"No place like India!" adite's Profile

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An Indian View Point

Everytime I go abroad - though it's not as often as I would like to - I can't help compare the cities to those in my own country, India.

In Munich, as I walked through the streets, I marveled at how beautifully the city had been recreated after its almost-total devastation during World War 2. I admired the meticulous detail with which the authentic Munich architecture has been recreated. And then I thought about Indian cities - though we have no dearth of beautiful palaces, temples, and forts, we seem to be unable to keep alive our heritage with the care that Europeans do. We seem to take pride in hiding the beautiful facades with dirty graffiti, littering with our everyday junk. And creating an embarrassing mess for all to see! How I wish I had a magic wand that would make our cities if not pristine, at least somewhat cleaner, a lot less messier.

I walked down the streets of Brussels and gazed at Maniken Pis with amazement and must say much incredulity. People from all over the world come to admire this little statuette of a boy pee-ing - and this is the mascot of a country? Wow! Compared to this tourist destination our Taj Mahal must indeed seem to be "excessively" ornate, grand and obscenely large-hearted.

As I bus-ed it to Waterloo from Brussels, dying to see the place where the great battle of Waterloo was fought, I couldn't but be disappointed at the sight. Though very well maintained with a lovely museum and grounds, surrounded by picturesque villages, it didn't live up to my larger-than-life expectations. The little villages that I passed by were exceedingly pretty but something was missing. I thought about it and the answer hit me only when I reached home. Back in the noisy streets of Delhi, cussing at the traffic, honking at the cows that park themselves in the middle of the street, and look contemptuously at the world passing by around them....what I missed in the lovely, pristine little towns of Europe was India's large heartedness, its warmth, its chaos (which has a charm of its own) and its ability to make you always feel you're in the thick of things! Much as I enjoy my little trips abroad, there is no place like India. You may love it or hate it, but you definitely can't ignore it!

Dando, Goa

Life is a...Beach!

Greater Noida Expressway

Discovering India is like going on a road trip!

A mall at Noida

Malls and Multiplexes - the new face of India

At Baga Beach

At Baga beach, Goa, with a friend. Goa is more than beaches - it is a mindset. Laidback, casual, fun....

INA Market in Delhi

A typical, old-fashioned Delhi bazaar - chaotic, crowded, colourful - and filthy!

A view from Amber Fort

Rajasthan: palaces and splendor, colour and history!

Festivals and rituals are at the core of the Indian way of life...

Intro Updated Jun 27, 2008
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Comments (61)

ncfg Sep 10, 2011 at 12:37 PM Report Abuse

Hi Adite, belated happy birthday. Greetings from Portugal. Nat
goutammitra Sep 9, 2011 at 3:09 AM Report Abuse

Happy Birthday Aditi!
Rumi-fan Sep 12, 2010 at 5:56 AM Report Abuse

Adite, Happy birthday for 9th. Hope you are not suffering too much in the Dehli heat. Best from Sydney.
kunwarpawan Sep 9, 2010 at 8:58 AM Report Abuse

Wish you many many happy returns of the day..
bharat_tanwar Sep 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM Report Abuse

happy b'day.............:)
suniljamor Sep 9, 2009 at 3:26 AM Report Abuse

hi Adite.... HOW R U??????? Many-2 wishings & Greetings for you Wish u HAPPY B`DAY
Donna_in_India Sep 8, 2009 at 9:19 PM Report Abuse

Hi Adite - wishing you a very happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day.
chiara76 Sep 10, 2008 at 12:12 PM Report Abuse

Late Happy Birthday from me;) I was in Greece on trip so I coulnd't say it at time.
Basaic Sep 9, 2008 at 3:05 PM Report Abuse

Happy birthday. Hope you have a long life full of great travels.
WorldMeet2008 Jul 24, 2008 at 7:10 AM Report Abuse

Your next trip? Make it really unique! It's not too late to attend WM08 - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & Dead- Sea on 25- 28th Sept (+Petra 29-30th). We want to double the num of attendees to 100! Click to learn where, when, what, how, how much! Avi [FruitLover].