India, Impressions

Finally I get to write! Finding an internet connection that isn't painfully slow, times out, or connects at all, is somewhat difficult. Plus my mind has not been in a state to collect my thoughts. I feel like I have Attention Deficit Disorder. The upside of that is that I've had absolutely no time to think about the stressors at home, so I must be in holiday mode.
When I look at my travel journal, it presents as a frenzied, fragmented collection of impressions, like a reflection of the country I'm travelling in.
I'm currently writing on paper before I put this into cyber space. I'm sitting in one of Fort Cochin's (Kerala) oldest landmarks. A mansion designed by Satu Koder - Jewish Freemason, aka - philanthropist, business man, historian, writer, legislator, socalite, Rotorian, counselor, humanist... Busy little boy huh? Actually he's dead now, and his daughter Queenie, is one of the last remaining Jews in the area. She is warden of the infamous Synagogue in Jew Town, just across the way.
We have been in Fort Cochin for 5 days now and hanging with our friend from Aus, Linda.
Patrick, India and myself are feeling a little deflated after the whirlwind tour of Nth India which we completed just before we arrived here. Nth India was a stunning experience, and one that I won't forget in a hurry.
So far, Sth India has been more touristy and could pass for any tropical Asian destination. I shouldn't compare the two really. They say that you either fall in love with the North or the South, and I have fallen head over heels for the former. In the North we visited remote places where the people are fascinated by the colour of your skin. I didn't think that still happened in this ever shrinking world we live in.
Delhi
Delhi is falling down. Since the 1950's when the British and the Muslims moved out, nothing seems to have been maintained. Our guide tells us this is because the Muslims owned all the buildings and still do. The current occupants pay rent and have the capacity to apply for ownership after 25 years, however this is a lengthy and costly process, so nobody bothers. Why maintain something you don't own? The traffic in Delhi has to be seen to be believed, and often you find yourself part of it, as the footpaths are filthy or crumbled and more dangerous to walk on than the road. A few of the locals we have talked to say that it was cleaned up for the Games. My mind boggles to think what it was like beforehand. But despite the crumbling city, life thrives within it. The place bustles with the kind of excitement that  you see in storybooks. There is a crazy amount of stray dogs here. India has photographed about 100 of them. They are not as scary as what people make out (ie: rapid, agressive and painfully thin), allthough some are. They even have a function in the whole picture. They keep the rubbish under control as do a number of people who search for recycled material in the muck.
Pat celebrated his 40th birthday on the second night and the guide organised a cake - sweet.
More soon plus hopefully poto's  x