Gurgaon: The Cyber City

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I live 20-30min outside of Delhi in a city called Gurgaon in the state of Haryana. Gurgaon is considered India's Cyber City - in many ways the city is still a say 70-80% of the city is under construction; there's no escape of the dust, noise, and road bloackage created by the boom of office and apartment buildings.

The city in many ways lacks culture; the exact words of my Indian work colleagues were:"...there's nothing to do around here in Gurgaon except for going to one of the malls. And they all really look the same."

Only 20-30 minutes outside of the capital of India, Gurgaon, in many ways represents to me a perfect example of what Thomas L. Friedman examined in his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree. According to Friedman, the world is currently facing two struggles: the drive for prosperity and development facilitated through globalization, symbolized by the Lexus, and the communal desire to hold on to and retain cultural identity and traditions, symbolized by the olive tree. This idea of the constant struggle of our increasingly globalized world is so apparent in Gurgaon - a city where the demand for new red brick high rise buildings to accommodate the outsourcing needs of multi-national corporations doesn't seem to cease or slow down; where new billboard-plastered shopping malls appear out of nowhere everyday to meet the increasing demands of the Sari-wearing young professionals with now extra disposable income to spend.

Every morning on my way into work, I find myself fascinated by the different scenes I find my self surrounded by: there are rikshaws, packs of cows, people in business casual attire with their laptop messenger bags, company executives and western expats in the backseat of shiny white 'Tourist'-marked cars reading the India Times, the street vendors offering quick bites on the-go, street-side barbers, and the traffic jam. I feel like I'm presented with that amazingly mind-boggling experience every morning.

I can't help but think about Friedman's two challenges; the demand for young educated women in this emerging economic superpower has pushed the community to abandon some of its most traditional customs. Young women now live away from home for work, sometimes by themselves, sometimes with other young women. Some of these women are yet the same women that follow some of the most traditional Indian customs, such as arranged marriages and the dowry system.

The contrast of tradition and globalization is so apparent in every moment of everyday life here...

Lal Qila = Red Fort

You would be surprised at how many forts there are around Delhi alone. And it seems like every time I flip the page in my guidebook they're talking about some fort somewhere else.

After a nice lunch in Khan Market, I visited Delhi's Lal Qila with friends from work and the flat-mates. The place was packed with families and visitors.

(William, Me, Daud, & Tim)

In the city of Shahjahanbad lays the Lal Qila. In 1639, Shah Jahan set out to lay out a new fort to suit his needs. Its Lahore Gate opened into the main street of a carefully planned adjoining city that thrives almost unchanged four centuries later. Here, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the people of India on the Republic's independence day, August 15, 1947, and here the Indian flag was raised.

Humayun's tomb

After strolling in Lodhi Gardens, we made our way to Humayun's Tomb. This tomb is considered one of the most magnificent around Delhi; actually according to my guidebook this tomb is considered the forerunner to the Taj Mahal. The tomb was built in 1565 by his wife, Bega Begum.

We climbed on-top of one of the tombs and I think at one point while I was taking pictures on the other side I lost track of the guys, but they were right there on the other side peaking at me.

(James, Mrinalika, and Pallavi)

Frolicking in Lodhi Gardens

On Saturday I went out to do some more sightseeing in Delhi. I went with my other flat-mate, James, and two co-workers, Pallavi & Mrinalika. We started off with a nice stroll in Lodhi Gardens in South Delhi. The park includes a collection of tombs and architecture dating back to the Lodhi dynasty.

When you enter the garden from Lodhi Road, you end up in front of the tomb of Mohammad Shah:

The park also serves as a place for local families and young couples to gather on the weekends.

My Indian Home

So, this is my apartment in India. I think the funniest thing about this place is the amount of couches the living room holds - 6 leather couches! The living room kind of looks like a doctor's waiting, but this is home.

We could very easily play a tennis match in the living room. It'll be a mini court, but point is: We can if we wanted to.

No wall, No barrier...

I'm certain I've found my favorite Indian TV commercial. It's by AirTel, which is one of India's top mobile phone and Fixed Network operators. The ad is about...who am I kidding - I'm not going to tell you about the ad, just watch it! It's beautifully done. I truly am a PEACE lover by all means and I think this TV commercial just illustrates peace in the simplest most modest way. Take a look!

This is work, yeah work!

So, the whole reason I'm here in India is because of work. Yeah, so I figured it is only fair to pay respects to the company that has sent me out here by posting a picture of my desk. I had to make this desk area "homey" so I have pictures of all my loved ones up to keep me smiling throughout the day!


(And yes, I cleaned up for the picture taking!)