Fine Jewelry Observation Day #1.

It feels like I've been here for much longer than a week.

So much has happened...

I don't remember exactly when it was, but sometime in the past week I got to go and meet with the editor of a newspaper (Mail Today) because he's a friend of my uncles and has some contacts in the fashion industry. He said if I get a portfolio together, he'll see if he can put me in contact with some people so we'll see what happens with that. This is the view from the lobby of their offices on the 13th floor...

Then on Wednesday, I went to Chandni Chowk for the first time to sit with the jewelers in their workshop. We had to walk through these tiny little lanes where there were foul smells mixed with smells of food being cooked, dogs sleeping on the side of the alleys, kids (that you would never see on their own in the US) rushing past to get to who knows where, wires hanging from every building/balcony/rooftop visible, and just craziness in general.

Then we climbed a steep flight of stairs and walked into a room that was barely bigger than my bathroom. There were two small tables with tools scattered about them, a man and two young boys sitting on the floor working away.

They don't really speak English, so I spoke all the Hindi I could, and they spoke all the English they could and we managed to get the most basic of conversations going. Most of the day I just sat and observed as this man worked on a ring setting for about five hours. (The ring on the middle finger was the one he was making.) 

The amount of work that goes into fine jewelry is pretty crazy. I also got to see a couple other pieces that he had worked on and they were beautiful. This is one of them...

Then about half way through the day, the lights went out. They said it's a normal daily occurence. Actually twice daily. Often for a couple hours at a time.

I was supposed to go back again the next day, but couldn't because I got sick. Had some stomach issues and just stayed home. And I've kind of been recovering since. I'm feeling much better so I'll go back to observe again on Monday.

Today we made a little outing to a market to pick up some toys for my little cousin and I picked up some magazines. Even though I'm in India, I still have to get my fashion fix. Here are a couple photos from the market. Pretty normal sights to see here.

Until next time...

Peace&love to all.

PS. This blog is rather haphazardly written and put together on account of my scattered brain and limited time for blogging. Oh, and rather slow internet connections.

Welcome to India.

I... am... here!

I have decided that India is what I call, my Heartland. It's not technically my homeland and it's not technically my home either. But it is in my blood and I am Indian at heart. It's such a beautiful country and I am so excited to be back. I have to admit that I've already gone through quite a rollercoaster of emotions and I've only been here for four days! But that's what's so exciting.

My first shower, which was actually not a shower, but a bucket bath, was the first experience that told me I had arrived. The paint above the shower tiles was bubbling and peeling away and pigeons cooed as I doused myself with barely warm water (which was only because I didn't use it right away) from a bucket. Somehow, I love it though. It's just one of the beautiful, humbling experiences that you go through while being here.

This is the window in my room at my Aunt and Uncle's house that I'm staying at right now. All the greenery outside is beautiful. It's SO green and there's a lot of it here in Delhi.

I took my first auto rickshaw ride of this trip to my cousins house. My drivers name was Shurdan Singh. He was a quiet, but sweet little man. I love riding in autos because they're open and you can feel the breeze and just watch all of the madness going on around you.

Yesterday, I went to meet with the first jeweler who I'm going to be working with. He is a fine jeweler and his workshop is in this crazy place called Chandni Chowk, which I will go to for the first time on Wednesday. While I was at his shop, he had to make a run to get some gold melted down, so I got to go with him. It was so interesting! We went into this little workshop that was just an apartment and it felt like a drug house. They had a furnace in there and when we walked in there was a man cleaning beakers. But I got to see them melt gold! It was crazy!

So, there you have it... my first few adventures in this crazy place that we call India.

Peace and love to everyone.

I already miss you all so much!

Take care and be in touch.