Lucknow - City of Nawabs

Touchdown  Lucknow.

Lucknow is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Hindi is the city's official language. However, the most prominent language spoken in Lucknow is colloquial Hindustani. The city's design was heavily influenced by the several emperors and incorporates significant areas of natural imperial that have earned Lucknow the title of the "city of Nawabs". It is also known as the Golden City of India. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucknow for more information.

 

 Front of Bara Imambara built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Lucknow, in 1784. It is also called the Asafi Imambara. Bara means big, and an imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims for the purpose of Azadari. The Bara Imambara is among the grandest buildings of Lucknow.

 It is getting hot here. I have heard that it can go up to 50 degrees during summer. I have purchased a second hand air conditioning system; hopefully this summer heat won’t wear me down.

 

Common sight everywhere around Lucknow. Cows helping themselves to the rubbish

 

I have decided not to purchase a vehicle at this stage. I will renew my decision after a year. Don’t ask about how the locals drive their vehicles. If you can drive in India - you can drive anywhere. Drivers they don’t indicate, they toot their horn. So it is very noisy while driving or walking along the road.  If you have to cross the road – Don’t look left or right, just keep walking while others will drive around you.

Short Video update

I have to be careful who I make friends with. There are some who is so financially orientated, that the competition for money makes one not to trust anyone. Time is money here. Money is everything.

I made few friends, visited few gatherings on Sunday, but looking for a permanent place of fellowship.

 

I got internet now, if you have Skype you can add me to your contact list. Search for mrravilal or mrravilal@gmail.com, if you have a smartphone, install Viper application for free and search for Ravi CTU.

Ten Things I won't do in my homeland

1. Spitting - even while driving or as a passenger
2. Urinating by the sidewalk while people walking by
3. Throwing rubbish anywhere
4. Paying for forms you printed from the internet yourself
5. Negotiate taxi fare before you board the taxi
6. Tooting your horn instead of indicating with your indicating lights
7. Bottle Neck type of queue at an office counter - no descent line
8. Wear long jeans when it is really hot
9.  Drive or ride a vehicle with no seatbelts
10. Give my phone number to any sales person - they will call you :(

Ten Things I love about here:

1. The food is very tasty and cheap
2. Postman delivers packages according to your time
3. There is always some kind of transportation on every street
4. People will always want to help you [well for money]
5. People will come to help one another
6. Flipkart.com
7. Local tea, but very sweet
8. India currency is quite weak
9. There are some beautiful places to visit
10. Our flat has a back-up generator

Travelling through a narrow street in Lucknow

 

My three immediate goals at present

1.      Language

2.      Culture

3.      Credibility

Language

I have to learn Hindi, yes, it is so important here to communicate with people. Young generation do speak English but not many, beside most road signs, application forms, etc. use Hindi as the mode of communication. I have to learn Hindi in order to express myself. I am picking up on Hindi verbally but written Hindi is my weakness. Two weeks I went to join a Gym so I did my best to speak in Hindi, however, later I apologised for my lack of Hindi to which the lady replied, “No, your Hindi is gentle and sweet”. My friend and I started giggling. I said to myself, man! I sound so gay. Anyway, I am still looking around for a good language school to learn Hindi and then Urdu.

 

I have a flatmate from Canada. He is also studying Hindi. Last week we went to watch a movie, so we decided to have a quick meal at some restaurant first. I said fine, lets go to Mcers [Short for McDonalds well that's how we say in Fiji and New Zealand], he replied what, what restaurant is that, I said McDonalds. I should have known that different countries have different lingos to describe things. in Canada, McDonalds is called Mc D for short. So I have to learn all these lingos and local lingo too

Culture

Cultural adaptation – I am learning how and why things are done over here. Apart from this, I am enjoying and learning the way of living in Lucknow. I need to find some good honest friends who will be a good prototype for cultural learning.

Creditability

Why should anyone listen to me? I know little of the language, culture, the local situation and the struggles that the local people are going through. I am trying to understand them. The question I have been asking "How can I use my life to gain people’s trust, acceptance and also friendship?" This is very challenge.

Cows invade main road: Give Way to Animals in Lucknow

 

Even cows celebrate Holi - Festival using colours

 

Above Picture - I found this body lying on a busy road. I informed the Police Officer about this body lying on the road. The Police Officer came and kicked this body and the guy got up - he was alive. I thought he had died. The Police chased him away. I laughed in the beginning but realised the reality of poverty. There are so many living and sleeping on the streets. It is very evident during night.

I should sign off here. This is my first blog and I am getting my head around it. I will continue to update my blog every 2 to 4 weeks.

I really do appreciate your communication, support and encouragement. Now that I have internet, I will be writing personally and frequently. Thank you so much, and I hope this blog find you in great health. Please email me or leave a comment below - I love to hear from you all.