During our afternoon tea time one of the kids asked me what I had been doing when she saw me on the computer...
"I was sending an email." Blank stares.
"An email is like a letter you send over the internet." (More blank stares.)
"Do you know what the internet is?"
"No."
"What do you think it is?"
The kids' responses : a television, a radio, an airplane, a microphone, a mobile phone, a switchboard, and finally Angela remembered a definition she had memorized in school that the internet is "many computers connected to one main computer." (However she has no idea what this means.)
The conversation was quite entertaining to say the least but also refreshing. Except for an understanding that the internet must have something to do with technology, they don't know what it is and they don't care. For them the internet does not exist and they are perfectly content playing outside all day. I've also been teaching Litu (19 years old) about how to use the internet which has been interesting. I love her description of the internet : "It's like you catch the whole world in your lap."
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Ancient and Modern Marvels
On our trip to Delhi, Agra, and Gwalior we saw both the old and the new. We began with a trip to the Qut'b Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world standing 72.5 meters tall. It was comissioned by the first Muslim ruler of India and is one of the earliest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was started in 1193 but not completed until 1386. Hopefully the people in the picture give a little perspective. It is very impressive and is another one of those monuments where you stand there staring, wondering how they managed to build it all those years ago.
Next, we headed to the Lotus Temple, a modern-day wonder composed of 27 free-standing marble "petals", completed in 1986. It is a Baha'i House of Worship and is the Mother Temple of India.
Another modern temple in Delhi is the Swaminarayan Akshardham (Hindu). It was really interesting. No photography is allowed inside the complex so I included this one from the internet. It is a very large complex with the focal point being the temple or "Mandir" pictured below. It's built of pink sandstone and white marble and features 20,000 sculpted figures. What's amazing is that it was built without steel and the figures were sculpted by hand with the aim of reviving the ancient architectural tradition. Also in the complex are several different halls where there are different audiovisual programs, complete with animatronics, that teach about Hinduism. There's even a boat ride that takes you through India's past that feels a bit like Disney World. It was quite an experience.
From Delhi we traveled south to Gwalior, a city full of history. We visited the Man Singh Palace that is enclosed within a large fort that sits on top of a cliff overlooking the city. Slightly reminiscent of the Acropolis. The palace was built in the 15th century by Raja Man Singh and was a home for him and 8 of his 9 wives. The other wife had her own private palace, one of the conditions she insisted upon if the raja wanted to marry her. The palace is a classic example of Hindu architecture. I thought it was neat that the original paint is still visible. Inside there are many underground levels that are like a maze. One room we saw that was originally the "swinging" room for the queens was later turned into an execution room when the Mughals captured the palace.
Within the same fort complex were several 9th century Hindu temples. The one below is my favorite. The intricate stone carvings are amazing.
Last but certainly not least is the infamous Taj Mahal in Agra. It surprisingly lived up to every expectation and I wish we could have stayed longer. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan had it built to be the final resting place for his wife and a monument to their love. The story goes that to ensure his wife's wish that no other building would ever be built like it he had the architect's hands chopped off. Later Shah Jehan's son took over the empire and imprisoned his father in the Red Fort, but he allowed his father to live in a room that overlooked the Taj so he could still see his beloved wife.
Next, we headed to the Lotus Temple, a modern-day wonder composed of 27 free-standing marble "petals", completed in 1986. It is a Baha'i House of Worship and is the Mother Temple of India.
Another modern temple in Delhi is the Swaminarayan Akshardham (Hindu). It was really interesting. No photography is allowed inside the complex so I included this one from the internet. It is a very large complex with the focal point being the temple or "Mandir" pictured below. It's built of pink sandstone and white marble and features 20,000 sculpted figures. What's amazing is that it was built without steel and the figures were sculpted by hand with the aim of reviving the ancient architectural tradition. Also in the complex are several different halls where there are different audiovisual programs, complete with animatronics, that teach about Hinduism. There's even a boat ride that takes you through India's past that feels a bit like Disney World. It was quite an experience.
From Delhi we traveled south to Gwalior, a city full of history. We visited the Man Singh Palace that is enclosed within a large fort that sits on top of a cliff overlooking the city. Slightly reminiscent of the Acropolis. The palace was built in the 15th century by Raja Man Singh and was a home for him and 8 of his 9 wives. The other wife had her own private palace, one of the conditions she insisted upon if the raja wanted to marry her. The palace is a classic example of Hindu architecture. I thought it was neat that the original paint is still visible. Inside there are many underground levels that are like a maze. One room we saw that was originally the "swinging" room for the queens was later turned into an execution room when the Mughals captured the palace.
Within the same fort complex were several 9th century Hindu temples. The one below is my favorite. The intricate stone carvings are amazing.
Last but certainly not least is the infamous Taj Mahal in Agra. It surprisingly lived up to every expectation and I wish we could have stayed longer. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan had it built to be the final resting place for his wife and a monument to their love. The story goes that to ensure his wife's wish that no other building would ever be built like it he had the architect's hands chopped off. Later Shah Jehan's son took over the empire and imprisoned his father in the Red Fort, but he allowed his father to live in a room that overlooked the Taj so he could still see his beloved wife.
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