to take part in society and live side by side with everyone else as an equal. This, for many of them was a dream that they would never have thought could have became a reality. The fact that many of these women have now travelled the globe with the project mission sanitation, and the Sulabh institute has been recognised for their work by the UN, just goes to show that with such dedication, and desire to see your visions become a reality, almost anything is possible.

The Sulabh public school and the vocational training classes the women take part in, are a privilege to see. The admiration the children and the women have for Dr. Pathak is heartwarming to see. They had taken to heart the many signs that were situated throughout the complex that repeatedly read 'Please smile, you are in Suhlab.' 

For all of us on the trip who are guilty of taking life for granted sometimes, this really was a wake up call, yet with the progress that has been made, it also allowed us to smile, as requested.

 

Steven Duff 05/04/2011

 

Nothing can prepare you for this....

 

Nothing can prepare you for India. So far, I love it, and coming on this trip it is without doubt one of the best things I've ever done. I love the sounds, the colours and the general mayhem is Delhi. I've probably never been so well fed either, and the food we have had so far has been absolutely amazing, and thanks to the famous Indian hospitality, it just keeps on coming. I think I think I will easily have put on an extra stone by the time I get home!

The juxtaposition that exists in everyday life here is truly unbelievable. Driving along a street you can see people who are living in tents, just along from a five star hotel. On our first day we were taken to the Sulabh institute where they help educate women, who previously earned their living by the demeaning practice of removing nightsoil and carrying it away on their heads for 500 rupees a month (the equivalent of £7) and provide them with a chance of a better life for them and their families. On the second day we were whisked away to the Radio Mirchi headquarters where we got a tour of the swanky new offices and live studios. It's hard to believe that all of these things exist in the same country. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground at all. But then not everything in life is nice. It's just more visible in everyday life here. Everything (the good and the bad) just comes together int one mind blowing experience that is India.

 

Roisin Nelson 06/04/2011 

Namaste

 
After a few days now in India I can say that a few things that I found so completely alien to me, have settled down into a realisation and acceptance that this is how their world is here and that far from hating it, the people  that i have met enjoy it. It is still hard on occasions as westerner who admittedly surrounds himself with technology and the best of what he can afford to accept that there is not more that can be done to help people living in some ways that we would find abhorrent. But I am seeing this culture day after day, and people in the streets who are always friendly and welcoming to us, and each other. I see the shops and small businesses and cottage industries that are absoluteley everywhere and it makes me wonder, if we in the west have somehow lost our way?

Activity of every type imaginable and some not, occurs here all of the time and it seems that everybody is doing something, working hard and putting as much into what ever that may be as possible. What you notice quite quickly here if you stop to look is that everything is manual. It is people that harvest crops, not machines. It is people who sweep the roads rather than a truck, and they do it with brush hand brooms. But whatever sphere of society they come from, they have time to sit and chat or to eat their meals with each other and i cannot help but be moved by this openness that is displayed.

Hospitality is another major social difference compared to what we are used to. Whenever we visit any institution or business, and I am assured it is the same when entering people's homes, they are delighted that you are visiting them and have an interest in their organisation. They then wheel out out all varieties of food and drink at the drop of a hat, and should you abstain, people are offended! This insistence of hospitality is that, if one person in the group accepts a cup of tea, everybody will be brought a cup. Loving my food as much as I do and certainly and tasting the variety of food we have so far, this could mean me piling on the pounds. I'm just hoping the heat keeps it off. 

 

Richard Deans 06/04/2011

If you enjoy peace and quiet...try somewhere else

 
If you enjoy peace and quiet, then Delhi is not the place for you. If however, you are like me and enjoy the hustle and bustle of a big city and enjoy taking in every weird and wonderful sight and sound imaginable then you will love this place. It might take a while to get used to the traffic, the constant beeping of horns, and dicing with death every time you try to cross a road, but when you do get used to it, you learn to love it! That seems to be the common theme in India. Sometimes you see things and think 'Wow, that's a bit weird', but it then starts to become a loveable quirk. I mean, I'm not really used to seeing animals roaming the streets, but so far we have seen cows (literally hundreds of them), pigs, goats, camels, dogs, monkeys and chicken all roaming the streets without a care in the world. When you see the locals stop and feed passing cows with bits of chapati it is quite endearing.

The streets and roads themselves could mesmerise you for hours. Lane markings are clearly there in black and white, but they mean absolutely nothing to anyone. I seen a guy yesterday carrying a fridge on the back of his moped, holding the fridge with one hand and steering with the other! A couple of hours earlier, a family of four including a baby who could have been no more than a few months old, all perched on the back of this scooter looking as happy as Larry, whizzed right past us and went on their merry way. Four is the record I have seen so far, but I still hold out hope to see five or six on a moped. It's a strange sight when you see it once, but then it just seems to blend into the norm when you see these sights repeatedly.

It is a city where everyone goes about their business in their own way, and everyone is left to their own devices to get on with their lives. The fact that there are 20 million people living their lives this way, certainly accounts for the chaos. It does seem to work though, so the best way to describe Delhi on our trip so far would be as 'organised chaos'.......which suits me just fine.

 

Steven Duff 05/04/2011

An Insight to Delhi....

 
So...two days in Delhi so far, and I must say it's pretty incredible. I didn't necessarily have any expectations for coming to Delhi, I wanted to keep an open mind I suppose, but on arriving it is everything I thought it would be and so much more. There has been so much to take in over the course of the past couple of days, so many sights, sounds and smells. We were told that India would ht all of our senses at once, and I'm sure I can speak for us all when i say, it really did!

The weather is obviously a lot warmer than back home, and the heat hit us as soon as we left the airport, despite it only being about 7 in the morning. Driving through the streets of Delhi, there's so much to see...shops and restaurants lining the streets, traders sitting by the roadside, utter chaos on the roads, cows and dogs walking freely along the roadside and even monkeys climbing the fences along the main streets!

With so much to take in, Delhi is pretty overwhelming, but i look forward to the rest of our time here and I'm pretty sure the next three weeks will be both exciting, and very interesting.

 

Jayne Duncan 05/04/2011

And so it begins.......

 
 

Steven -  02/04/2011 - And so it begins.... As far as I'm aware, going to India on the day they win the Cricket world cup in their own backyard, is something that can only be described as a mouthwatering prospect. This is a situation that 3 weeks ago, could not have been further from my thoughts. Yet here we are today, on route to Delhi to celebrate with hundreds of millions of locals on one of the proudest days in their nation’s history.  We had not long left London Heathrow and to say there was a bit of nervous tension in the air would certainly be underplaying things. We left Heathrow for Delhi, and you could sense that the majority of people only had one thing on their mind, and that was - What the hell is the score? Then, just as we are flying over Berlin at 37,000 feet, the particularly jovial captain, in that typical captain's voice came on the loud speaker and provided a full to capacity flight with the news that, with 10 balls to spare, India had won the Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai by 6 wickets against their old rivals Sri Lanka. Cue rapturous applause, and cheering and a hell of a lot of high fives! With regards to our trip itself, for all 6 of us on the ICS Indian Experience pilot group, it is definitely a step into the unknown. We have all seen the images on TV, films, books etc, but you can never fully understand a place until you have sampled it for yourself. During the next three weeks, with our wonderful hosts, Sudarshan and Hema, we are going to experience as much as we can of what India has to offer.