Posting

The posting part of blogging has been difficult. The last couple of weeks were some of the best, but finding words, time & energy to express myself I apparently have not made an effort, at all. I feel sorry about the failed attempt, even though I had ambitions, but I will stop posting – permanent.

I would love to catch up mutual ways when I come back the 15th of May. So, hereby I invite you for a cup of fresh milk, red meat and a cold beer (o, how I miss them, even in this combination). Bring your laptop with you photos of the last month and coming two.

All is well

With Love,
Simon

Incredible India

We hop in a taxi after arriving at Delhi airport. Three of us in the back and lucky me gets to sit in the front. The first second is perfect until a second taxi driver squishes next to me while the other pulls my leg over the poke. Clutching more up, while he crosses through the heavy traffic, warning us tot keep distant and honk the horn. Nobody does NOT honk. It crazy, but fun and somehow works just fine. The same night we never arrive at our hotel, brought to a “tourist office” and get ripped of for a way to expensive hotel. Is India even worst than I thought?! Well, although we kept our heads coooool, the first 24h I was pretty sure it was.

We got pretty confidence with tuc-tuc rat races, negotiating prices, chaos in general, pissing monkeys (true story), indian food and the nasty aftermath of it. Incredible India (dutch commercial) is totally true. After three days Delhi, seeing the Red Fort, the biggest mosque of India, the mausoleum, Lodi gardens, Connaught place and much more. I can say India is much much more than I thought.

We left early in the morning, from the main bazaar where we were staying to the train station to leave to Chandigarh. It was great to see slide through Delhi’s suburbs and glide through rice fields. Chandigarh and Delhi are a major contrast. It was a relief to breave fresh air, able to move through traffic and paying fine prices. In general, for European standards, India is cheap. Chandigarh is a new city and designed by Le Corbusier just as countless building within the city. After checking out the city centre yesterday we finished the day to see 3 Idiots a Bollywood film. Great! As loyal architecture students we went to Le Corbusier’ work in the political centre: the high court, secretary, and parlement building. I can write a book about it, but my minutes are done.

This is totally nutshell work, I’ll post some picture in a couple of days to let them speak to you!

Countdown

After arranging the pounding shots, handy backpack, double entry visa and other hardware. Finishing my final presentations, essays and exams, today officially my holiday has started, counting down to wednesday until I leave for a 3.5 month trip to India & Nepal. Although my mind has not yet switched over completely and there are loads of practical stuff to be arranged still, with this in prospect, everything seems to be(come) just fine. Looking forward to this journey is clearly an understatement. What more can I say: I am thrilled!

INDIA - Despite pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, rapid economic development is fueling the country's rise on the world stage. (according to the CIA). With a population of 1,156,897,766 it is likely I will just meet a few people and due to it rather large area of 3,287,263 sq km, making it worlds 7th largest country, I will just see a bit of it in the coming months. One thing is certain, India varied and on this blog I will express my experiences and adventures.

WORKSHOP - Together with a group of 50+ international students from Spain, Portugal, Germany, India and of-course us, a group from the TU Delft representing Holland will be located in Ahmedabad, in the West of India. I will follow a two month architecture dwelling workshop, completely focussing on sustainability, what you can imagine, is challenging in such a dynamic country.

BEFOREHAND - We made some time in our schedule to do some touristic "site-seeing" before the workshop starts on February the 14th. I'll try to keep this blog pumping with typical adventures stories of packed train rides, tacky photos of me in front of the Taj Mahal in a lungi, in depth description of weird scenarios and the indescribable taste of indian food or/and the undesirable aftermath of it. All will be sauced over by an overdose of beautiful Architecture imagery.

AFTERWARDS - Yeah, afterwards will probably be fun too. Hopefully, I'll travel South through Mumbai (Bollywood yeah) even more down South to Goa (Portuguese). But the main goal afterwards is to find myself walking through Nepal.


Surely these are all man made plans and I'm curious what sort of facts I've shared on this blog over a couple of months.