Knowledge Must Blog

Studying in China: Tips and Experiences

nospam@example.com (Leonie Zimmermann) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:49:23 +0100

You are thinking about going abroad, studying away from home for a few semesters? You are considering China among your choices? You want to know more about your chances and opportunities in China, which problems and difficulties you will have to deal with? China is the place to be. China makes a great place to study. In the past few years the country has done well in improving the study conditions for foreigners, while the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) offers more and more scholarships to students from abroad. Therefore the number of foreign students studying at Chinese universities has risen dramatically. But what is it that draws the interest of more than 250,000 foreign students annually to China?

Foreign students taking Chinese classes
(c) by Knowledge Must

It can't be the preparations and registration progress, for sure. There are even students who leave China after one week, because they can't cope with the long waiting times at Overseas Students Offices, the paperwork at banks or dealing with the Public Security Bureau. You might feel a little lost during your first days, especially when not even the person in charge knows which forms to fill in and how much money you actually have to pay. It is best to join forces with other foreign students and try finding the best and fastest ways to get through the Chinese academic bureaucracy. Other than a lot of passport photos, health certificates and copies of everything, all you will need for the registration is patience, time and… more patience! By the way, it is wise to keep everything anyone at any office ever gives you. You will probably need it later on, so put it in a safe place.

But registering for your classes at Chinese universities is not all the fun, there's even more! If you haven't had enough complications go ahead and try to get a room in the foreign students’ dormitory without having placed a reservation from home. Try upgrading your shared double room to a single room. Try refusing to move to another room every other week when they ask you to – they might kick you out of the dormitory and you can go ahead to the next step, living off-campus.

Finding apartments in China is relatively easy – given you speak Chinese, of course. You can find real-estate agencies basically everywhere in the city and they can get you apartments within a day. There are a few things you should bring:
• A lot of cash: in China, when signing a lease contract, you usually pay 3 months rent up front, plus 0.3 to 0.8 months as the agent's commission, plus 1 to 2 months deposit. Of course, in the country where the highest bill is 100 Yuan, you pay everything in cash.
• A lot of patience: you better think in Chinese and lose your sense of (normal) time and timing. Looking at apartments can be annoying. You will spend hours waiting for keys, landlords, contracts, traffic lights, noodles, ATMs, other agents, phone calls, taxis… you name it!
• A nose for local rents: if you look foreign to Chinese real-estate agents they might see an opportunity for fooling you. Ask other students or Chinese people how much they pay for their apartments, compare and try fooling the agents instead!

One of the countless real estate agencies
(c) by Knowledge Must

Nevertheless, apartment hunting can be lots of fun if it's not super urgent. Chinese apartments are mostly ready-furnished, some of them in a way that many girls will love, some are fancy, and others just shabby. If you finally decided on a place to stay make sure to bargain (at least try) about monthly rent and commission or make the landlord buy essential electronics that are missing, such as TV, microwave, fridge or air-conditioning. Depending on your landlord's amazement about foreigners renting their apartment you might even get what you demand.

You probably don’t want to go to China for renting an apartment though, but to improve your Chinese skills at a local university. At most universities there is a School of Overseas Education. In the beginning of the semester you might take a placement test, which places you in a class that is way too easy or horrendously hard. Normally it is possible to switch classes or re-take the placement test. Chinese universities keep their students busy by using compulsory attendance, homework that actually has to be done, and students’ participation in class as part of their overall grades.

There are often four types of classes for Chinese language students: reading, writing, listening, and conversation; they differ in level and style depending on the teacher. While older teachers tend to stick to the books used in class, young teachers might make use of innovative and interactive teaching methods. It is wise to study hard and keep a friendly relationship to your teachers; some of them will end up singing karaoke with you (drunk) or inviting you to off-campus events on holidays (both drunk and sober). Whether they invite you or not, neither of your teachers will skip the obligatory mid-term and final exams.

If you get round to do other activities than filling in forms and doing homework, you should try to get in touch with the locals. By locals I don’t mean foreigners that have lived in China for a couple of years (who are also very interesting folks), but Chinese locals. University classes will teach you Putonghua, Mandarin Chinese, while in most provinces and cities people speak dialects and even other languages. Talking to Chinese locals whose Mandarin is not as excellent as your teachers’ will improve your instinctive feel for the Chinese language as well as grow your self-confidence, since foreigners who speak a little Chinese are all “very good” and often also “very beautiful”. If you don’t know where to start: Chinese people love “English Corners”, where they want to get in touch with foreigners. You can’t find one? Try your luck with taxi drivers, fruit shop ladies, receptionists, compound guards, and little children.

Bicycles in Shanghai
(c) by Brandon Fick
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ficken/1815901492/]

One last essential tip for studying in China: get a bicycle. At first you will find taking cabs pretty cheap and convenient, but after some more taxi experiences (e.g. waiting for a taxi in the rain, crazy taxi drivers that go in the wrong direction on highways, accidents) you will appreciate the freedom of riding your bike anywhere you want to. Sidewalks, bike-lanes, campus, streets, stairs, malls…

A foreign student in China will on average own 1.5 bikes annually. The first one gets stolen. Sometimes you find it on the black market (next to where it got stolen) and can buy it back. Sometimes you think it got stolen and buy a brand-new bike from the supermarket only to notice that you actually only misplaced it the night before. Sometimes you get involved in accidents and wreck your bike. Sometimes you inherit two bikes from your foreign friends who leave China. Bikes in China are like socks – you can’t get enough of them and sometimes they disappear mysteriously.

Once you have overcome all the challenges you are ready to experience and enjoy a foreign student's life in China to the full. And trust me – once you’ve left you will want to come back.

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In case you need additional advice for studying in China or identifying the best study opportunities, you can always get directly in touch with us at Knowledge Must: info@knowledge-must.com.

Our New Guide Book: "Work in China"

nospam@example.com (Daniel Ratheiser) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:01:00 +0100

We are happy to announce the publication of the latest addition to our guide book series "Work in China - A Guide by Knowledge Must", which is available for free download from our website. With this publication we offer you a complete resource on China's challenging job market for foreigners. In addition to answering the most pressing questions, the guide features valuable insights ranging from logistics such as visa procedures and accommodation arrangements to cultural background information and inspiration for how to spend one's leisure time.

Shanghai's business and financial district Pudong

China has captivated the minds of people around the world for thousands of years. In recent decades, China has been widely acknowledged as a global powerhouse, from cultural exports to business prowess, from the fine arts to technology. Chinese organisations have long understood the value of foreign employees for enhancing the effectiveness of their work. With an increasing number of multinationals relocating to China, as well as successful and expanding domestic companies, opportunities for work abound. China's recent economic success and high potential for future growth make this an exciting time to become involved in this booming market.

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After the success of our guide book series for India ("Internships in India", "Volunteer in India", "Work in India", and "Study in India"), we now publish the first of a series of four guide books for China to help students, graduates, and professionals realise their international ambitions and make their life easier. All our guide books will be regularly updated to keep up with the rapidly changing Chinese environment.

We make this guide book available to you for your free individual, non-commercial usage. Just download it from http://www.knowledge-must.com/en/resources/our_guide_books.html.

Please DO share it with others!

You are allowed to copy and share these guides with others as they are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. You are free to copy, distribute, and transmit the work.

The following conditions apply:
- Attribution — You must attribute the work to Knowledge Must and mention our web address www.knowledge-must.com.
- Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
- No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0.

Things You Should Know Before Coming to India - Tips for Travellers

nospam@example.com (Gurleen Cheema) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:36:45 +0100

India is a land of surprises! From the majestic Himalayas and the stark deserts of Rajasthan, over beautiful beaches and lush tropical forests, to idyllic villages and bustling cities, India offers something unique for every individual preference. Vibrant, mesmerising, completely absorbing, the country stimulates all of your senses - often simultaneously. If you plan to travel to India, I am sure you will find our following tips helpful:

1. Keep a scanned copy of your passport and visa in your e-mail box at all times. You will need it more often than you think, especially while booking services like accommodation, transport, etc.

The famed rock-cut temples of Ellora
(c) by Danial Chitnis
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/danchitnis/634523952/]

2. Make sure you get all the recommended vaccinations before you enter India. Visit your doctor well in advance of your trip to India to find out what precautions you need to take. The medications and immunizations that are necessary will greatly depend on the regions you intend to visit (for example, some areas are particularly malaria prone, while others have very little risk of infection) and time of year (during and straight after the monsoon is the riskiest time for health problems). Carry around hand sanitizer and use it often.

Hari Mandir at Amritsar
(c) by Jasleen Kaur
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasleen_kaur/2389910447/]

3. Dress modestly at all times. On day-to-day basis, it’s best to cover up – avoid wearing shorts, skimpy tank tops, or short skirts/dresses. In many religious places, your head should be covered as a sign of respect. It’s best to pack only a small amount of clothes and plan to buy a few Indian items once you arrive. Indian clothes are much better suited to hot weather, so they’ll keep you cool while keeping you modest.

One of the countless beautiful beaches along Kerala's coast
(c) by wildxplorer
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/krayker/3088743971/]

4. Drink bottled water at all times. It is available at almost all the small shops in India. Be careful with some of the street foods and stick to places that are heavily frequented.

Getting a feel for traffic in India
(c) by Dainis Matisons
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/dainismatisons/3344525316/]

5. Traffic laws are more like guidelines in India. Don’t be surprised if you see cows sitting in the middle of the road and dogs barking at you while walking on the road. Traffic can be anything – from buses and cars to rickshaws, bicycles, carts, horses, cows, elephants, and more. Seat belts are rare to find. So, carefully dodge traffic as you cross the street and always look ahead of you.

The serenity of Ladakh
(c) by Jochen Westermann
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/9075858@N02/599113961/]

6. Hygiene can be a big concern for most travellers if they are not prepared. It’s rare to find bathrooms that would compare to Western sterilized standards. It’s normal to see large piles of garbage on the streets and the large cities have serious air pollution problems. Don’t expect to find toilet paper or Western-style toilets and showers everywhere you go…

View from a houseboat on Dal Lake in Kashmir
(c) by Panoramas
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranopamas/3777393246/]

7. Keep a city map and travel guide with you at all times. It will assist you in finding places to stay, eat, shop, reliable doctors in times of emergency, transport options, and so on.

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You will find many more useful tips for your travels in India in our free guide books that you can download under: www.knowledge-must.com/guidebooks

Do Not Postpone Learning German - A Didactic Story

nospam@example.com (Darya Dmytruk) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:06:00 +0100

My first contact with German language was just two weeks before arriving in Germany. It was a crash course to pass an interview at the embassy. Finally, five years ago, I set my foot on the Teutonic lands and since this time my life has been undergoing big changes. If you are unlucky enough to have a passport from one of the post-Soviet Union countries your world ends at the border to the next EU country. A round trip to Paris for ten days could be the biggest dream that you can afford. I was yet a naive girl and tried to live in Germany without knowing German for the next six months, but I was fortunate enough to learn English to get me by. Sure, I could have been getting by like this, but my destiny said "No!" and I soon found myself in a line to submit my application for a German course.

Children wearing traditional Bavarian dress
(c) by akante1776
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/11332944@N06/4038538044/]

I have always heard that German is a difficult language to learn and as most people, I did not like the idea of bringing another difficult challenge into my life. Surprisingly, in only two months I could begin to communicate with my friend. She had started to learn German earlier, and, in her linguistic drive, refused to talk to me in English. Besides the obvious benefit of being able to communicate, many other surprises were waiting for me. With my basic level I could finally watch Almodovar´s "Volver" at the cinema. I was happy because finally I could understand, well more than after my attempt to watch it in Spanish.

Germans have the lovely feature of paying compliments about your German language skills - even if you are a beginner! I chose to believe them and continued with the belief that my German was at least much better than their Russian (another excuse not to learn a language).

Munich's historic city centre
(c) by ines saraiva
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/inessaraiva/4006622538/]

The situation with my poor German skills improved when it was high time to earn my living abroad. From this point I could really feel the result of my efforts from attending the classes. A wonderful confiserie in the tourist center of Munich was the best place to practice my German skills: communicating with old ladies with small dogs that wanted only first-class service. In three weeks I no longer had to ask customers to repeat their questions and moved on to the intermediate level.

My job at Oktoberfest also turned out to cause no linguistic problems. My German skills were fit enough to understand even the muttering of drunk people. At that time, seeing people on the metro with green and white bags with the University of Munich logo, I could only imagine how lucky, extraordinary and intelligent they were to be studying there. The thought of entering the University did not enter my mind and I continued to attend the courses to improve my German. Once again I found myself one step behind my friend. She was going to take the DaF exam, a German language test that would allow her to enter the university.

Part of the beautiful Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität campus in Munich
(c) by Depeche Mode wrong
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennifersdaddy/450602007/]

Nevertheless, within little time I reached an advanced level in German and the happy day of admission to the German student world came. Now I am a student of one of the best universities in Germany, Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität in Munich, studying the subjects religious studies and anthropology. Sounds good, but behind the scenes, in contrast to all those who have German as their mother tongue, I really feel the difference in the amount of work I have to do. You have to struggle with every text or composition until the daybreak. Any presentation of a paper makes you sweat and you still cannot participate in discussions and have to keep silent as if you had nothing to say.

Our life is too short and we have to appreciate every moment of it. We should invest our time and efforts into that. So do not repeat my experience - do it better! Learn German in advance and enjoy the country as much as you can!

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If you happen to be in Delhi and are afraid of boring "follow the book" lessons or old ladies with warts as teachers, join one of our fun and effective German classes! Our native German teachers will surely make you hit the ground running! Just drop us a line at courses@language-must.com or simply call us on +91 - (0)11 - 2649 1817...

Jogging in China – With Some Advice for Chengdu

nospam@example.com (Chen Fengchao) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:36:26 +0100

How long have you been sitting in front of the computer screen before you glimpsed this article? Are your eyes already starting to pain? Come on, your body is calling you to break away from the screen and breath some fresh air outside! It is time to do some sports! If you are thinking now that you don’t have somebody to do sports with or are lacking equipment, think again. There is one excellent sport you can do without any equipment while at the same time being able to counterbalance your time in front of the computer effectively: jogging.

Taking a morning jog in China...
(c) by Gavin Anderson
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/andersondotcom/3535609272/]

Jogging is a very popular kind of sports in many countries around the world. As an exercise, it enhances your respiratory functions, makes your vital capacities increase and improves your blood circulation. It is an effective way in control of atherosclerosis and diseases of heart, head or blood vessels. With an increasing awareness towards health, people in China also have begun to pay more attention to this healthy sport.

In Chengdu, a famed “leisure city” in China, most people live a comfortable and colourful life full of relaxed activities, such as dancing, playing majiang, drinking tea, and so on. However, jogging is becoming an increasingly popular choice. It is not exclusively practiced by the younger generation, but also the old have jumped on the bandwagon. Either in the morning or at the sunset, you will easily find people jogging. Where are they? They are mostly to be found on the racetracks of schools and universities as well as in the parks around the city. Only the very brave try running in the streets.

For example, at Sichuan University’s campus you would get surprised that there are so many people coming here and jogging after work or studies every day. Many of these people are citizens nearby. With a lot of people doing the same thing, you can easily be motivated and stick to your losing-weight, building-muscle or just-keeping-healthy plans. It is also easily to make new friends as everybody already has a common hobby: jogging. Those colleges can be found easily as long as you search on the map of the city that you live in or browse the Internet.

Parks in China are another good choice. The beautiful scenery and clean air can bring you to good mood. The serenity there can also reduce your pressure a lot and relax you. In Chengdu parks such as Huanhuaxi Park, the Peoples’s Park, Guihu Park, and Wangjiang Park are recommended, some charge a small entrance fee while others are free. You can find the locations of parks in your city conveniently on city maps and the Internet, too. If possible opt for the larger parks as some of the smaller parks can get rather crowded in China.

Now, just put aside your work, put on your running shoes, go out and enjoy jogging!

A Pioneer for Organic Food in New Delhi

nospam@example.com (Heiko Pfeiffer) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:08:13 +0100

On a recent day when going to work to our office in South Delhi’s Shahpur Jat neighbourhood, I noticed, amidst sweets and street food vendors and recent fashion shops that have been mushrooming in the area, this cute little shop called “Dubdengreen”. Inside, unsurprisingly for this densely populated neighbourhood, the space is small enough, the decorations are minimal and the absence of shining and blinking advertisement on the shelves catches the eye. This looks more like a farm house shop, so you wouldn’t be surprised to find mooing cows and chattering chicken in the backyard. A quick look around is enough to confirm the impression: grains and millets are there, fresh vegetables next to fresh fruit and dairy products. This is indeed another shop for farm goods – so how is it different? Well, this one is all about organic.

I am lucky that day – Jayashree Eashwar, the owner and co-founder of the place, is around. She gives me a warm welcome and doesn’t need me to beg her to share her knowledge with me. As my eyes anxiously glance at the different oils at the shelves on the top, she comments: “This safflower oil is really excellent. The taste and smell are quite neutral like that of sunflower oil, so you can cook and bake with it. It is also good to lower cholesterol in the body – not that you need it yet. But in 20 years from now…” We both laugh.

My eyes move to the breakfast goodies, cereals of different kinds. To my delight, there is not only the usual cornflake variety. There are also millet or ragi as well as amaranth puffs, all gluten free. “These must be expensive,” I hear myself utter. “Not at all,” Jayashree says. “Millets, of which ragi is only one variety, are the staple grain in rural India. It’s recently been coming back to urban India, and has been around long before rice and wheat were introduced.” They come at the same price as the corn puffs, and the amaranth comes at less than half the price of the other two. Seems like breakfast is going to be more exciting from now on…

As it is Tuesday afternoon, some vegetable and fruit are assorted on the ground in baskets. (Fresh produce comes on Tuesdays and Fridays.) Like most people, I enjoy the convenience of doing vegetable/fruit shopping with the sabzi-wallah on the street corner. Jayashree offers me to try one of her organic apples. I accept and give it a bite. I look at her and start beaming. This apple reminds me too much of the home-grown variety, with that distinct sweet taste and the wonderful tight feeling of a fresh apple. The apple looks as good outside as it does inside, unlike the ones from my local vendor, and it tastes delicious. And the pricing? At Rs. 120/kg, slightly higher than currently at my doorstep, but compared to the low season or the prices in the shops at Khan Market or Priya, totally alright. Given the taste experience, much more than alright, actually…

I asked her whether I can trust the organic labels in India. “A lot of the organic market for Indian goods is in Europe or the US. So most of the verification agencies are from there,” she explains. “Even the Indian brands have to meet that standard. Also, many of them export to those countries.” The whole process of verification costs the farmers money. Then, for the seller, the transport costs more for smaller quantities of organic goods ordered and brought in. This explains the slightly higher prices for the consumer.

Why did she get into organic farming? “To provide REAL food!” she exclaims. And, “to provide an alternative, both to the consumers as well as to the farmers”, she adds. I’m startled. Somehow, I had the notion that farming in India must still be a lot more pure and innocent than in, say, Europe or the US. “It is true, when you buy from your local vendor, you sometimes get goods in your basket that are practically organic but without the label ‘organic’, because some farmers still grow the old fashioned way without the chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They simply can’t afford them. Then, since they don’t know about the market for organic, they sell it to the main mandi or market.”

Organic food at my door step at conventional prices; sounds intriguing – even though it’s taking a chance!

“But India saw its own Green Revolution many decades back and that changed farming in India forever. Pesticides, ultra-high usage of water, and all the talk of GMO (genetically modified organism) more recently – you name it, India has it, but without some of the stricter policies to protect the end product that some especially European countries have.” So the picture is not so bright in the open market after all. Next to the quasi ‘organic’ tomato, I might end up with GMO rice. And there won’t even be a warning printed on the package.

“So organic farming has its relevance in India. My husband Ganesh and I started our own organic farm 20 years back near Bangalore and we know the joys of it. Now we have personal connections to all our suppliers. That just gives us the security that these guys are really into it and only supply high-quality organic produce.” She grins widely. “You have to love this in order to deliver the best quality. Those people who are just into it for the money grow sour quickly because the market is not offering riches yet.”

She is a pioneer, a pioneer for organic food in India, and she loves what she is doing. I leave her shop that day highly inspired.

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If you want to visit Dubdengreen, the shop is in 253, Shahpur Jat Market, New Delhi – 110049. Phone: +91-(0)11-32905310. You can also visit their online shop: www.organicbounty.com. But know: You might miss out on an experience if you don’t walk into the shop in Shahpur Jat yourself.

Learn Hindi in Delhi, India

nospam@example.com (Heiko Pfeiffer) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:19:00 +0100

Coming to India for vacations, internship or job? Regardless the amount of time you are planning to spend here, it is very advisable to learn at least a couple of basic phrases in Indian languages. They will make your stay nicer, your experience richer and they will even save you some money! The "language situation" in India is quite different from other countries. You have many official languages and countless of other languages. In fact, India has the most complex linguistic set up anywhere with literally thousands of languages being spoken. Nevertheless, there is one language that functions as a lingua franca across much of the country. Indians generally refer to it as Hindi!

Whether you would like to speak to the locals at a holy shrine...

(c) by Manuel Menal
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmenal/6324711879/]

Hindi is spoken in most of the major cities and though other local languages might be spoken at your destination, Hindi will be understood and will get you through most of India like a charm. When people say Hindi in India, they in fact refer to Hindustani language, an Indo-Aryan language that covers both standard Hindi as well as standard Urdu. Combining Hindi and Urdu speakers, Hindustani is the third or second most widely spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese and possibly English.

If you are going to travel or live in India you will of course survive using only English. When visiting popular tourist destinations you will get in touch with many people from the tourism industry, guides, vendors and tradesmen, who confidently use English. They are aware of the fact that knowing English makes it easier for them to communicate with tourists and that means a quick way of making money - foreigners often don't seem to mind paying a little bit extra...

But if you want to stand out from the package tourism crowd and don't like to be seen only as a walking ATM, it is very handy to know at least some simple basic sentences and words in Hindi. If you ask "How much is it?" or reply "Oh, that is expensive!" in Hindi while haggling over the price with a rickshaw-driver or a fruit seller, it can actually save you a lot of money! Besides, it will also make your stay much nicer and richer because you will be able to get in touch with the "normal" people you encounter in daily life.

...or want to decipher a curious poster in the streets, Hindi will do the trick!

(c) by Katjusa Cisar
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/katjusac/5328017670/]

Indians always appreciate foreigners willing to learn their language and will most certainly give you a discount! Also while learning a language you always learn to understand better the logics of the culture itself and get a better insight into people's minds, their way of thinking and behaviour.

Knowing Hindi will make your CV look more interesting, too. Not many foreigners speak this language and that's why it will give your resume a real edge! Already since a couple of years India has been called a "new superpower" or "superpower in the making". The country has huge economic potential and a fast growing middle class; it is one of the world's technology leaders in IT and has a huge pool of qualified English speaking professionals in a wide range of industries.

India represents a huge labour market with lots of opportunities and knowing Hindi gives you a big advantage! So don't hesitate and learn Hindi / Hindustani while staying in India to get the most out of your stay!

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If you are interested in learning Hindi / Urdu / Hindustani, whether in our classrooms in Delhi or in a village homestay setting in the Himalayas, you should get in touch with us right away. Just drop us a line at courses@language-must.com or simply call us on +91 - (0)11 - 2649 1817...

The Last Cup of Coffee – Hunting for Coffee in Delhi

nospam@example.com (Darya Dmytruk) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:47:00 +0100

[This article is not for those who drink solely tea, or the ones who are certain that a cup of coffee can kill a horse.] When you live in Delhi, you bargain successfully every day with rickshaws on the way to your office and can barely breathe through your scarf in the compulsory traffic jams. Everything is fine until one day you realise, that the supply of “as if it was always there” coffee in your kitchen, that used to be the best moment of your morning, is over. And at this very moment you understand that your day cannot start right, that the sun set and this city had finally got a chance to catch you. If the caffeine-deficiency in your body is not that high and you can still think, you go to the nearest market and try to find something like your favourite Lavazza.

Do you know what the chances are? Zero! Smiling and helpful locals will try to sell you Nescafe as that very coffee you are craving for. I am living in Delhi for the next two months and I must survive. Being ready to struggle for my well-being, I decided to find the places, where it is possible to buy and drink fresh ground coffee – the coffee that will help all of you hold out until you land in Rome and get your Lavazza, or you land in Frankfurt and get “something-like-coffee”.

First I tried to find out the biography of the coffee in my kitchen by writing to my flat mate, who was on holiday in Ukraine for two months. INA and Khan Markets were the first in my coffee places list. However, the practical part of the research started on my way to the office, when I saw a coffee box through the window in Café Coffee Day. That gave me hope that I would enjoy my passion tomorrow. Yes, that was the desired coffee – Rs. 150 for 200 gram! Unfortunately to my question whether it is espresso or coffee classic I got a fuzzy answer “yes Ma'am, for espresso and for coffee”. Ok, let’s try this universal wonder. The paper bag (long live environmental protection!) with the longed-for coffee made me so happy and I left the blessed shop.

After being sure about my supply of coffee at home I started the empirical part of the campaign. My first stop was the widely advertised United Coffee House at Connaught Place. Just find the E Block and right in the centre of it there is a big wooden door and golden letters above it. The word “Restaurant” and the empire style décor inside did not frighten me and I fearlessly stepped in and decided to test the Indian Filter Coffee. Stay cool and unflinching when you finally get the twin of Nescafe in your cup and afterwards the bill of Rs. 147.

I was fed up of spending my hard-earned money in fancy places even if it is a part of my field exploration. If you miss alternative cafes of Berlin or Barcelona make for Majnu ka Tilla, the Tibetan colony in north Delhi, where I was promised to find the worthiest café with the best freshly ground coffee ever. So, I turned my steps toward the North.

Like all the new places I found the International Coffee House surprisingly fast in spite of the fact that it is situated underground and the entrance is not flaring. If you take the main street of Majnu Ka Tilla, after 10 minutes (or 1 hour if you are a woman) of passing the shop windows with the countless wonderful stones and handicrafts, you have to be more attentive and find the stairs down. Here you are!

The first thing that inspires your heart is the coffee grinder just in front of you. In no more than 5 minutes smiling Tibetans served me their fantastic brew. After the exhausting way there through the streets of north Delhi I was going to examine the whole coffee list… After a cup of Latte, one more Cappuccino, and one espresso at the end I placed it firmly on the top of my “best-cafe-list” in Delhi.

Hunting a cup of good coffee in the city I found those secret spots that will allow me to be sure that the next two months the cherished smell of coffee will continue to fill my kitchen. (See the help-list below!)

Scrutinizing the roots of coffee culture in India thoroughly, you would probably find out that the best place to search for is the southern part of India: Karnataka and Kerala. There it will be planted and packed for export.

The competent people assured me, that the best coffee is served in Kolkata. If you are not so lazy and associate the word “Kolkata” not just with the dirt, but the intellectual capital of India, go ahead and visit the most popular Coffee House at College Street, which is situated (in line with Indian tradition of confusing place names) on Bankim Chatterjee Street. The Coffee House was established during the dark era of World War II and is the meeting place for the intelligentsia of Kolkata. On a par with the best coffee, you get the chance to test yourself in the famous addas sessions (intellectual discussions).

After a week of my purposeful exploration of Delhi I can affirm, that this city has well hidden its coffee treasures. I can just slightly open this curtain and let other coffee fans build upon this list.

Where to go if you need ground coffee:
- INA and Khan Markets
- “Barista” (Lavazza)
- “Le Marche” in Gurgaon (for Illi)
- “Devan´s” Coffee in Khanna Market, Lodhi Colony (for Indian coffee)
- “Mittal Teas” in Sunder Nagar Market

Thanks to all, that helped to find these places!

Leisure Culture in Modern China

nospam@example.com (Noemie Lataud) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:05:14 +0100

Along with economic development and social evolution in both developed and developing countries, leisure activities have become more important and diverse than ever. Relaxing after long and strenuous working hours and the other obligations of daily life is now a necessity. The “need to escape” is enjoyed in different ways across cultures and is closely related to daily lifestyles, working life, and cultural patterns. As Chinese society has experienced great changes over the last few decades, leisure activities have also developed a lot. I have had the opportunity to observe these evolutions in China and explore Western and Chinese views on this issue. The following is an interview conducted with David Ritter, a 27 year old American male who has been living in China for two and a half years, and Yang Qi, a 25 year old Chinese male who studied in Australia for six years but has since returned to Chengdu. Below is a transcript of our discussions about Chinese leisure activities.

KM: What can you tell me about how Chinese people like to spend their leisure time?

Yang Qi: Leisure means what people are doing during their free time for me. Chinese people want leisure activities to be sporty and healthy. More and more people are doing sports because they have more opportunities to do it and they are also more willing to do it. Doing sports is getting more and more popular, especially team sports, in different ways. First of all, it is a means to connect socially.

Another reason is that Chinese people want to show their social status through leisure. For example playing tennis and golf means you have enough time and more money to play and enjoy a more luxurious life than other people. Finally the young generation wants to show its difference and young spirit when they practice rock climbing, sky-diving, BMX, skateboarding, etc. These sports are becoming popular among young people because having a hobby that was introduced recently from Western countries means “being different”. The sport industry is changing and there are more infrastructures that enable people to practice sport.

A Walk in the Park
(c) by Noemie Lataud

David Ritter: Well it’s different from American leisure. Recently there was a holiday in China. You know on holidays Chinese people might find a place to go, visit some of the famous sites and so many people go to the same sites! But I think… My experience of Chinese famous sites is this: that they are more interested in providing entertainment than preserving historical value and some of their treasured places including the Great Wall, for instance, in Badaling. And I think from the perspective of someone who is from America, a country that doesn’t have a lot of history, we value “historical purity” very highly. So you now have one difference.

Another thing that is different about leisure in China is they are less interested in sports I think, than we are in America. So in that regard, a lot of their leisure activities revolve around eating food, going to bars or to dance clubs. They don’t do house parties as often as we do in America. House parties are less popular, maybe because more Chinese people live with their family. But I think in term of basic weekend leisure, I think it’s quite similar: going to bars, going to dance clubs, going out to have dinner with your friends, sometimes going to see a movie or even going to a friend’s house for dinner. I think all these things are pretty much the same, pretty similar. And I think the Chinese people are very easy going, fun to hang out with, they like to have a good time, they have a good sense of humor.

One of the differences in Chinese leisure activities that I have also noticed in my few years here relates to differences in leisure habits for men and women. My first time in China, in 2008, I was surprised to find in many places (particularly smaller, more traditional cities) that women were discouraged from drinking and smoking in public places. I believe this notion has changed quite a lot in the last few years, with men and women in the younger generation being much more open minded about these and other issues.

KM: You are only talking about sports, Yang Qi. Does leisure only include sports?

Yang Qi: I don’t know what about in France but in Australia, for example, leisure is broader than sports. Leisure includes sports and also the daily life that may be having just a free time a few days without doing anything with your family on a beach, or living in a tent, that is cool leisure, or just spending several hours walking along the beach and going swimming. This is different from China because in China, especially in Sichuan Province, leisure is pretty much nothing else than sports. Apart from sports there isn’t anything left but there are reasons for that.

In Australia, probably because they are surrounded by the ocean, they have more opportunities to enjoy the ocean and take it as a part of their leisure life. But in Sichuan, there are only mountains so probably going hiking is leisure but hiking is not as relaxing as “normal” leisure. It’s not the most relaxed kind of leisure. So that’s probably why in Sichuan, leisure is closely connected to sports. The definition of leisure is different according to the place you live. For example in Hainan, people prefer water activities, in Beijing, people prefer snow skiing and so on.

KM: You told me that apart from sports there is not much left, but what is left though?

Yang Qi: What is left, well… majiang! They play majiang you know. I think my definition of leisure is roughly about using one’s time to do what you want to do for your body and your soul to get relaxed from work. Because work can be tiring, right? So during their free time what would they do: they would play majiang for the whole day, drink tea and apart from that they can do sports or sleep.

Playing Majiang
(c) by Noemie Lataud

So in a way leisure life in Sichuan is more passive, quieter – Sichuanese people are not moving a lot. This is why Sichuanese people are skinnier than people in the north of China. This is a good example of how life patterns influence people’s body.

KM: You think it is different from Beijing?

Yang Qi: Yes, there is a huge difference. Because of historical reasons first. Sichuan has been known as a very relaxed and slow paced environment in China but Beijing has never been as relaxing as Sichuan Province in Chinese history. And this is closely related to geographical reasons. Sichuan is surrounded by mountains and has been protected in a way. So people don’t want to go out or at least it’s not easy for them to go out, especially in old times. But in Beijing there is not any natural element to protect them, especially between Beijing and Mongolia. So they cannot be quiet or passive. So people in Beijing have to fight against the Mongolians and their lifestyle has thus been determined by both geographical and historical reasons. So what Beijing people do during their leisure time, well…I know! They go to work and after work they are jammed on the road for three hours because of the bad traffic and then get home.

KM: You said leisure is mostly sports, playing majiang and sleeping. What about going to a restaurant or a bar? How is it now for most Chinese people?

Yang Qi: Compared to the first group I mentioned it’s still a small part because not many people go to bars to drink. But yes, some people do it. It’s a whole new way of interacting with other people for them. Before they didn’t have such a place that gave them the opportunity to interact with other boys and girls in that way. Over the last 10 or 20 years the pub and bar culture has been introduced in China and the Chinese young generation has immediately accepted it and is enjoying it.

KM: Going to the restaurant with friends is something new also?

Yang Qi: No, I mean going to the pub is a new habit. Going to the restaurant remains Chinese leisure and this hasn’t changed for ages. It is the same in every country around the world.

KM: So in your opinion leisure is just the same in China as in the rest of the world?

Yang Qi: No there are some differences. Typical Chinese leisure would rather be drinking tea, playing Majiang or go to see traditional Chinese opera, while drinking in a pub is a custom coming from abroad.

Getting a Refill in a Chengdu Teahouse
(c) by Noemie Lataud

KM: What about travelling? More and more Chinese people are travelling around China or around the world. Do you consider travelling as Chinese people’s leisure?

Yang Qi: Yes. People want to discover new things, have new experiences. They have money and free time so they are just eager to discover the world.

KM: What was leisure like traditionally in China in your opinion?

Yang Qi: Traditional leisure has nothing to do with sports. In the past, traditional leisure was already theatre, majiang, drinking tea, painting, writing poems and going to some places to get inspiration, having a drink in a restaurant, going whoring.

KM: So we could say that traditional leisure hasn’t changed. What is different nowadays is just the fact that there are some new customs coming from abroad. Is that right?

Yang Qi: Yes, like in every country. And the technology is helping each generation to enjoy a more advanced life. People are still considering cooking as leisure, as in France, but the cooking instruments are changing in terms of safety and effectiveness. People are still going to the opera in Italy, but they could choose to watch it from the Internet. And finally, people are still performing arts all around the world, but computers have changed it a lot.

KM: David, what is your opinion on these questions?

David Ritter: Well I agree with a lot of what Yang Qi said. I think it’s true indeed that Chinese people are becoming more interested in sports and health related activities but I don’t think that sports in general are popular in China. Gyms for example are becoming popular in China, working out, exercising, but in my circle of friends in China I don’t see a lot of people spending time, participating in or going to be a spectator for team sports, at all.

Group Exercises Are Popular in China
(c) by Noemie Lataud

In my experience in China the vast majority of people are not athletic, not interested in sports. Maybe they play ping pong, maybe they go to the gym, or go running and do some exercise. But as an American, coming from a country where we are crazy about sports, China for me is not interested in sports at all. You know they were really interested in the world cup but I have never seen anybody going to a soccer game in Chengdu – I never see anybody playing soccer in Chengdu. They love the NBA, but I rarely see people playing basketball. So it exists but I just don’t think that it is really widespread.

Another thing that I agree with is when Yang Qi talks about participating in sporting events as a symbol. That is true. People who have enough money in China and enough time will play golf or tennis or racquetball, one of these kind of “status sports”. Definitely, people will do that as a status symbol. But I’m not sure that people doing something for a status symbol qualifies to make it an overall leisure activity in China. I think maybe slowly that will change. And of course he mentioned majiang. Majiang is certainly a major leisure activity, not only in Sichuan like he mentioned, but in other places in China that I visited – but it is particularly big in Sichuan.

One thing he said that I definitely agree with is also that technology has impacted leisure activities. I think that is true in any country. I mean the way that we meet friends, the way that we meet girlfriends and boyfriends, the way that we participate in activities that are interesting for us like our hobbies is so influenced nowadays by the Internet, by social networking websites, mainly by those technologies but even by cell phones and other technologies, so I think that I totally agree with him: technology has had a big impact on leisure activities in China.

KM: What kind of place is the most representative of modern Chinese leisure in your opinion?

Yang Qi: Karaoke, tennis court, golf course.

Enjoying KTV with Friends
(c) by Noemie Lataud

David Ritter: KTV!

KM: Could you choose one sentence or one word to illustrate Chinese leisure today?

Yang Qi: Nowadays leisure is doing a great job in releasing China’s enormous pressure in daily life.

David Ritter: Chinese leisure is urban.

KM: Thanks to both of you for sharing your views on this issue!

CouchSurfing in India

nospam@example.com (Hana Navratilova) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:09:27 +0200

The first time I was in India I wanted to get to know the real India - not just the Lonely Planet-India, so I decided to do CouchSurfing. Occupying somebody else’s living room is not just about saving money. It is about sharing. A complete stranger shares with you his home. You can observe his morning habits, you eat with him, you can discuss every possible topic under the sun... Indians, at least the Indian CouchSurfers, are usually very keen on discussing the differences and similarities of their own and your culture. Hence, I got to know a flight attendant, an elephant rider, a family father, a son of a wealthy family etc. So I could see the differences between the lower, middle and upper social classes. It was an incredible experience!

How to wash an Indian elephant
(c) by Hana Navratilova

For those who don’t know anything about CouchSurfing – it is an internet community for people who love traveling and getting to know other cultures. You, as everybody else, have your own profile where you describe yourself. You can choose what you want to offer – a couch for backpackers or just meeting up for a cup of coffee. You can write references for people you met through CouchSurfing as your hosts or other backpackers and others do the same for you.

In India it is very easy to find hosts (people who offer you their couch) – they are in almost every city. Actually if they see that the last time you logged in was in or close to their city they will immediately send you a message that you should contact them if you need any help. Thus, it is easy to find a host, but it is a bit tricky to find a good one. Also probably 99% of all Indian hosts are male. That is understandable considering the Indian culture.

Women usually don't live alone and independently and even if they did, it would probably be seen as inappropriate to host strangers. Therefore, if you are a female traveller you should always check the references on everyone’s profile, read them carefully and decide according to those. It is also safer to choose hosts still living with their parents or families and exchange a couple of e-mails with them in advance. Yes, some of the men may have ulterior motives – speaking from own experience...

Once you arrived, it is very useful to take some pictures from your home country. Especially in trains you will appreciate this. Indians love to see some photographs from your home and (maybe even more) love to show you their own pictures so that you get to know the whole family, colleagues and friends – I usually lost track of who is who after the second picture. Also be prepared to get famous all over India – everyone is going to take pictures of you. It may give you the feeling of being a superstar but it might be annoying as well. Especially when you want to admire the beauties of historical monument and everyone is buzzing around you with a camera.

Enjoying sogra
(c) by Hana Navratilova

It is almost impossible to be alone in India. You are being constantly asked about your origin, name, age, you can expect to be followed by different touts or rickshaw drivers and begging children. But discovering Indian cities with a local fellow CouchSurfer makes it a lot easier. People still stare at you but they let you be. Walking around with a local is also much more fun and you can enjoy more because you don’t need to think about where you are, how you got there or how you will get away. Your host will give you precious advice about costs of the transport or gift items, he will introduce you to the best street food and give you some secret tips on sightseeing!

For example in Jodhpur my host took me for an amazing bike-ride and we also stopped at a "restaurant" for truck drivers. It looked rather like a big tent, the front side open, in the middle of nowhere, on the side of a big road. Everyone was suspiciously looking at me as I was probably the first white woman, or maybe even the first woman ever, who walked in and ate there. In one corner there was a kitchen coloured like the cook by soot.

We sat cross-legged on this typical bed with a woven base and a wooden board put across it served as a table. We got two big chapattis made of a bit different flour and with a stronger flavour than usual. My host crumbled those, then we added some warm ghee, sugar cane and mixed with different chutneys and pickles, eating with our hands from one plate while the men and their boys were watching TV. Of course there was no bathroom so one of the boys poured water over our hands to wash them right there. It was so authentic and so delicious! Without CouchSurfing I would have never tasted "sogra"!

Internships in India and China Will Give You an Edge

nospam@example.com (Purna Ganguly) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:53:00 +0200

Why should I do an internship in India or China? Take a look around you. How many students in your school are doing internships in India or China? Not many, I suppose. This by itself is the first advantage of doing an internship there. If an employer has two identical candidates with everything else being the same except that one of them has done an interesting internship during his/her college years, who do you think the employer is going to prefer? Of course, the person with the outstanding internship!

"Chindia Flag": China and India are becoming increasingly attractive destinations for internships abroad

Everybody agrees that students benefit a lot by working as an intern during their college period. They get to understand the practical problems of the professional world in contrast to the often more academic issues faced in school. This exposure to real world scenarios helps them in the transition from college to work life.

Internships also provide with a base for networking, by which I mean developing contacts and making professional connections within the industry you are looking to work in. If you work as an intern during your college years, you can surely benefit from the contacts you have made, once you have finished your studies.

Internships are also the best gateway to secure full-time jobs in either India or China, as working with the organisation closely during the internship period, you get an opportunity to understand the work of the organisation and the managers get a chance to learn about what skills you bring along. This way students get a fantastic opportunity to convince employers to hire them.

Internships abroad are a great foundation for you to make a career choice, too. You get to try out your profession of choice, while at the same time experiencing another culture and see whether you would like to pursue your career in another country later on.

So, why choose India and China over other possible internship destinations abroad? India and China have become the main centres for new career opportunities opening up in the world, as global trade is blurring geographical boundaries and their economies keep developing at breath-taking pace. Both countries are among the most forward-looking and yet traditional cultures in the world.

One secret to success in India and China lies in preparing yourself to get immersed in the local cultures. Students and graduates who are able to immerse themselves successfully will surely be able to access countless opportunities, whether working in education, global trade, or the fine arts - and in the following decades career opportunities in "Chindia" will only be growing !

--

If you are interested in internships or jobs in India and China, download our free guide books (http://www.knowledge-must.com/en/resources/our_guide_books.html) and get in touch with our team (info@knowledge-must.com). We will help you to find your passion in life!

101 Things to Do While in Delhi

nospam@example.com (Daniel Ratheiser) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:01:00 +0200

Whether you come for business, education, or leisure, India's capital city Delhi offers you countless opportunities to spend your time. To help you make the most of this mega-city, we have gathered together over 100 interesting, fun, and often unconventional ideas into one handy guide. See how many you manage to tick off before you leave - that is, if you intend to leave behind the city's excitement at all…

ACTIVITIES:

1. Learn Hindustani, the lingua franca of the Indian Subcontinent (that covers the continuum of the standard registers Hindi and Urdu). For Delhi this is a real Must - and will make you enjoy the city all the more!

A haveli courtyard in Old Delhi
(c) by Varun Shiv Kapur
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunshiv/3968814237/]

2. Dream about an era begone by losing yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of Old Delhi and make an exciting discovery behind almost every corner.

3. Have a ride on a cycle rickshaw in Old Delhi. Don't forget to fix the price in advance - you don't want to get a bad surprise at the other end.

4. Get to know your local kabaris, who are India's ultimate recyclers and learn about their contributions to society. They pick up the trash at your doorstep, meticulously go through everything that can be recycled, and process it for re-usage...

5. Go to Lajpat Nagar and let henna be applied to your hands by experts - some of the designs are so elaborate, they make your head spin by simply looking at them.

Lodhi Garden
(c) by Ferdinand Harmsen
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/harmsen/2170788701/]

6. Make a picnic with friends in the serenity of the Lodhi Gardens and marvel at the imposing Afghani-style monuments surrounded by giant trees.

7. Take Delhi's high-tech metro to travel through the city. If you get off at Chawri Bazaar in Old Delhi, within a few steps of walking you will feel like a time traveller and experience a contrast that even in India is hard to beat…

8. Visit Jawaharlal Nehru University at night for its great food, relaxed athmosphere, and join one of the many stimulating discussions going on around campus.

9. Going to the movies at Eros Cinema in Jangpura in the mornings from Monday to Friday for a mere 70 INR or at a fancy multiplex with reclining luxury chairs for a several hundred rupees.

Chaiwallah
(c) by R.M. Calamar
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebcal/5574514545/]

10. Make new friends by sitting at your local Chaiwallah (tea vendor) and chatting up the locals - though chances are they will chat you up first!

11. Escape from the comfort of your living room as much as possible - you can also watch TV back home! Get out there and engage this pulsating city and its diverse residents.

12. Think about supporting one of the many NGOs that are improving the lives of the city's disadvantaged residents. Maybe donate a few hours of your time to teaching the kids in your neighbourhood - opportunities to make a difference are almost limitless.

SHOPPING:

13. Go to Connaught Place to do some window shopping and see the burgeoining Indian middle class revelling in their new found wealth - you will surely find better prices for virtually anything there in other markets…

Flower Market in Old Delhi
(c) by India Kangaroo
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishanz/5632276768/]

14. Embroidery, incense sticks, ittars (perfumes), brass moulding, laquer work bangles, and pounded silver sheets (which are used to wrap sweets, for instance) are among the manifold traditional arts that you can still witness being practiced in the backlanes of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi).

15. Go shopping at Sarojini Nagar where you can find clothes from H&M, Berhska, Zara, etc for potentially much better prices than at the malls - it all depends on your haggling skills…

16. Buy spices in the bulks in Old Delhi's Khari Baoli, which is reputed to be Asia's biggest spice market.

17. Visit one of the many sabzi mandis (vegetable markets) and marvel at the colourful mouthwatering fruits and veggies.

At the weekly book market in Daryaganj
(c) by Koshy Koshy
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkoshy/2428419818/]

18. Join the weekly Kitab Bazaar (book market) in Daryaganj on Sundays.

19. Explore the countless crafts shops all over the city and buy some for your friends home. Maybe the khadi (homespun cotton) shirt you give them as a present will become all vogue in your hometown…

20. Also stop by gigantic Nehru Place, one of the world's largest IT markets (and probably the largest "IT bazaar") - not only exciting for all you nerds out there.

21. Get yourself a local dress tailor made: pyjama-kurta, shalwar kameez, safari suits, or any other of the local dresses you take a fancy to.

Delhi's famous shopping mall Select City Walk during Diwali Festival
(c) by Harsh Agrawal
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/denharsh/5148180554/]

22. When shopping at the fancy Select City Walk in Saket, just cross the street and move a few metres into the neighbourhood to see one of Delhi's grandest historic mosques, the 14th century Khirki Masjid.

SIGHTS:

23. Spend a day exploring Mehrauli, Delhi's oldest neighbourhood and make it a point to cover the shrine of Qutb Sahib, St. John's Church (whose unique architecture combines a Hindu, Muslim, and Christian elements), the Jain Dadabari Mandir, the mystical Kala Mahal, the city's most beautiful baoli (step-well), the Rajao ki Baoli, and the Jamali-Kamali compound - and there are lots of other palaces, tombs, baolis (step-wells), mosques, temples, and pavilions to be discovered at random.

Heavy monsoon rains visiting Humayun's Tomb
(c) by Panoramas
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranopamas/3807970117/]

24. Of course, don't forget about Delhi's most famous sights, such as the city's landmark, the Qutb Minar, the magnificent Humayun's Tomb, and the grand Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque).

25. Visit the tomb of Delhi's patron saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya on an early Thursday evening and listen to the extatic qawwali performances.

26. See the impressive Akshar Dham temple of the Swaminarayan sect on the eastern side of the Yamuna and learn about Hindu temples in the 21st century.

27. Another very impressive and popular temple compound can be found in the far south: Chhatarpur Mandir.

28. Spend days in museums, the well known ones (such as the National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Arts, and Gandhi Smriti) as well as some of the more obscure ones depending on your individual interests (such as the National Crafts Museum, National Rail Museum, Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art, and Sulabh International Museum of Toilets).

Temple spires of Old Delhi's Jain Laal Mandir
(c) by Carol Mitchell
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/webethere/2205159751/]

29. Learn about the world of the Jain religion at the stunning Laal Mandir (Red Temple) in Old Delhi and visit their bird hospital inside the compound.

30. Explore the artsy Hauz Khas village, meet up with friends, enjoy the great food, and explore the monuments and beautiful park.

31. Pay a visit to the charming urban village Shahpur Jat and discover small independent boutiques, cafes, bookshops, and art galleries. Once you are there, also stop by at Knowledge Must's office to learn more about opportunities to make the most out of Delhi's diversity such as language classes and unique tours of various localities.

32. When visiting Delhi's Red Fort, make it a point to visit the fort attached to it, Salimgarh, which was formerly lying on an island in the Yamuna. It houses the Swatantra Sangram Museum, which brings India's freedom struggle back to life - completely for free!

Delhi's magnificent Friday Mosque
(c) by Panoramas
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranopamas/3800654235/]

33. If you enjoy Mughal architecture and less explored places, then also make it a point to visit the Sunheri Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid, and Zinat-ul Masjid in the Old Delhi area.

34. For an altogether different experience, don't miss out on the otherworldly Tis Hazari Court Complex, where over 50,000 of litigants push their way through every day. Imagine a court room turned into an Indian bazaar - "babu-dom" (Indian-style bureaucracy) at its very best!

35. Marvel at the incredible Rashtrapati Bhavan, a fantasy palace built by the British shortly before they were made to leave India and now the residence of the Indian President. You can visit the Mughal Gardens at its back for a few weeks every year in February/March (exact dates change from year to year).

36. Immerse yourself in the crazy street life in Paharganj, where backpackers, touts, and shopkeepers mix freely.

37. Take a walk along the sacred Yamuna River and wonder why the city is turning its back towards it. One place to see is the ancient Nigambodh Ghat with Delhi's busiest burning ghat and a few temples.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib of the Sikh faith
(c) by Sakeeb Sabakka
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/sakeeb/5391538707/]

38. Bangla Sahib and Sis Ganj Sahib are the most reverred gurudwaras of the Sikh faith. Especially people who haven't experienced the rituals at Sikh temples are usually amazed by the serene atmosphere and the beautiful chanting and music.

39. Explore the stunning colonial heritage in the northern parts of Delhi around the Cantonment and Civil Lines areas.

40. Discover Majnu ka Tilla, a Tibetan neighbourhood in the north of Delhi, and find yourself among Tibetan monks, music, shops, guesthouses, and restaurants.

41. Not really a sight in the classical sense, but utmost interesting nevertheless: explore the biggest basti (settlement) in Delhi, and one of the biggest settlements in the world for that matter: Sangam Vihar, with hundreds of thousands of people living in a small area of encroached land in the south of the city.

MIND AND BODY:

42. Rent a bicycle or borrow one from a friend and discover the city at your own pace - might make sense to stay on the backroads though...

Playing cricket in Mehrauli
(c) by Prasad Kholkute
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kholkute/5583005407/]

43. Join your local cricket team - you will likely find them practicing at the next few square metres of open space a few metres from where you are living.

44. Run in the annual Delhi Half-Marathon! Though we don't know what prevents the organiser organise a full marathon, just 21.0975 km further into the suburbs...

45. Learn about Ayurveda by getting it applied on your body, maybe in the form of a rejuvenating massage.

46. Marvel at the sky full of kites on Independence Day - or better still, get your own kite!

47. Get into yoga, for example, learn traditional hatha yoga at Sivananda Center in Kailash Colony, which has a comprehensive aproach to asanas, breathing, diet, meditation, and yoga philosophy.

Enjoying a game of carrom
(c) by Madhav Pai
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/madpai/2350693669/]

48. Learn to play carrom ("Indian finger billiards") from the locals.

49. Join the Delhiites for their morning walk in the park - surprisingly many younger people join in, too.

50. Escape the hustle and bustle of Delhi for the personal chaos of your mind at the Vipassana Centre about 20km outside of Delhi (usually ten day long meditation stays on a donation basis).

EXCURSIONS:

51. For a glimpse of nature close to Delhi, go hiking in Asola Wildlife Sanctuary just south of Tughlakabad.

52. Make an excursion to the Braj area south of Delhi, the homeland of Krishna, and visit the many beautiful pilgrimage places all over Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Gokul, Barsana, and other towns and villages.

Angle on the famed Taj Mahal
(c) by null0
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/null0/4982195007/]

53. Ride India's fastest train, the Bhopal Shatabdi, and be in Agra in less than two hours, which leaves you all the more time to marvel at the Taj Mahal...

54. Next to Agra and Delhi the third corner of India's famed "Golden Triangle" Jaipur is also always worth a visit, especially Amber Fort, whose stunning location in the mountains is right out of a fairy tale book...

55. To see a less explored part of Rajasthan visit Alwar and Sariska National Park (with its many tribals living in and around it). If you like you can also visit Alwar in true style, by taking a steam train from Delhi, which features the oldest running steam engine in the whole world. The train runs every second and fourth Saturday of the month from October to March.

Putting the finishing touches on a piece of pottery at the Surajkund Crafts Mela
(c) by Koshy Koshy
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkoshy/3252158506/]

56. Pay a visit to the annual Surajkund Crafts Mela to see artists perform and artisans exhibit their skills. Surajkund also happens to be the most ancient site of Delhi dating to somewhere in the first millenium CE.

57. Visit Ajmer with the shrine to India's most famous sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, just 6 and a half hours away on the Shatabdi train. During his annual Urs festival, millions of people from all over India and dozens of other countries in the world pay their respect at his tomb.

58. Also the gateway to the holy Himalayas, Haridwar, is only 6.5 hours from Delhi on the fastest train. A short drive further into the mountains and you are already in the yoga capital Rishikesh with its jungli landscape and cooler climate...

59. Tughlakabad Fort is a less visited sight in the very south of the city, but maybe the most imposing of the many fortresses around town and also a great place to to explore in peace. On the opposite side of the street is the even more obscure Adilabad Fort and the wonderful tomb of Giyazuddin.

A glimpse of Keoladeo Ghana National Park
(c) by rachel in wonderland
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdale/5611644703/]

60. Rent a bike and cycle around the world-famous Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur.

SEASONS:

61. Spring time is a very pleasant time of the year, but surprisingly short. As soon as it heats up, temperatures soon move beyond the comfort zone of most visitors. So, make the most out of the pleasant climate and enjoy exploring the city.

62. To cool off in the heat of Delhi's scorching summer try a sweet or salted lassi or find a good place to enjoy kulfi, the local ice cream, which many consider even better than Ben & Jerries. If that is not enough, follow the Delhi people to the cool of the high Himalayas.

63. With the first monsoon rains arrive, Delhi cools off considerably. That doesn't necessarily mean that the climate becomes more pleasant. In fact, quite a few people prefer the dry heat of the summer to the buggy humidity of the somewhat cooler monsoon months. Anyway, as soon as the rains set in, just get yourself soaked properly when it starts raining cats and dogs, and witness the city coming to an almost complete standstill!

64. The post-monsoon time is simply beautiful. Make the most of the outdoors at that time of the year as there is still the full hariyali (greenery) of the monsoons and a more temperate climate that allows you to enjoy without constantly reaching for your water bottle.

Winter wonderland in Kashmir
(c) by Dave Watts
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/wattsdave/412441738/]

65. In winter, have a go at skiing or snowboarding in the Himalayas - cheap flights are often available for Srinagar, Kashmir, for instance.

FESTIVALS:

66. Join the myriad religious festivals of the various local communities. Since religion is of such paramount importance in India, many festivities are of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, or Buddhist origin.

67. During the major Shia Muslim festival of the year, Muharram, visit the grand processions and ceremonies at Karbala Ground near Jafdarjung in the late afternoon.

68. A very beautiful Easter Procession is held in Mehrauli starting from St. John's Church - the local community will be very happy for you to join in!

69. Have a look at the Republic Day Parade if you want to get a glimpse on India's increasing military prowess - that is if you like that kind of thing...

70. For Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, if you can't make it to his birthplace Mathura and its environs, you might use the opportunity to check out the giant ISKCON temple that is located just next to the serene Lotus Temple (of the Baha'i religion).

Playing the riotous colour festival Holi
(c) by FaceMePLS
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/faceme/2354419592/]

71. Play India's colour festival holi, but play it safe, especially if you are a woman (most Indian woman prefer to stay inside in the safety of their home). Wear your most worn and torn clothes and immerse yourself in the riotous colours in celebration of the arrival of spring.

72. During Dussehra at many venues around town Ramlila is held, stage performances depicting the life of Lord Rama and his adventures recounted in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The biggest Ramlila is held just next to the Red Fort and, in fact, the whole venue turns into a giant amusement park with many fun rides, houses of horror, and countless local snacks. The festival culminates with the burning of giant effigies of demon king Ravan symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

73. Guru Purnima is a great time to join one of the most amazing pilgrimage festivals around Delhi (if not the whole of India). Pilgrims from near and far all congregate on the holy town of Govardhan to circumbulate the holy mountain.

74. Participate in the annual Phoolkwalon Ki Sair ("Procession of the Flower Sellers") in Mehrauli and witness intercommunal harmony at its best: Hindus and Muslims paying respect to each others traditions.

The Muslim Sufi shrine at Nizamuddin
(c) by Varun Shiv Kapur
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunshiv/3544992335/]

75. Delhi has always been a center for the mystical branches of Islam that are referred to as Sufism. Their festivals abound in the city throughout the year, offering you the perfect chance to witness the love and devotion practiced by the Sufis. Festivals to look out for include the Urs of Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusro, Mai Saheba in Adhchini, Chiragh Delhi (also a great neighbourhood to explore), and Hazrat Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (Qutb Sahib) in Mehrauli.

76. Unique is also Inayat Khan's Urs festival at his dargah in Nizamuddin Basti on the 5th of February every year. You will be amazed by the spirit of brotherhood and the many "white" Muslims from America that congregate here from afar…

77. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan go to a Muslim mohalla (neighbourhood) for sunset and enjoy the many delicacies that people indulge in after the hardships of the day's fast. Unsurprisingly one of the best places to go is the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Towards the end of Ramadan also the Urs festival of Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri is a wonderful place to visit. You can't help but feeling transported back into the Mughal times...

Durga Puja being celebrated in Delhi's CR Park
(c) by Jyoti Prakash Bhattacharjee
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/jn/4239986566/]

78. Join in the festivities of the many migrant communities that have established themselves in Delhi. For example, celebrate Pongal with the Tamils, Durga Puja at Chittaranjan Park with the Bengalis, and Chhath Puja (an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya) on the banks of the Yamuna with the Biharis.

79. Try to visit all your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances during Diwali. Best of luck!

EVENTS/PARTIES:

80. Delhi has long been the cultural center of India, attracting the best of artists from all over the country and even abroad. The "cultural season" of the city generally lasts from October to March, when events and their attendance peak. India Islamic Cultural Centre, India Habitat Centre, India International Centre, Kamani Auditorium, Triveni Kala Sagam, FICCI Auditorium,Siri Fort Auditorium, and Pragati Maidan are among the most popular venues for events in the city and every day you will have multiple choices of exciting opportunities.

81. International cultural institutes such as Max Mueller Bhawan (as the German Goethe Institute is called in India in reverence to pre-eminent indologist Max Mueller), the Alliance Francaise, the Japan Cultural Centre, and the British Council are also very active in hosting a diverse range of events.

82. Check out delhievents.com, buzzintown.com, and burrp.com for interesting local events, whether it is a live music concert, a film shown in a café, or an art exhibition.

Festival hosted at the Garden of Five Senses
(c) by ZeePack
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeepack/4372794593/]

83. Also learn more about India's capital city from thedelhiwalla.com, which is run by Austen Mayank Soofi, an Indian who devoted his time to unravel the secrets of Delhi...

84. Grab a copy of Time Out Delhi Magazine. In it you will also find lots of opportunities to spend your leisure time.

85. Free festivals abound throughout the year, such as Music in the Park, held in Nehru Park from October to March.

86. Brush up on your Bhangra moves in any of the dozens of clubs and bars around Delhi. Many are located in the fancy hotels though, so leave those chappals (slippers) at home...

87. Delve into Delhi's emerging underground party scene, in places such as TLR (The Living Room) and Cafe Morisson. Places keep opening, closing, and changing their names all the time, so your best bet is asking around.

FOOD:

88. In Delhi you can try out virtually all of India's diverse cuisines, such as the royal Gujarati Thalis and South Indian Vadai-Dosai, but of course also local delicacies such as the heavenly kebabs at Delhi's historic Mughlai institution Karim's, for instance.

Street life in Paharganj
(c) by McKay Savage
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/2086425262/]

89. Experiment with some of the more challenging foods that are locally available, such as the fresh green mirch (chilies) that are viciously spicy or brain plain fry.

90. Try golgappa (aka pani puri), a crispy round hollow ball filled with potato, chickpeas, chilli, tamarind, and many other ingredients, which is one of Delhi's popular street foods (but best go to a vendor that has a long line of customers in front of it in order to make sure that it's fresh and hygenic – but don't blame us if you still get the notorious "Delhi belly" ).

91. In general, to stay on the safer side and in order to be able to enjoy more of your time in Delhi, avoiding food from vendors that are not highly frequented or otherwise dubious will make good sense - especially for those untrained foreign stomachs...

92. Learn how to prepare typical Indian dishes from your local friends' mothers.

93. Visit or simply call "Swiss Gourmessa" for really yummy cakes, cookies, and breads. Run by a lady from Switzerland, they combine the best of German, French, and, of course, Swiss bakery magic...

94. For amazing views during lunch time, you might like to try the trendy Gunpowder Restaurant in Hauz Khas Village.

Preparing Paan
(c) by Dennis Jarvis
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/2214390537/]

95. Try out the local paan after heavy foods (a preparation of betel leaf with areca nut, lime paste, and different spices). Paan is chewed as a breath freshener, digestive and mild stimulant, and also holds immense importance in rituals in many places of India - you might want to stay away from its gutkha variant though, which includes chewing tobacco…

96. Some of the best quality style food in town for a reasonable price is available at the Swagath chain of restaurants. Their South Indian-style fish curries are almost as good as in Mangalore itself - surely an all-time favourite in Delhi!

97. Another local favourite is Andhra Bhawan, which is rightly famous for its "cheap and best" food.

98. If you crave for American-style burgers go to Hard Rock Cafe in DLF Saket and order the Legendary Burger.

99. If you want to try one of the most ridiculously tasty desserts anywhere, find the hole-in-the-wall shop selling delicious shahi halwar and kulfi (many customer mix both in one plate) near Jama Masjid just opposite Karim's.

100. For gluten free, organic and other special foods and diets have a look at the "Health is Wealth" store in Defence Colony Market. Lots of Indian brands and choices for a healthy tomorrow...

101. Would you like to feast while improving your karma? Go for blessed foods: prasad in Hindu temples, tabaruk in Muslim dargahs, and langar in Sikh gurudwaras!

--

Please comment, discuss, and make additions on what to do while in Delhi!

Being a Chinese Tourist in India!

nospam@example.com (Roberta Mazzoni) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:35:20 +0200

Lili Jiang, 23, is a Chinese student from Sichuan Province, China. In July she went to travel in India and she has decided to share her experience with us.

KM: So, first of all, Lili, how come you decided to go to India? Isn’t it still a quite unusual destination for Chinese tourists?

Lili: Well to be honest, I think you are right, there aren’t many Chinese tourists in India (yet!), and on the plane I had a hard time explaining to the Chinese hostesses and passengers why I was travelling to India as a tourist. Most of the Chinese people on my flight were going to India for business purposes and they didn’t understand why I was going there just for fun! The hostesses were actually worried for me, telling me things like: “Why are you going to India? Are you mad? If you need help you can stay with us, here’s our Indian phone number!” Despite their concerns though, my experience in India was great! The main reason why I decided to go was that I’ve always felt an attraction for India! We’re neighbours, yet so different!! My friend (who was flying from Hong Kong, while I was flying from Beijing) and I were scared we would miss each other in the airport. Luckily enough, I guess I looked too different from my Indian sisters and brothers and my friend recognized me right after I got out of customs!

KM: Well yeah…I guess you look pretty different from your Indian “sisters and brothers”! So, what impressed you the most about India?

Lili: Oh wow, this a tough question.. there are so many things that I can’t really think of only one answer.. I’d say that I was really impressed by the people in India. For example, in Delhi, we saw a lot of villagers coming to the city and some of them didn’t even wear shoes! Then…I guess I was also a bit shocked by the poverty I could see all around and the amount of street boys and girls who’d come to us to ask for money… On a completely different note though, I was also really impressed by the feeling I had about myself! For the first time I had people staring at me, and I was the LAOWAI [foreigner]! I know now how awkward you guys feel in China! (LOL)

KM: So, now you understand how strange being laowai is! What’s the most amazing place you’ve visited while there?

Lili: For sure, the most amazing place I visited was the Taj Mahal in Agra. Even though we had to travel several hours to get there from New Delhi, it was totally worth it. “Nah-mah-STAAAAAAAAAAAAY” I couldn’t help myself from using my broken Hindi saying hello to everyone I met there. I especially loved their confusing head-shaking while they said yes or agreed with you.

Another great place we stayed at was the Lotus Temple! It’s a Baha’i house of worship which is open to everyone regardless of religion, race, gender or any other distinction. There, I met different people from various countries volunteering in the temple and I was so happy they shared different stories of their life with me over there. Most of all, I felt so welcomed in the temple. There, was the first time I felt the power of spirits and I ended up spending the whole night meditating and praying.

Lotus Temple in Delhi
(c) by Jeremy Vandel
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremy_vandel/99170173/]

KM: And what about other Chinese people? Did you meet any other Chinese tourists or students in Delhi?

Lili: Mmmm…there were not many tourists. I can’t recall seeing many Chinese tourists. As I was saying earlier I met some Chinese businessmen going to India and I also had a couple of other interesting encounters with Chinese people in India. For example, I randomly met young students from Shanghai volunteering in Delhi (while learning English) for ASIC, an NGO that helps Indian school educated kids about AIDS and other diseases. And I also came across a guy from Liaoning who is studying computer engineering in Delhi! He’s the only Chinese student in his university, but his parents decided to send him to India, because it’s not as expensive as Western countries, but at the same time the quality of the university is very good, and he has to practice his English in India...actually he’s also learning Hindi now!

KM: Interesting! Do you think that in the future more and more Chinese people will choose India as their “study-abroad destination”?

Lili: Yes, personally, I think it’ll will become more and more popular in the near future, as going to study there has a lot of pros for Chinese students!

KM: And what about food? I’ve heard Indian food is supposed to be very spicy…but you’re from Sichuan, so not a problem at all for you, I guess?

Lili: Well…actually…food is a great shame of my trip, since I am from Sichuan province of China, I should be able to handle any spicy food…but unfortunately it wasn’t as I expected! Food really did give me a hard time in India…it’s amazing but way too spicy! Sometimes I just had to give up and ate in some KFC or Pizza Hut to survive! What a shame!!

KM: It sounds really tough! Especially if a Sichuanese person says so! But, Lili, overall, how would you rate your trip in India?

Lili: I spent 10 days in India in total and I enjoyed every single minute there. I appreciate that I got the chance to sample the local culture there and met different cool people in India, because it’s always the people that make the place. I think Indian people are amazing and spiritual. Travelling like this really cheers me up: It’s not just sight-seeing, but communicating with locals that I find the most interesting, and in this way I enhanced both my understanding of and respect for their culture and traditions.

KM: Thanks Lili for sharing with us this great experience!

China's Mid-Autumn Festival - Millions of Poets Under the Moon Light

nospam@example.com (Mariya Otake) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:39:35 +0200

Around Mid-Autumn Festival there is an interesting custom occurring in China, especially among the younger generations: text greetings! The 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (12th of September in 2011) is one of the most important festivals in China, 中秋节, the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is a harvest festival dating back over 3,000 years, and it is celebrated by worshipping the moon. The particular date falls around the time of the autumn equinox, which is usually in September or early October. Traditionally, on this day Chinese families and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon and eat moon cakes, round or rectangular pastries with a thick filling. Even though many people are still upholding tradition, others are spending time doing other activities such as travelling or partying.

It is common to see many moon cakes sold in markets, department stores, and even on streets more than a month before the actual festival. In addition to the traditional bean paste filling with salted egg, there is a huge variety of other options, ranging from spicy meat to rose flavour. One box of quality moon cakes (8 to 12 pieces) are usually around 300 RMB (about 30 Euro) but can also cost more than 1,000 RMB (about 100 Euro), and they are usually given as presents to family, friends, and workmates.

The phenomenon of text greetings during Mid-Autumn Festival is especially used for friends that live far away, and the tradition is very similar to cards being sent for Christmas and New Years. But what I found most interesting about them is their creative content. They are humorous, cute, and often quite cheesy. Let’s have a look!

八月十五将至送你一只月饼，含量：100%关心，配料：甜蜜+快乐+开心+宽容+忠诚=幸福；保质期：一辈子。
For Mid-Autumn festival, I’ve sent a moon cake for you, contains: 100% affection, ingredients: sweetness + joy + tolerance + loyalty = happiness; expiry date: a lifetime.

月到中秋, 分外想你。看到哪团中圆圆的月亮吗？哪就是我想你念你牵挂你的心！爱你吻你！晚安！
The moon has reached Mid-Autumn festival. I miss you a lot. Did you see the bright round moon? The moon is my heart; it misses and cares for you. Love you! Kiss you! Have a good night!

你是月饼我是馅，缠缠绵绵总见面；你是风筝我是线，追追逐逐把你牵；你是明月我是泉，美美满满一万年！
You are the moon cake, and I am the filling, forever together and never apart; you are the kite and I’m the string, always following my lead; you are the bright moon and I’m the spring, happy together forever.

月亮是诗，星空是画，愿所有的幸福伴随你，问候是春，关心是夏，愿所有的朋友真心待你，温柔是秋，浪漫是冬，愿所有快乐跟随你。祝你中秋节快乐。
The moonlight is a poem, the star-filled sky is a painting; I hope there is happiness wherever you go. Greeting is spring, caring is summer; I hope your friends hold affection for you. Gentleness is autumn, romance is winter; I hope every joy will follow you. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Being in Chengdu for more than a year, I realised that generally young Chinese people love cheesy, cute, and poetic expressions. These are also commonly seen in Chinese TV dramas, films etc. They would say this texting is “好玩！”, which means “Good fun!”, and you will get similar texts also during other festivals or national holidays in China.

Texting funny sentences to your loved ones on your way to home, smiling at the cute texts you receive from good friends, having a nice dinner and a moon cake with family, or attending a party under the moon light till late, that is how it goes for young people now.

Everybody is hoping to see a round bright moon!
中秋节快乐！ Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Delhi Walla: An Interview with Mayank Austen Soofi

nospam@example.com (Laura Mansour) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:37:00 +0200

Knowledge Must recently had the chance to interview Mayank Austen Soofi, the famous delhiwalla blogger (www.thedelhiwalla.com) who also wrote four books on the city of Delhi and its people. Few other people have tried to experience and write about the full diversity of Delhi’s neighbourhoods, sights, foods, traditions, ethnic groups, and religions. For the last couple of years Mayank Austen Soofi has been exploring Delhi deeper and deeper, and the web community continues to be astonished by the kind of stories he manages to dig up.

KM: There is very little information about you on your blog so can you tell us more about yourself as a person?

Mayank Austen Soofi: I am a writer, I grew up in Nainital in the mountains and I came to Delhi 6-7 years ago to work. When I first arrived in Delhi I used to sleep in a slump next to a bridge but I have no regret, it was difficult living conditions but it was a good experience.

KM: You have 6 blogs, you wrote 4 books and you also work for the Hindustan Times, how do you run all this at once? Do you run all this by yourself?

Mayank Austen Soofi: Yes I run all this by myself! I just want to write, take pictures, hang out and get around New Delhi’s bazaars.

KM: I read that it was the publishers that came to you and not the contrary, how do you explain this? Why do you think you are so successful?

Mayank Austen Soofi: I see Delhi with different eyes. I take it differently and it is reflected in my writing. I just want to describe things exactly how they really are, never to simplify complicated things, and never to complicate simple things.

KM: The percentage of illiterates in India is still high, so as a book lover have you ever thought about getting involved in promoting reading and writing in even the most remote villages?

Mayank Austen Soofi: Yes! It is a good idea but I just want to write now.

KM: Have you ever heard of the book crossing concept? Do you think it would be popular in Delhi’s metro?

Mayank Austen Soofi: Sure, I have heard of it. But it is not very popular here and in fact it already exists in some of Delhi’s cafes.

KM: Could you give us a “top five” list of things to do while in Delhi?

Mayank Austen Soofi: 1. Jama Masjid Bazaar by night
2. Buy books in Sunday bookshops in Daryaganj
3. Eat Aloo Tiki in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
4. Hang out in Khan Markt
5. Visit the Red Fort

KM: I’ve seen from your blog that you interviewed a lot of people from all backgrounds. How do you usually make the first move?

Mayank Austen Soofi: Every person is interesting, you just feel the wave. I usually sit with them and we quickly become friends.

KM: Finally, if you had to give one word to describe Delhi, what would it be?

Mayank Austen Soofi: Fantastic!

KM: Thanks so much for your time!