E-Notes

``Between the International Airport and Domestic Airport and Radisson, there are no predominatly Muslim localities, at least, not of the Old Delhi sort.``

Veeresh

Mahipalpur itself has some Meo Muslims. It could be however that the lady maybe saw some Muslims and thought it was a Muslim majority area.

Also, are airport pick ups always avaiable along with the price of the room? Hotels need to publicize this then coz that was not thr case earlier.

Great read, thank you. Welcome to Delhi, and spend more time there next time.

Now, some ``fundas``. Forgive me for dissecting your article, but I found it so . . . true and interesting. Though I wish you had gone out for the evening, just step out of the Radisson towards the Mahipalpur Crossing.

If you landed ``before Iftaar`` and flew into DEL from LHE, then you probably came in on PK-270, which lands at 1600, Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat. (Indian Airlines gets in around 2030).

Evenings are low hours at the International terminal, the odd flight from neighbouring countries or JAL/Tokyo . . . the Big Bang of flights starts around 2200 and goes on till next morning. So you probably landed up just after the daily fumigation, otherwise the mosquitoes at night would chew people up.

Just curious, did they get you in through the aero-bridge or was your aircraft taken to a remote bay and then passengers bussed? This has to do with the kind of aircraft used, btw.

You should have got the blank forms on the aircraft itself. I wonder why the cabin crew didn`t distribute them? And come on, they are not that many nor so complicated. Moreover, if your passport is machine readable, then things move much faster.

Raddisson should have sent you a Maroon or Black Tata Safari at the very least, if not a 124 shape E Class Merc. Especially if you were being charged 150/- dollars, which is close to rack rate.

Between the International Airport and Domestic Airport and Radisson, there are no predominatly Muslim localities, at least, not of the Old Delhi sort. There is Mahipalpur and then there is this urban village (Lal Dora) which has sprung up outside the Customs Cargo terminal. The residents are Gujjars and the transients are Bihari. Mixed religions, and Iftaar is boom time for all markets, especially this year when it is running neck to neck with Diwali. 15%-20% of most everybody`s friends in India are Muslim, so asking for an iftaar snack to break a fast is not such a strange thing for the non-Muslims.

The curiously pink juice was probably ``mixed fruit`` with a whole lot of pomegranate (anaar) added. Anaar does not go bad and there has been a bumper crop this year. I hope the shopkeeper added whaterver special masala s/he adds? Otherwise please ask next time!!

The cow licking bit is new for me. However, I can understand the shopkeepers looking at you hoo-hoo-ing the cow in amazement, they haven`t seen too many Rajneesh types lately, were you wearing white or purple by any chance? What is expected if you are approached by a live cow is to either run the other way OR make this clicking sound Hutt-tik-tik-tik-khik-khik-hurraaaa-urvaa-hapoo-hapoo (there was also a Kishore Kumar song that went the same way at one time) And then land one smart loud thappad slap on the rear, left or right side, not centre, making sure your hand does not go up the orifice, that is bad karma for you. Or you can pat the cow and part with pakodas.

That should have been the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and were they in light blue shirts/black trousers or white and black?

You know Vir Sanghvi, Editor of HT? Does he know you can write about food? If not, please tell him. He has a very successful and awaited column, ``Rude Food``, because of which I have put on weight, sometimes he lets guest writers in too.

You also know Musharaf? Seems like every Pakistani journo knows him too, so I guess the IB guys weren`t impressed. Now if you had said Altaf Hussain . . .

Of course no jail and no torture. What do you think? This is the only part I find aggravating in your essay. When I went to Pakistan I also met enough spooks and cops and each one of them, bar none, was absolutely polite. I think it is now an honour thing in our countries. The media needs to spell this out, too.

Ad agency and West Side? Wonder which one it was, client ko bill maraa hogaa! I am there this Sunday and shall surely find out. By the way, too bad it was at night, the view is lovely during the day.

The driver spoke a funny language? Haryanvi type Hindi or Bihari type Bhojpuri? And again, a Maruti?

Indian Dairy Milk, what was that, chocolates by Cadburys?

Once again, thank you for an interesting read on my city, warts and all. Must check out this cow thing, though . . .

Well, as someone said, it is breezy...but cows in Delhi `wash` cars? And they only do Marutis? (Ref to car reminded me of V...is this some conspiracy?!) Some cow giving tongue in a ``predominantly Muslim Mohalla``... anyway, I am waiting for the Mumbai travelogue; can`t wait to read about what cows do here.
- - -
#13 by nazarhayatkhan:

Be careful with your use of words :)

- - -
Hi Ras:

Are you planning to visit? $50 is possible, plenty of nice guest houses with all amenities (only they do not have 24 hr coffee shops, but you would want to experience paranthewalli galli etc). But winter is peak season, so availability could be a problem.

Btw, I believe you are interested in things Bengali, so do visit Chittaranjan Park.

For more info log on to farzanavee@chowk.com!

Any good hotel rooms in Dilli for $50 per night (Max)?

Nice read, but your experiences are too rich for my blood.

No Rumali Roti or Reshmi Kebabs encountered?


Ras

Shehlah

Liked your English, taste and easy flow. Let more come out.

nhk

Do people know your Pakistani? And if they do how do they treat you? How do you feel being Pakistani in India? Are people not fussed and dont bother, or do they make a point of saying something? How do average Indians react to you? What do they feel? What is the general buzz in India like? How different is it from Pak? It would be nice to read a Pakistani view point of India.

Tell us more

The airhead who committed this atrocity better be rich, good looking or preferably both..............

later
-sac

your article sucks

#4
Ok, maybe what I am feeling is envy :-) As I decide whether to stay at ``Motel 6`` or ``Potel Palace`` on my next trip and decide between greasy fried steak and greasier ``carne guisada`` on my next trip, I`ll remember the radisson and the salad ...

Actually shehlah I liked your description of the food, you should be a food critic.

btw, how do you say your name ``shehlah``, kinda like ``shaila``?

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Uh....I`m with Bongdongs here...?

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

shehlah:

tough life
don`t work too hard
aim for retiring early
;)

lve,

t

bongdongs:

LOL. Dude cut her some slack. It was a fun read.

so lets see:
- you got picked up at the airport
- stayed a night at a nice hotel
- eat some good food

man, my pulse is racing, please no more excitement in the next instalment, my poor heart may not be able to take it.

:) :)