Amristar

The City of the Golden Temple
I visited with some friends. The most sacred temple of the Sikh religious group is in Amritsar. The place is very close to the Pakistan-India border,called Wagah Border, and just because of the outward journey has been worth the excursion.

We travelled out of Old Delhi with the cheapest option, night bus.
And it was really uncomfortable trip I've ever experienced.
On the lower level of the bus, there were, how normal seats are in each bus. Directly above it was these so-called sleeping cabins. However, you should rename these cabins because they in no case can one sleep properly in these caves. Because the road and traffic conditions in India are particularly challenging, it takes it toll on travellers as well. From pothole to pothole, one will be flung to and fro in these cabins and get the feel of a roller coaster ride. When one comes to roller coasters, but not always at the head ...
Very ominous were the noise of the bus, which is handled in India do not generally economical. The bus system had in fact an unknown number of variations where you'd think it would be elephant sounds. Together with our other coaches bus has then honked all night (up to 8 clock in the morning) to the bet.

Our Coach

However, this trip has really paid off. Now I know that I will never again take the cheapest way between Delhi and Amritsar, and there was also an unforgettable experience.

I arrived in Amritsar, and was rewarded with view of the Golden Temple. Before you could enter the temple complex, but you have to buy a scarf and cover your hair. Here you had to pay excessive entry as no foreigner has been received but very hospitable. Particularly impressive was the large dining-room, where there was nothing but Indian food. It was just unbelievable, how well the organization was done despite the crowds.

Canteen

Unfortunately, one cannot fish here

 The rest of the day we then used to give us rest from the arduous bus trip to visit Amritsar and cozy up.

Written originally by Christopher Knedel on Thursday, April 21, 2011

Himalaya

HIMALAYA

Since I've not reported for long, it is high time that I once again report from my life in India. March was very eventful and I also met some really interesting people. Here in India, I can, despite all the recreational opportunities, focus very well on my studies and my future career.

Gurgaon

It is called the industrial suburb of Delhi. 30km south of the Indian capital, you will truly feel in this city- as if you are in another world. Each building is higher than the other and you can see expensive cars everywhere. Very futuristic.

Because I got through the student support program of Schneider Electric for my study ,I got the opportunity to work in the Energy Audit Team in Gurgaon and I was able to experience the city so closely. Schneider Electric is investing really heavily in the Indian market, which can be seen, not least, in the impressive building that is located in the Cyber City neighbourhood. Directly across the street from Microsoft, IBM, Twine and the Royal Bank of Scotland, I can drink coffee at lunch with my friendly, helpful fellow Indians and talk about the meaning of life.

Despite the impressive architecture, which allows the infrastructure in Gurgaon to be really desired, the roads are badly damaged and there are far too few auto-rickshaws. The people here are dependent on public transport.

This Monday, there was an even extra sweet start to the week.

No sooner had I arrived after a 3 / 4 hour Metro ride to Gurgaon, I could see that the rickshaws were on strike throughout the city.

So I had my morning exercise, when I went 3.5 kilometers through the city on foot. Of course, next to Audi, Porsche and Co.

And it was also nice to get to know IBM's Indian employees, who had to go to Cyber City along with me. Perfect start to the week, because you can be thrilled about what happened so unexpectedly.

View from my Office

View from my office

Agra

I came to know through my internship at Schneider Electric that I had been invited for an energy audit in a 5 star hotel. The travel, accommodation and even the food were paid. The hotel was really impressive. There, one is welcomed by a large, open reception area. No sooner than I entered the lobby, rose petals were thrown on the floor and I got a red dot on the forehead for spirituality.

At the time when I was in the hotel, Bill Keller, the chief editor of the New York Time Magazine., was also there. The chief engineer also told me that during the previous week, President Sarkozy and his wife had also been there. Really exciting.

Most of the time during the day, I was taking measurements on the HVAC (heating ventilation air conditioning) system with my Indian colleagues. In the evening I had enough free time to watch the city and its attractions. I was very disappointed from the city. It is designed for tourism and shops meant for tourists, next to the monuments, did not have a lot to offer.

In the evening I was able to make very tasty finish to the day with a dinner at the hotel. Unfortunately, 10 days after my visit to Agra, I had severe stomach problems for the 1st time. The climate and food are unlike the ones in Delhi.

The Hotel Entrance

The Machine Room Of The Hotel

Taj Mahal, Agra

The train for Agra

Train: The Indian women shared their food.

Rishikesh

I discovered Rishikesh, the spiritual stronghold of India, on a weekend trip. This lively town of hippies was very different from Delhi.

All white people there wear traditional clothes or have dreadlocks or do both. Then unfortunately, for me, with my jeans and my plain black t-shirt, it was too late to change the outfit.

In Rishikesh, I did super-rafting in the Ganges, which had risen to a water source and  was also able to experience really good live music for the 1st time. This jam session took place every evening in the so-called "Hill Top Hotel" and was really so good that I went there for two nights in a row. As the Ganges flows right through Rishikesh, there are some nice beach areas and Mediterranean atmosphere.

Divided by the river in 2 parts, Rishikesh is connected together by a simple steel cable bridge that sways with the wind. The Indians, with their 350cc Einfield also will not hesitate to travel on the bridge crowded with masses of people. Monkeys and cows also walk on the bridge. So, I was  caught by a cow for the 1st time, which suddenly emerged from nowhere behind an Indian. Then I got really hungry for steak again :)

The bridge, which was mentioned before

On the way to the waterfall.

The Shore

View from the cafe

The lovely Ganges.

--By Christopher Knedel

Old Delhi

Old Delhi
is completely different than the rest of Delhi. Being in this world, you feel as if in a documentary about India's poverty, but also its beauty.
This district is even more extreme than the rest of Delhi. Just incredible.
The houses are totally dilapidated with monkeys playing on the roofs. I felt like in the movie "The Jungle Book."
However, there were also many small shops and the famous "Spice Market", a street selling preferred spices from around the world at discounted prices. The largest mosque in India, the Friday Mosque is located here and it was amazing! From a tower of the mosque, you could look over a large part of Delhi and there was still no end in sight.

Select City Walk

is the name of a complex of three shopping malls, the extent I would not admit ordinary. It was the feeling of the airport in Dubai. If you move out you can hear soothing piano music. It is surrounded by palm trees and modern architecture. Each architecture is perfectly organized, clean, beautiful but yet somehow unreal. Direct neighbor of India's underclass. Simply brilliant!

My roommate has assured, however, that the Shopping Complex DLF Emporio should still be lifted off ... unimaginable.

  

PS: In my apartment I have not only two human roommates, there's also a bunch of cockroaches, right in the bathroom, which are determined to pay no rent ...

Delhi's lifestyle.....

Delhi's nightlife

Greater Kailash
I have recently explored the nearby district quite well. Together with my Indian roommate (Deep), I was already visiting some really good clubs. However, many establishments have the peculiarity that they allow a man and woman to come in easily but it is not so easy for a single man to come in. It is already common for one before the party to be really stubborn and stand around for long discussions that must cease until the club man comes around.
A popular hindi song these days.... ;)  

As a foreigner
you pay in India anyway more than the native Indians. When shopping for things for which there is no price on it (and there are many in India), I always thought that it is only unofficially "allowed", visitors to ask twice to check out. But then I learned better. It is, according to the sign that is not a guest but a foreigner, interesting.





 
However, there are a large number of examples where it is very humane care as Europeans. For example, if I am asked for my nationality. If I answer then, with "German", I'll just be the envy. German car brands have the highest quality cars. For many Indians, a life dream is to someday be able to work in Germany. Even with the engineers as a German I'm much respected and they say that I can be proud to be a German engineering student. Even my Indian dentist told me that in particular that the German material and process technology is preferred in the dental field before any others and are of the very highest quality.



Visit from Sweden
Last weekend, some friends of Deep who were visiting places also wanted to see Delhi.
Unfortunately the ladies had anticipated being able to stay with us, but our landlady is nice to allow an overnight visit for woman of any kind. But to avoid any legal problems, we decided that the Swedes could then be accommodated at friends, so the initial homelessness was resolved quickly.


Together
We all visited the Lotus temple and some other beautiful places. It's been really impressive!










Written by Christopher Knedel on Saturday, March 5th, 2011