The very qualities that make it so lovable, however, also make it extremely<\/em> popular: The crush of bodies piling into the carriages is so dense that one could, if one so chose, simply lift one\u2019s feet from the ground and surf with the tide right onto the train. The major problem, of course, is that it\u2019s almost impossible to move one\u2019s arms about, so woe betide those who develop mid-trip an itch what needs scratching.<\/p>\n I got the Metro to the train station, and went straight away to the International Tourist Bureau to secure an onward passage. I was worried that it might be about to close — and with both Christmas Eve and Christmas day being official holidays here, that it might not open again \u2018til Boxing Day. Turns out it\u2019s open 24\/7, including Sundays. But I took a number, which was sixty numbers greater than that currently being served.<\/p>\n So, made the twenty-minute hoof to the hostel, checked in, went back, and the queue had only advanced by twenty people. So I went out and found some Bananas, ate them up, went back, and only ten more places had elapsed. So I went back<\/em> to the hostel, grabbed some reading material, and returned yet again. Now, the numbers were cycling through more quickly, it being pretty late at night, and many number-holders having abandoned their places in line. So, didn\u2019t have to wait long after that, and was able to book the very train I wanted, no fuss\/no muss.<\/p>\n So I was already kind of in love with Delhi. But then, come morning, and seeing how truly awful Delhi\u2019s air quality is, my heart sank low. It\u2019s apparently only the third-worst in India, and doesn\u2019t even crack the World top-ten. But it\u2019s plenty horrible enough. Too bad, too, \u2018cause it otherwise looks to be a city in which one could spend several weeks just seeing the sights and experiencing the vibes.<\/p>\n One such sight, which I just happened upon by chance, is this massive<\/em> Hanuman statue. India\u2019s structures are on such a gigantic scale that this doesn\u2019t even rate a mention in listings. But I for one am duly impressed.<\/p>\n As I say, one could easily spend days upon days walking around seeing such sites, as well as the big-ticket locations for which the city is famed. But, better to try it during the rainy season, perhaps, when the air isn\u2019t actively trying to kill you dead.<\/p>\n I did spend an entire day at the Naitonal Museum here. It may well have been the best ten dollars I\u2019ve ever spent (and half of that was for the camera fee \u2013 it\u2019d be five dollars for those who didn\u2019t feel a particular need for photography).<\/p>\n The sculptures and carvings housed here, while not quite in the same class as those to be found at Angkor Wat or Kathmandu, are very great.<\/p>\n But, c\u2019mon, it\u2019s India, and that means Indian Miniature Painting<\/a> for all the marbles. The best thing ever, it is. Though that\u2019s only an opinion, and though there are uncountable phenomena to which I\u2019ve not been exposed, I do mean it literally: In my estimation, there is no more masterfully realised depiction of the human experience. And the Museums\u2019 collection did not disappoint \u2013 just shaking my head over and over and over again at the impossibly brilliant quality of these works.<\/p>\n They\u2019re all behind glass, which makes photography deuce frustrating. But I took lots, lots, lots, and still lots more. I took so many goddam pictures, I think I developed a mild case of Tennis Elbow (or what). They\u2019re all up there on the Flickr page, if you wanna look-see<\/a>. But, as usual with these types of things, there\u2019s no substitute to seeing them in person. So get your dimpled ass over here! (Actually, I think there are some pretty big collections in the States as well, if one is so inclined.) Here\u2019re just a very few faves.<\/p>\n \u2022<\/p>\n And these, just for the comedy value:<\/p>\n![\"2014-12-25](\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/2014-12-25-120422.jpg\" "\\"2014-12-25")
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