FOOD!

The internet connection in our hotel is very spotty and I wasn’t able to post yesterday at all. This is what I was going to post on Saturday morning…
 

Our first meal out was a culinary adventure! Shafi took us to a restaurant specializing in South Indian vegetarian food. At Sagar Ratna in the Hotel Ashok we were introduced to Indian food unlike what we’ve eaten in our fabulous Chicago Indian restaurants. The table was full of color! Green (coriander), white (coconut) and red (dried pepper) chutneys; golden lentil soup chocked full of vegetables; a sweet, creamy banana lassi to drink. Our main course consisted of several different “breads” (for lack of a more correct term) with vegetables sometimes baked in: onion rava masala, mixed vegetable uthapam, and a big role of plain dosa (see picture!).  It was a great first introduction and these carnivores never even missed the meat!

A little shop in Karol Bagh

A day of exploring the market in Karol Bagh

Thanks to my friend, Shafi, we had a marvelous day of shopping in Karol Bagh. This area is a mixed residential and commercial neighbourhood in Delhi, known for its shopping streets, like the Gaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road. We spent a good portion of the day on Ajmal Khan Road and some of the small streets running off of it.

It was so helpful to have someone who speaks Hindi with us. We marvelled at Shafi's haggling and I learned a thing or two about how a little subtle flirting goes a long way!  I had two salwar kameez tailor-made and one other altered in just a little over 4 hours. Here's one of the newly created salwar kameez.

Next it was Keith's turn to be outfitted. We found a great "shop" tucked in between to buildings.

We've arrived safe and tired but excited!

After a grueling 20 hours en route to Delhi, we arrived on Thursday night at about 10:30pm (local time = CST + 10 1/2 hours). We cleared customs without any problem, got our baggage then headed out of the airport into a sea of waving signs with people's names on them. After going cross-eyed trying to nonchalantly try to read every sign, we found Mintu, our driver from Nameste India Tours.

I am never a calm and collected passenger in the best of situations so needless-to-say driving in Delhi caused some major panic. But Mintu got us to our hotel in one piece (after getting lost and stopping to ask directions). Hotel Sunrise is on a little side alley in an area of Delhi known as Karol Bagh. While we didn't see any cows last night there were certainly dozens of dogs roaming around.

Our room is clean and there is working AC! The people we've met have been warm and accomodating and we can't wait to get out today and explore this wonderful city.

Internet is spotty at the hotel, but I'll try to blog again later today.

Blog cover picture

Someone asked about the picture on my blog - this is the holy temple Gita Bhawan in Rishikesh

Fast Facts
Altitude 356 meters above sea level
Population 59,671
Languages Spoken Garhwali, Hindi and English
Best Time to Visit April to June or September to October. (notice - not August!)

From http://www.gitapress.org/gita_bhawan.htm

Gita Bhawan is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges, amidst the Himalayan mountains at Swargashram, Rishikesh. It consists of a very large complex comprising discourse halls and over 1000 rooms available free of charge for the stay of devotees. Regular discourses are organised. A large number of devotees visit and stay here for holy Ganges dip, listening to discourses and sadhana & meditation. During the summer months (end -April to early-July), day-long special Satsang programs are arranged and devotees flock in thousands to attend it.

For the convenience of the devotees, simple vegetarian food, kitchen & grocery items and Indian sweets are available at very moderate price. Other conveniences include Laxmi-Narayan Tample, free ferry boat service, Gita Press book shop, cloth shop, Ayurvedic department, etc. Saints are provided free food and cloth.

In the Ayurvedic department, medicines are prepared according to scriptures from Himalayan herbs using Ganges water. They are distributed by the free dispensary and are available for sale also.

The ancient Banyan tree within the complex deserves mention. It has been a site for penance of various saints like Swami Ramtirth. Presently, the tree and the surrounding woods on the banks of the Ganges, offer many quiet and peaceful spots for sadhana and meditation. Two well-built bathing-ghats in front of Gita Bhawan 1 and 3 provide young and old, the opportunity for a holy dip in the Ganges.

Now activated on my phone!

I can blog "on the go" now.

Taxi will be here in 4 hours to take us to the airport.

First flight is 8 hrs 20 min from Chicago to Amsterdam. Then 4 hr layover before another 8 hr flight to Delhi. Total time? 20 hours!

The day is finally here!

My husband, Keith and I leave tomorrow for India! We're excited and nervous all at once. Most of what we are packing will be left in India to be replaced by exotic trinkets, fabrics and music.

Here's a basic outline of our itinerary:
August 10 & 11 - travel 20 hours from Chicago to Delhi via Amsterdam.
August 12 - Explore Delhi and make contact with musicians from whom I will be learning about classical Indian music and dance.
August 13 to 15 - sightseeing and music
August 16 - Travel to Rishikesh
August 17 & 18 - early morning yoga at local ashram and evening meditation by the Ganges River.
August 19 - Travel to Delhi
August 20 - Travel to Jaipur in Rajastan
August 21 - Sightseeing in Jaipur then travel to Agra
August 22 - Visit Taj Mahal at sunrise; sightseeing in Agra then travel back to Delhi to catch our midnight flight.

Thanks for following along! I can't wait to share what I learn with you and with my students at Peirce!