This past weekend was an amazing one and a good thing too because John is off again for a week to Uganda! On Friday the kids from Very Special Arts participated in a dance competition with other kids from special needs schools and programs around Delhi at the India International Center. There were 17 different groups of kids with various disabilities performing, and they were so wonderful! They had amazing costumes and some had story lines and speeches about their dances; all of the kids seemed thrilled to be apart of the competition, and worked very hard on the performances. It was wonderful for me to be another face there supporting them.
Determined to take full advantage of the weekend before John left, we decided to check out the Grand Hotel on Friday night. The Grand is a large, somewhat opulent, hotel right by our house; apparently it used to be quite popular, but after a large fire a year ago and a somewhat strange and hidden location, it's tide has turned and often sits empty. We had heard, however, that they have a lovely bar and an even better pool, so we thought it best to check it out for ourselves and at least have a cocktail. Well- we had no idea what we were walking in to! As we approached on foot, we saw tons of cars lining the service road leading up to The Grand, and then saw the massive colored lights and banners exclaiming that Men's Fashion Week was being held there at the moment. We walked in, suddenly standing up a bit straighter and looking a bit more entitled, and breezed past reception to the lounges, several of which were set up promoting different libations. We were promptly given wrist bands and drinks while people asked to take our picture. Assuming we could be someone important, we gave no indication otherwise and thoroughly enjoyed our free drinks before heading to the hall where the runway was set up and an impromptu dance party gathering. We jumped up on stage and shimmied with people who clearly were "important" and gawked at ourselves and our luck. Stuffed on passed hors d'oeuvres, free wine, and camera flashes, we headed home, quite pleased with ourselves and looking forward to a Saturday.
Saturday did not disappoint. After a leisurely morning, we went first to the Indira Ghandi Museum, housed in her former residence. It has photos, artifacts, personal belongings, and newspaper clippings detailing her life until her assassination in 1984. From there we walked to Ghandi Smriti- the Mahatma Ghandi memorial, a fairly large estate that includes a museum, his prayer spot, and a martyr column on the spot where he died, after having been shot by a religious zealot in 1948. The grounds were beautiful and included an impressive statue of Ghandi with children, pavilion, and a World Peace Gong.
From the memorial, we headed to one of our favorite cheap, Southern Indian eateries at Connaught Place before going over the the Park Hotel, where I had read there was a dance company from New York performing. Five years ago the Park Hotel started the the Park's New Festival- a performing arts festival all over India, beginning in Delhi. On Saturday night the Parijat Desai Dance Company from New York performed, blending Indian classical and Western contemporary styles in 2 amazing pieces. The venue in the Park Hotel was beautiful though quite small, and once again we found ourselves warmly greeted by camera flashes, food, and cocktails! How we were so lucky to stumble upon two such great events in one weekend, I have no idea. Granted, I had read about the performance in a magazine, but was shocked that there weren't more people there, especially considering the nature of the event- that being artistically amazing, catered, and FREE.
The only detractor from such a fantastic day/night was rushing home to get John packed and on a plane to Uganda. This week I busy myself with yoga, the sweet kids at VSA, a gallery show, and Hindi lessons (gulp), but I look forward to another wonderful weekend, stumbling around Delhi into the most wonderful places.
Determined to take full advantage of the weekend before John left, we decided to check out the Grand Hotel on Friday night. The Grand is a large, somewhat opulent, hotel right by our house; apparently it used to be quite popular, but after a large fire a year ago and a somewhat strange and hidden location, it's tide has turned and often sits empty. We had heard, however, that they have a lovely bar and an even better pool, so we thought it best to check it out for ourselves and at least have a cocktail. Well- we had no idea what we were walking in to! As we approached on foot, we saw tons of cars lining the service road leading up to The Grand, and then saw the massive colored lights and banners exclaiming that Men's Fashion Week was being held there at the moment. We walked in, suddenly standing up a bit straighter and looking a bit more entitled, and breezed past reception to the lounges, several of which were set up promoting different libations. We were promptly given wrist bands and drinks while people asked to take our picture. Assuming we could be someone important, we gave no indication otherwise and thoroughly enjoyed our free drinks before heading to the hall where the runway was set up and an impromptu dance party gathering. We jumped up on stage and shimmied with people who clearly were "important" and gawked at ourselves and our luck. Stuffed on passed hors d'oeuvres, free wine, and camera flashes, we headed home, quite pleased with ourselves and looking forward to a Saturday.
Saturday did not disappoint. After a leisurely morning, we went first to the Indira Ghandi Museum, housed in her former residence. It has photos, artifacts, personal belongings, and newspaper clippings detailing her life until her assassination in 1984. From there we walked to Ghandi Smriti- the Mahatma Ghandi memorial, a fairly large estate that includes a museum, his prayer spot, and a martyr column on the spot where he died, after having been shot by a religious zealot in 1948. The grounds were beautiful and included an impressive statue of Ghandi with children, pavilion, and a World Peace Gong.
From the memorial, we headed to one of our favorite cheap, Southern Indian eateries at Connaught Place before going over the the Park Hotel, where I had read there was a dance company from New York performing. Five years ago the Park Hotel started the the Park's New Festival- a performing arts festival all over India, beginning in Delhi. On Saturday night the Parijat Desai Dance Company from New York performed, blending Indian classical and Western contemporary styles in 2 amazing pieces. The venue in the Park Hotel was beautiful though quite small, and once again we found ourselves warmly greeted by camera flashes, food, and cocktails! How we were so lucky to stumble upon two such great events in one weekend, I have no idea. Granted, I had read about the performance in a magazine, but was shocked that there weren't more people there, especially considering the nature of the event- that being artistically amazing, catered, and FREE.
The only detractor from such a fantastic day/night was rushing home to get John packed and on a plane to Uganda. This week I busy myself with yoga, the sweet kids at VSA, a gallery show, and Hindi lessons (gulp), but I look forward to another wonderful weekend, stumbling around Delhi into the most wonderful places.
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