in which we cross something off the bucket list

My roommate Sarah and I realized how little time we have left in Delhi, especially considering the fact that we spend so much of our time doing Hindi homework and going on excursions with the program. This led us to spend our valuable time (and I will not confirm or deny that this valuable time may or may not have occurred during one of our lectures this week) making a Delhi Bucket List. It is, if I may say so myself, a beautiful list and very well-written and designed.

Today we had a holiday from classes because of Holi tomorrow, so Sarah and I took the opportunity to cross some things off today. Specifically, we went to Lodhi Gardens and then a nearby American-style diner that I found on the Internet the other day. Neither activity disappointed.

The gardens were stunning. I had no idea that there was so much green space within Delhi. There were beautiful monuments, palm trees, green parrots, dogs, benches and flowers. We found a nice bench next to a little lake and studied Hindi until a sort of creepy man came up to us and started asking us questions about our Hindi homework. I think he was trying to help, but he was more of a distraction than anything else.

We then found some monkey bars. Sarah did some flips and I failed - yet again - at doing a single pull-up. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted some boys playing Holi. Holi, for those of you who are unaware, is the festival of colors. You celebrate by throwing colored powder over all of your friends. The main day of the festival is tomorrow, but that hasn't stopped anyone from started the festivities a day or two early. These boys were chucking powder left and right, and we very willing to have their picture taken...but I also had to pose for a picture with them in return. That made me uncomfortable, but a deal's a deal.

Sarah and I then left Lodhi Gardens in search of this elusive All-American Diner. We found it in this weird, eco-friendly centre, and it really was an all-American diner. I mean, as all-American as you're going to get in Delhi, India. We ordered milkshakes, sat down in a booth with red vinyl seats and were serenaded by the sweet sounds of good ol' American tunes like "Age of Aquarius" and "The Name Game" as we nommed on a BLT and a veg chili bean burger, respectively.

There was also an "Experimental Art Gallery" in this eco-friendly centre, but the lights were off and the walls were bare and the door was locked. But maybe the art was just be too avant garde for either of us to understand. Afterwards, we came home and now I'm "studying" for my Hindi midterm, which is on Friday. (I don't want to take a Hindi midterm. I really, really don't.)

Today typifies what I love about Delhi. I love wandering, and I love finding these weird hole in the wall places that just make you scratch your head and wonder about your place in the world. The kitsch here is unbelievable, and you all know that I'm a sucker for anything kitschy. It's days like today that I realize that I really like India. The people are friendly, if a little bit pushy sometimes, and the city is beautiful, if very smoggy and prone to earthquakes. Everyday is an adventure; I just wish I had more free time with which to explore it.