Lotus Temple, Swastikas, and Sleep

What a day....my morning started off at 7:30am with a cup of Earl Grey and some bread thing that was delicious from the hotel. I cant believe how cheap everything is! $6 USD can get you a long way in India.  I bought some pretty cool souvenirs for my boys. 

Honestly my body is so confused at what time it really is. I just woke up from going to bed at 9:30pm (its now 3:30am). Itll prob take two or three days to get better but in then theres flight home. Thankfully (sort of) my roomate, who was supposed to join us yesterday, was unable to secure a Visa. Ive been enjoying this two room suite all to myself. 

Today's agenda was full of sight seeing. We visited the Lotus Temple which is located in the Old district of Deli. Being Sunday and somewhat of a public attraction, there was a 30 minute line which we stood in and waited patiently. I got my first up close encounter with poverty in this line. There was this little girl who was wearing the most ragged clothing I've ever seen. She had to be around six years as she was weaving through the line asking people for their water bottles. When she got one, i saw her run to this little spot and give the water to what Im assuming was her little brother. He was dressed in similar fashion but had to be around three. They dumped the water and I guess collected them to recycle for money. I saw the slums, I saw more kids like that and all of it was within less than a mile of the most beautiful places here in the capital. 

The Lotus Temple and below is an overpass that hides a slum tent camp. 

Its heart breaking but its a fact of life here.

I also got to enter a Hindu temple. Unfortunately we're not allowed to use cameras inside but I did get this shot.

And this...

Hitler tied the Aryan race story to Hinduism because of the Aryans (from the Caucuses, through Iran) who came to India a long time ago. The swastika actually symbolizes good luck and the soul of the body (see the 4 dots). I also learned a bit about Hinduism but thats probably a separately blog post.

I'm going to try to get some more shut eye. 

Cheers, 

Ian