A funny thing happened while waiting for the metro…what I forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog. Whilst walking toward the line to board the metro, we hear over the P.A. that “you should not befriend homeless people”. I thought that tidbit was very important to share.
This morning, instead of waiting for the car, I got a phone call in the hotel room stating that the car was already here – half and hour earlier than meet time! Shocking, to say the least. It was a good thing they called too because we were all still sleeping. So, it was a semi-mad dash to get ready for the day.
The driver picked us up and we headed to Connaught place to start our Sunrise in Delhi tour. One would think that 7:30am would not be considered sunrise, but in India, that is sunrise. We met up with our guide, Ahkhi for short. He will be our guide for today and tomorrow, and he’s hoping for the day after as well.
Our first site was the flower market and it was near the end for the day, where some of the vendors were packing up their flowers, but there was still a crowd there and the street simply packed with vendors and colorful flowers as far as the eye can see. Also, baskets, pretty paper, ribbons and the like. We did purchase some flowers and then we were on our way to the next site….
Hindi temples. We had already hiked about this place on Sunday when it was empty and people were telling us we were walking the wrong way…but it was jammed packed today. The Hindi temple was dedicated to the Monkey God and his days are Saturday and Tuesdays. Being as today was Tuesday, it was full of people praying. The sweets were all out and boy were they sweet!
Then we headed to the Sikh Temple. Here, we went into the tourist room, took off our shoes and got our heads wrapped. We got a short lecture on the history of the religion and how they operate now. It all sounded so peaceful and loving. And the temple was incredibly welcoming of everyone.
We walked in and saw the Golden Canopy and the prayers. Then we headed out to their pool. Akhi told us that if we made a wish and walked around the pool, it would help the wish come true. So, we did just that! On our way around the pool, I spotted the banana hammocks. Yech.
Then, the best thing in the world happened to me! We went to their commercial kitchens to see how they cook for anyone who wants a meal and it’s all done by volunteer work. There were ladies rolling out chapatti dough and then baking it and we were invited to go sit and help! Yay! I heart making bread. For realz. We just sat and rolled and rolled while other volunteers kept tossing us lumps of dough.
I look like a washer woman! I was so hot and my head covering kept on trying to come off, but SO FUN!!! BEST THING EVER!Then we went to bake the chapatti that we rolled and that was fun – who doesn’t like tossing around a disc of bread with a metal poker? Only fun can ensue with such actions.
We finally managed to tear ourselves away from the kitchen and we head back to the tourist office to get our shoes and take off our pirate caps. We are then lead to a little hole in the wall place to have breakfast. Akhi says this place is special because it’s where locals go and because they refuse to serve coffee any other way than they way it was done when it was first introduced to India…..WEAK. I thought the coffee was fine, but I generally drink my sugar and milk with a little bit of coffee anyways. The dosa was meh, but it was breakfast.
That was the end of the first tour for us that day. Akhi left us there for us to take the metro home at our leisure, which we did. Back to the hotel to rest for a bit and then we headed to the pool.
The life of the rich and famous with their smoothies in a pool. =)The pool was empty today. Everyone ordered drinks, which took about…oh 30 minutes to come. Really? Did they have to find a coconut or mango out in the wild? Anyways. I still think the pool was cold and this time, I got support from the ladies with me. So, we just hung out and then sunbathed a bit and then headed indoors for nappy time (no juice box), but when we got the hotel room our package from the wedding finally came!
SNACKS! INDIAN SCOOBY SNACKS!!
4pm rolled around pretty quick and we headed out to meet Akhi again for our Delhi Cultural night and Family Dinner tour. We were driven to south Delhi and dropped off at an apartment complex to meet our host – a lovely lady and her two kids. We were greeted by a lighting of a candle, red lines painted on our face with rice paste and orange marigolds leis placed around our necks.
This is what happens to bad kids in India who don't do the homework and help cook...they get industrial strength locked into their rooms! =)
We sat and chatted about Indian culture and such things while water was served. Then we were invited into the kitchen to learn how to make potato pakoras. Yum. When those were deep-fried and yummy, she started to make us Chai tea while we munched on Pakoras.
Then we had tea and talked more with Akhi about Indian culture, dating, family life, etc etc, while she continued to cook. We were invited back into the kitchen again and again to watch or help prepare eggplant, yogurt, chickpeas, rice pudding and of course…CHAPATTI!!! I was interested to learn that the dough is only wheat flour and water. I will have to try it out at home. We were sweating so much in the kitchen and wiping sweat off our faces, I ended up smearing my rice paste all over my forehead.
Smarter than your average bear!
Family dinner. Yum Yum! Where's mah chapatti?!?!Then we all sat down to eat, while she kept on making more chapatti for us and bringing us fresh ones. When we were done, we excused ourselves and thanked our hosts for a lovely evening.
We hopped on some tuk-tuk or autorickshaws and away we went, back to our hotel. Tomorrow is a normal start – nothing crazy.
This is what happens to you when you fall asleep during family dinners...we gave her a pass - she lives!, she only had 3 hours of sleep last night. =)
This is my leg...I hit it on the seat of the car...this morning....boo boo 3 of this trip.
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