We’re here! It’s hard to believe, but it always seems true that my body arrives quicker than my mind can adjust. We felt like we got a taste even before we took off as Indians crowded in the aisles and started unloading other people’s bags from overhead bins. Others started protesting and the Indian couple retorted firmly ” you must learn to adapt” I scurried away to find a flight attendant to avoid a fight breaking out, and the baffled troublemakers were stopped. The gentleman sharing the show with Matthew and I smiled, exasperated, and told us he makes this trip once a month and it’s the same every time.
A loooong 13 hours later we land in New Delhi, meet our representative and head to our small, 9-room villa hotel. Charming, and we head off the sleep.
Up early Thursday morning and down to breakfast. Masala chai, please! (a chai is just regular hot tea, it’s the masala version that includes spices) Also eggs, muesli and aloo. Needed a lot because my tummy thought it was dinnertime. It is 12 1/2 hours ahead of mountain time. Met with our trip coordinator to review the whole trip, then met our guide and driver. Headed out to Qutab Minar, a famous mosque, with the tomb of Imam Zamin. The famous minaret is 72 meters high, with the ancient iron pillar, a miniature, only 7.2 meters.
The intricate stone carvings on the walls and pillars were beautiful, and we could still make out some of the Hindi carvings the Hindi sculptors created.
Next stop is the Lotus Palace, a sacred spot for Bahai worship, so-called beacause the building itself is shaped like a lotus flower with 48 petals. Designed by a gentleman who lived in Sydney, Australia, you could easily see a stylistic resemblance to its famous opera house.
We had to check our shoes, then walk around and even into the Temple, where pictures were forbidden and silence enforced. A perfect place for a short meditation. When we exited, we admired the traditional nine pools around the building. We collected our shoes, then strolled down the path, through the gardens, and met back with our guide, Sajura (means Sun).
Back into our little van, which was guarded by Rishi, and sped off again, this time to Humayun’s tomb.
We first reviewed the mosque on the grounds,
then read about Humayum, whose father made him promise to neither kill nor blind his 3 brothers (to prevent them from trying to usurp his rule), and what happened? Why the brothers worked their way in from the outer lands straight to the capital to oust him, of course. He wandered from 1540 to 1555, when he had the help of the Persian King to get his kingdom back. Poor thing, he only sat back on his throne for less than a year before he died. So his son built him this beautiful tomb, very similar in structure to the Taj. There are structures above ground that show where there are tombs underneath.
Then it’s lunchtime. We drive to a recommended restaurant…and here is one of the many photos I snap out the window at the interesting moments of Indian life:
Matt and I wait for a table, and I snap a picture like this, of a man who sells betelnut leaves with some things in it (don’t ask me what) thathe folds and people pop them into their mouth to freshen their breath (and when they spit out the juice it’s red like blood):
Our name is called, and we slide into a booth and study the menu. One page of meals (vegetarian) and 3 pages of sweet beverages and all kinds of desserts. We finally decide and order, while ogling everything coming out of the kitchen. Ooh, what’s the waiter carrying? Oh, I should have ordered that! Our lunch comes and is yummy, of course. Matty orders the thali, a combination plate that comes with rice and puffy, fried bread things (poori?).
I ordered a veggie dosai. Had to – there were so many types on the menu I knew it must be their specialty. We dip and analyze, slurp and assess, taste and touch. My mouth is burning and I can feel my tummy glowing like a little sun in my body. A taste of something sweet from Matt’s little bowls puts that fire out. And yes, we requested to go someplace “safe” for our systems (although I’ll have to wait a few days to see if that works out). Mmmm, a good first outing.
First stop is a store for Matt and I to check out some local clothing. He looks every bit the prince that he is in his maroon kurta (like a long shirt with slits on the sides), matching white pants, and a narrow gold scarf. He opts out of the Ali Baba-like curled-up pointy-toed shoes, though. I try on quite a few myself, as well as a sari, and settle on a beautiful green one with embroidered flower designs that is bordered with purple and matching purple pants. Our guide says Indians will be stopping us for our pictures now.
Back in the van, and off we go for a slow drive-by (not allowed to stop, very heavy security) of the Parliament, Congress and the President’s house. Then to a Hindu Temple, with beautifully colorful statues of Vishnu, Shiva, and others. People are sitting with their offerings of marigolds and coconuts. No photos allowed, but a few from outside the wall give you an idea of the artful design.
Last stop, and as we walk to the Sikh Temple, we pass a couple of street stands where I enjoy snapping pictures of locals having chai and deep fried delicacies. The chai process is great: first ladles of milk are dramatically poured in the big, dented, pot:
Then scoops of sugar and tea are added and the whole mixture is brought to a rolling boil (which is what makes it safe for yours truly to partake). Then the whole mixtures is poured a couple times through a strainer, and then the whole glorious mix is poured into little plastic cups for the waiting customers. I eye all the fried concoctions (sandwiches, cauliflower, onions and chilies), but devour with eyes only. I plan on checking this out further after the Temple visit.
We learn that when the Hindis were being attacked, they decided that one member if each family must become a warrior. After a successful defense, these warriors became Sikhs. And I’m sure I’m leaving out some of the details, but that’s what I remember. Will come back to fill in. Here we had to remove shoes and socks and tie a scarf over our heads:
We entered and the interior reminded me of a mosque – beautifully wovenwall-to-wall carpet everywhere and in the center of the Temple was a cupola with their holy book covered with an elaborately embroidered cloth, priests sitting behind (in turbans and with curly mousy aches and full beards) and 3 gentlemen playing instruments and singing beautiful tunes. People were streaming in and walking around the center or sitting somewhere on the carpet to meditate or pray. The first thing each of them did was press their hands together (as if in prayer), kneel down and bring their forehead to the ground. Fascinating. We chose to sit for a while, and I let the music wash over me. It was entirely entrancing. Definitely in India now.
Headed back to the van with a return engagement at the roadside stand. This time, our driver treated us to a chai.
Hot and yummy (although a little too sweet) and not the spicy chai that some of us love. Here, chair means tea and it is masala chair that contains the spices. Good anyway, because mornings and evenings are foggy and definitely chilly.
Back to the hotel, and arrange a 7:45 pick up for dinner. However, after about 15 minutes, Matthew has passed out on the bed and no way Jose does he want to go out again. Fine with me, so we call and cancel pick up; I research what we should see tomorrow and work that out with our co-ordinator. Then I plug away at the blog, before settling in to a good night’s sleep myself.