Such interesting and varied experiences during our days in New Delhi, the capital of India. Our guide Raj & our driver Sunil patiently collected us from our hotel, found ATMs so we could access rupees, offered much needed advice about meals, advised us on places to shop, waited while we shopped, helped us understand cultures and customs, transported us from New Delhi to Old Delhi and places in between, and expertly explained the history and significance of each sight. Each facet of this experience contains stories of it's own - like how we had to stop at 4 or 5 ATMs to find one that would give us money and even then would only allow 10,000 rupees which sounds enormous but in reality is about $225 - not enough for the tour, the hotel, the tips all of which we had to pay for in cash!
We visited the Lotus Temple, a Ba'hai temple, one of 7 in the world, one on each continent, one in Wilmette, IL. The temple represents a lotus blossom, a flower sacred in 9 Indian faiths. The flower has 27 petals - everything is in multiples of 9. We bypassed a long hot line because of Raj's connections, removed our shoes, visited the library and then the temple sanctuary where we spent some time in quiet mediation. Outside again, our bare feet walked on stone walks very hot in the early morning sun, back to parking lot where Sunil was patiently waiting.
We drove past the immense Red Fort, built by the same Shah Jihan who built the fort in Agra that we saw yesterday and to the Delhi Haat, a market for shopping for authentic Indian wares. We went to a clothier where we looked at punjabis (2-piece), kurtis (tunic), & sarees. Kathy and I tried them on and ended up purchasing several with the help of encouragement of the owner and salespeople who also provided a Kingfisher's beer! Here's Kathy enjoying the beer with Raj while I looked at gorgeous silk Kasmiri rugs.
Next stop Gandhi Museum where we viewed artifacts of Bapu's life - spinning wheels, homespun clothing, items of bedding, walking stick, spectacles, photographs, newspaper clippings, a little model of the three monkeys (speak, see, hear no evil) given to him by a friend from China that he carried and referred to as his "gurus." We also saw several photos of the Birla House (that we walked through on Tuesday) where Gandhiji was assassinated on 1-20-1948 on his way to a prayer meeting. "He was right. He knew he was right. We all knew he was right." - Pearl S. Buck
Drove into busy Old Delhi to visit Jama Masjid a red sandstone mosque from the Moghul era where we were required to leave our cameras behind, take off our shoes, and cover from head to toe in a robe.
Nearby was the famous ancient market place Chandni Chowk. The streets were busy, congested, full rickshaws, motorcycles, people walking, shops selling embroidery thread and beads, perfumes, food. It was crazy, smelly, hot as we made our way through being careful to keep Raj in our sight. He took us to Haldriam's where we (safely) enjoyed samosas (stuffed with beans & potatoes), pakodas (paneer clotted cream), and gulab jamin (sweet & yummy).
After checking into our new hotel we ventured out into the Delhi streets on our own without Raj for the first time. We ended up at a Chinese restaurant (!), ate dinner, got a little lost on the way back and had to ask a Delhi policeman, found our hotel at last. Another adventurous day in India!
