New Delhi - Goverment office buildings and surroundings

.  In other parts of the city, we hardly saw any gardens or grass, the government building area are clean with beautiful grass, garden, water fountain, parks and sculptures surrounding it. It was quite a contrast to the rest of the dirty city.

New Delhi- Raj Ghat

A simple square platform of black marble marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. It is surrounded by a stone wall in square shape in a park with beautiful flowers planted all around it. To get close next to the black marble platform you need to take off your shoes before entering the stone gate.

New Delhi_ India Gate

At the center of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. It commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.

New Delhi - Jama Masjid Mosque

To enter the Mosque, woman must wear a robe. All must take off their shoes. However, you can wear slippers or socks. Outside of the mosque were dirty streets and beaten up buildings. The mosque was clean, quiet and beautiful. There is no room inside the mosque however just hall way.

Trip to India

My first introduction to India was through the movies I watched while growing up in China. Interestingly, India produces more movies each year than Hollywood, adding to its cultural significance.

During my time in graduate school, my roommate, who had visited India, shared their impressions of the country and its people. They described Indian people as the happiest on earth.

Two years ago, while in Switzerland, I met a couple who had traveled to India and offered their own insights. The wife appreciated the sights but had no intention of returning, even for a million dollars.

Last year, two of my colleagues visited India and upon their return, they shared captivating pictures that piqued my interest. I decided then that I wanted to experience it for myself.

My journey through India has been a remarkable one. I've been captivated by the warmth of the people, the rich history, delectable cuisine, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. The places I visited were nothing short of magical.

Indian women left a lasting impression on me with their unique and colorful fashion sense, making them, in my opinion, some of the most stylish individuals on the planet. However, I couldn't ignore the stark contrast of the streets' cleanliness and the challenging living conditions of some of the people I encountered.

Nonetheless, my visit to India was a profoundly unique experience, unlike any other, and it's a memory I will always cherish.