Tea and a light breakfast later we greet Zartaj and he lays out our day with some room to breath and take detours if needed.
Our ride in a CNG Rickshaw was brief and we arrived at Cannaught Place. The famed CP for Delhiites, looks like a shopping district comprised of in line stores and a mix of street kiosks. The layout is of crescent shape and keeps array to sharp corners. Interesting, reminds me of B’bay’s Crawford Market with an oomph.
We also went to Jan path where we bargained for Kurta’s and some nick knacks. I bought some key chains to add to my key chain collection, some trinkets for friends and acquaintances. It was fun going from one kiosk to another to see the all the different items. We eat some famous snack there, but I don't remember what it was...what was it? It was nap time by the time we returned to our hotel. We bathe, took a quick nap and headed out for a stroll.
Our girls had seen a movie theatre on our way in and they insisted we go catch a flick. Lo behold, it was a Amitabh Bachchan film, Family I think. Our kids love him and it is more of a mutual feeling in our family. We all love him. Our girls don’t really understand the movies in Hindi, but reading subtitles and the songs of Indian movies are to their liking. Shuara tries to emulate the dances sometimes. The tickets were 75 rupees each, kids calculated it to our currency and exclaimed..”wow mum, its cheap!” I waited for Raj to give them a lecture, but he must have been too excited to see AB on big screen after a decade, he ignored the comment and move along. We had to leave our digital camera behind with the usher, who assured us we’d get it back intact., which we did. The movie wasn’t that bad, I can’t stand Akshay Kumar and the songs were blah!!
After the movie we headed out to eat, we eat at Jawaharlal’s again..I had wanted my butter chicken but Raj insisted I try something else…as “butter” chicken is not quite good for my health. He is right about it… and I tried a new dish..tandoori chicken with plain rice. It was OK. We headed out to see the city again. I wanted to take a ride in those cycle rickshaw and as always..my wish was granted. It was Raj & I, girls and Husa. It was 10pm or so and we finally decided to tackle "Chandi Chowk"!
Chandni Chowk runs through the Lahore Gate or Darwazza of the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid. Even this late in the evening it appears to be all congested, but much better than yesterday morning. It is all surreal to us, can you imagine what it must have been like back in the days of the Mughal Empire, or in the days during Independence movement. It holds such an historical character. All the buildings have their own identity. The rickshaw guy Manu tells us that there are several famous havelis here. Wish it wasn’t late at night; I would have loved to have seen one. Manu tells us how the intricate narrow lanes are. Manu warns us that newbies can get lost within them easily, but then again when in Chandi Chowk ask anyone for direction and they will guide you to your destination.
The narrow lanes have many many shops, all are either closed or are in midst of closing. The shops here comprise of a various nature selling anything from saris, books, shoes, leather goods, sweets, spices to name a few. There were paan shops too. We tried a paan, it was fine I guess. The girls didn’t care for it much. They spit it right out! It was getting a bit brisk and my short sleeve tee-shirt wasn’t keeping me warm any more. The nights in Delhi in mid January are cold. We came by Haldiram’s and wow my jaw just dropped. It was a sweet shop; the entire building was a sweet shop!! Our pantry back home in Wisconsin is always stocked with Haldiram’s Rasgullas and Gulab Jamuns. Too bad they were closed too! I would have loved their Jalebis. Our girls were expecting to see K3G’s Chandi Chowk, more to their surprise it was nothing like it, but Shuara remembered the tongue twister…off course when she said it, it sounded more like chandu chacha chamchi chandi chatee...made us laugh.
Manu took us through the chowk and headed through one of the galis back to our Hotel. We encountered a wedding procession on the way and boy was it interesting to actually get caught up in one, a band, live music, dancers, a groom, a beautiful bride, firecrackers and all. Only in India! It was a good day spent; tomorrow we head out early morning to Agra & Fatehpur Sikri and I'd better get some zzzs!
the tongue twister from above:
Chandu ke chacha ne
Chandu ki chachi ko
Chandni Chowk mein
Chandni raat mein
Chaandi ke chamach se
Chatni chatayi
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Delhi, Agra....
The guide arrives at 7:30am..we are on vacation aren't we?..I want to sleep in!!
Our stops: Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Chandini Chowk, India Gate, Jantar Mantar & Qutub Minar.
Delhi is not only the historic city but also quite rich in its architectural interests dating back to the Mughal Empire.
Red Fort Massive, Red and a Fort!
Closed due to the preparations for Republic Day..booohoo :0
Chandni Chowk Crowded & Chaotic
We passed it for later
India Gate Reminds me of New York! Barricaded with bleachers set up for the parade and all….are we going to get ot see something at all?
Raj Ghat & the Parliament Closed …seriously is anything going to be accessible to visitors like us. Why didn’t anyone in Baroda tell us that we’d run into these problems. WHY?
Lotus Temple Beautiful, Pure and Sarene.
It was peaceful and cool inside. No idols in sight.
Ishkon Temple Got voted out. It was getting too late and Shuara was heat stricken. Something cool for her before she faints.
Qutub Minar At first glance all I can say is WOW! It was completed in the 13th century.
Can one grasp what it must have taken to build a minaret of this stature?
Manpower, materials and zero technological instruments that we have in today’s age. Yet, it looks flawless.
I did notice that a lot of the other structures around had either been neglected or have succumbed to the environment. At one point the girls were leaning on something that we later found out, were graves. I took a lot of pictures and the ones I am in are not as good. Not that I don’t make a good subject or maybe it was the photographer’s fault. Who know?
Jantar Mantar, we were a bit late. 125 rupee bribe plus regular tickets later we were let in. Its Red, big and neglected. The guide told us that it still can tell time even with all the modern buildings around. What an amazing feat?, A Giant Sun Dial in the middle of a busy hustle bustle of a metropolis. Some more pictures later I was too tired to walk and was too hot. Some how it was humid and muggy in the city.
We got back to the hotel, all tired and grungy looking from a days worth of tourist stops. Our white shirts and jeans had red stains from Jantar Mantar. I so needed to take a long bath. I insisted we go to eat later and as always I won. We bathe, took a quick nap and then headed out to eat. Moti Mahal was the destination and my favorite butter chicken again. I liked Jawarlal’s better and the naan was much better there too!
We are to just bum around tomorrow and see a little more of the city. Raj’s promised me some shopping. We’ve the air on and Raj’s in deep slumber already. I am watching Zee TV. It’s an old flick with Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini, until slumber arrives..good night :)
Our stops: Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Chandini Chowk, India Gate, Jantar Mantar & Qutub Minar.
Delhi is not only the historic city but also quite rich in its architectural interests dating back to the Mughal Empire.
Red Fort Massive, Red and a Fort!
Closed due to the preparations for Republic Day..booohoo :0
Chandni Chowk Crowded & Chaotic
We passed it for later
India Gate Reminds me of New York! Barricaded with bleachers set up for the parade and all….are we going to get ot see something at all?
Raj Ghat & the Parliament Closed …seriously is anything going to be accessible to visitors like us. Why didn’t anyone in Baroda tell us that we’d run into these problems. WHY?
Lotus Temple Beautiful, Pure and Sarene.
It was peaceful and cool inside. No idols in sight.
Ishkon Temple Got voted out. It was getting too late and Shuara was heat stricken. Something cool for her before she faints.
Qutub Minar At first glance all I can say is WOW! It was completed in the 13th century.
Can one grasp what it must have taken to build a minaret of this stature?
Manpower, materials and zero technological instruments that we have in today’s age. Yet, it looks flawless.
I did notice that a lot of the other structures around had either been neglected or have succumbed to the environment. At one point the girls were leaning on something that we later found out, were graves. I took a lot of pictures and the ones I am in are not as good. Not that I don’t make a good subject or maybe it was the photographer’s fault. Who know?
Jantar Mantar, we were a bit late. 125 rupee bribe plus regular tickets later we were let in. Its Red, big and neglected. The guide told us that it still can tell time even with all the modern buildings around. What an amazing feat?, A Giant Sun Dial in the middle of a busy hustle bustle of a metropolis. Some more pictures later I was too tired to walk and was too hot. Some how it was humid and muggy in the city.
We got back to the hotel, all tired and grungy looking from a days worth of tourist stops. Our white shirts and jeans had red stains from Jantar Mantar. I so needed to take a long bath. I insisted we go to eat later and as always I won. We bathe, took a quick nap and then headed out to eat. Moti Mahal was the destination and my favorite butter chicken again. I liked Jawarlal’s better and the naan was much better there too!
We are to just bum around tomorrow and see a little more of the city. Raj’s promised me some shopping. We’ve the air on and Raj’s in deep slumber already. I am watching Zee TV. It’s an old flick with Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini, until slumber arrives..good night :)
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Delhi, Agra...etc!
We get to Delhi around 10am on Jan 17th 2006. We hail a CNG Rickshaw to Dariyagunj, we get to the Hotel, and not having any IDs on us are unable to get a room.We were told by "people" in Baroda to leave our IDs in Baroda. We were stupid enough to listen to them! Asgi comes to our rescue and knows the mayor of Delhi's son who gets us the best hotel in Dariyagunj. Thank you Zartaj! :)
Delhi in January is quite warm for us. Its noisy, crowded and funky smelling. We bathe, take quick nap and head out to see Jamah Masjid. Zartaj joins us and Raj arranges our site seeing, shopping intinary with him for the rest of our stay here. Wow, the traffic here is amazing..if it were like this back home, it would be a mayhem. Can you say a mutli car pile-up!!!
Jamah Masjid
We enter the mosque through Gate No. 1 and we were all awestruck by the architecture. The mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and was completed in 1656 AD. Zartaj's coming along made so much more easier for us to get in. Being so close to Independence Day the security was tight and they weren't allowing any digital cameras in. Thanks to Zartaj, I was able to take in my Canon and our Canon DC20 as well.
I went crazy with my canon, taking in the faint light of dusk I snapped as many pictures as I could before the sun set. The beautiful minarets, a window above one of the gates, sunset beyond the main minaret all became water to my thirst. I am not a professional photographer, but I do possess a keen sense of right and wrong when it comes to taking pictures. Shuara enjoyed running through the throngs of pigeons in the vast openness of the mosque. It was very peaceful there, for a moment you forget that just outside the gates there is poverty, noise and masses of local people going about their daily routine.
We ate at Jawaharlal's and the food was good. I had my favorite, butter chicken with fresh made naan. After dinner we took a stroll along the Jamah Masjid and just wondered how people live here. It was loud, crowded and funky smelling. How did they live amid the noise and chaos. I guess, its' their way of life. They choose to live there, just like we’ve adapted to our small town.
We have an early morning tomorrow and I am quite tired. We have booked a guide who comes along with a sedan. He is going to charge us 4.50 rupees per kilometer and take us around to see Old & New Delhi and then some.
Delhi in January is quite warm for us. Its noisy, crowded and funky smelling. We bathe, take quick nap and head out to see Jamah Masjid. Zartaj joins us and Raj arranges our site seeing, shopping intinary with him for the rest of our stay here. Wow, the traffic here is amazing..if it were like this back home, it would be a mayhem. Can you say a mutli car pile-up!!!
Jamah Masjid
We enter the mosque through Gate No. 1 and we were all awestruck by the architecture. The mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and was completed in 1656 AD. Zartaj's coming along made so much more easier for us to get in. Being so close to Independence Day the security was tight and they weren't allowing any digital cameras in. Thanks to Zartaj, I was able to take in my Canon and our Canon DC20 as well.
I went crazy with my canon, taking in the faint light of dusk I snapped as many pictures as I could before the sun set. The beautiful minarets, a window above one of the gates, sunset beyond the main minaret all became water to my thirst. I am not a professional photographer, but I do possess a keen sense of right and wrong when it comes to taking pictures. Shuara enjoyed running through the throngs of pigeons in the vast openness of the mosque. It was very peaceful there, for a moment you forget that just outside the gates there is poverty, noise and masses of local people going about their daily routine.
We ate at Jawaharlal's and the food was good. I had my favorite, butter chicken with fresh made naan. After dinner we took a stroll along the Jamah Masjid and just wondered how people live here. It was loud, crowded and funky smelling. How did they live amid the noise and chaos. I guess, its' their way of life. They choose to live there, just like we’ve adapted to our small town.
We have an early morning tomorrow and I am quite tired. We have booked a guide who comes along with a sedan. He is going to charge us 4.50 rupees per kilometer and take us around to see Old & New Delhi and then some.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Baroda..Jan 7th -15th 2006
WOW! What's with the uber ads? Baroda sure has changed and doesn't seem like it is for the better either. Then again, it's my first impression after a decade. Lets see what days ahead brings.
REMIND EVERYONE OF SHUARA'S ALLERGIES!! NO NUTS PLEASE!!
Glad all the family is coming over tonight, saves visiting all of them individually. Mom-in-law's idea, have to thank her. Husa's here too from UK, she's different, maybe a bit more distant, why? hmmmm
I have no Indian clothes,we go shopping and buy some decent outfits. They aren't up to par with my taste, will have to make do for now.
14th-15th
Headed over to dadima's in wadi. It's Uttarayan. I miss bhai.
Dadima's place looks okay I guess, more vacant. Sad, no one sees what I see!
Friends are hosting us today at Asgi's..it was nice to see them all. I was teased a lot, that was expected and I returned a bit too!
Headed over to mom&dad's..I can't stand these huge cell towers everywhere in town. Miss bhai and can't stand being up on the terrace. I miss my childhood days, the warm monsoon rains and I miss being a kid.
Back to dadima's. The kites flew high today, it was fun for the girls and Raj too...I felt awkward, alone and a bit melancholy. The day ends with tons of fire crackers and laughs..a few tears
We take the Rajdhani Express to Delhi tomorrow night..
Translations:
Uttarayan-Kite Festival
Dadima-Paternal Grandma
bhai-brother
Rajdhani-name of the train
REMIND EVERYONE OF SHUARA'S ALLERGIES!! NO NUTS PLEASE!!
Glad all the family is coming over tonight, saves visiting all of them individually. Mom-in-law's idea, have to thank her. Husa's here too from UK, she's different, maybe a bit more distant, why? hmmmm
I have no Indian clothes,we go shopping and buy some decent outfits. They aren't up to par with my taste, will have to make do for now.
14th-15th
Headed over to dadima's in wadi. It's Uttarayan. I miss bhai.
Dadima's place looks okay I guess, more vacant. Sad, no one sees what I see!
Friends are hosting us today at Asgi's..it was nice to see them all. I was teased a lot, that was expected and I returned a bit too!
Headed over to mom&dad's..I can't stand these huge cell towers everywhere in town. Miss bhai and can't stand being up on the terrace. I miss my childhood days, the warm monsoon rains and I miss being a kid.
Back to dadima's. The kites flew high today, it was fun for the girls and Raj too...I felt awkward, alone and a bit melancholy. The day ends with tons of fire crackers and laughs..a few tears
We take the Rajdhani Express to Delhi tomorrow night..
Translations:
Uttarayan-Kite Festival
Dadima-Paternal Grandma
bhai-brother
Rajdhani-name of the train
Thursday, January 5, 2006
India
Destination: India
Duration: Jan 4th 2006 - Feb 7th 2006
Must Haves:
1.Passports
2.Visa to India
3.Tickets
4.Sane Mind & Strong Will
5.Meds for "the funny one"
6.Smiles & Nods
Acquiring the visas along with renewal of expired passports was a pain. Hurricane Katrina didn't help much as our passports go to LA to be renewed. Paid $753.00 to get it all expedited and shipped via FedEx within 2 weeks. Was it worth it? Nah!!
Trip to Chicago in August was a pain as well. The Indian Consulate in Chicago was a mess when it comes to getting a simple Visa. $800.00 later we acquired four 10 year multiple entry visas. Do we have to see these jerks again in 10 years..probably! :(
Jan 4th 2006
Raj's friends were kind enough to drive us to the airport on Jan 4th 2006. We left Neenah @ 9am to get there before 1pm with necessary stops along the way. We could have flown via Appleton, but the snow and not getting there on time was risk we didn't want to take. After all we were visiting India after a decade!
All checked in and the nervousness kicks in. I get hugs from all three and it calms me a little bit, but fear lingers in the subconscious. I am afraid flying and of reactions. My self-esteem is a bit low.
Here we go: Chicago-Zurich-Bombay
mubin 2006©
Duration: Jan 4th 2006 - Feb 7th 2006
Must Haves:
1.Passports
2.Visa to India
3.Tickets
4.Sane Mind & Strong Will
5.Meds for "the funny one"
6.Smiles & Nods
Acquiring the visas along with renewal of expired passports was a pain. Hurricane Katrina didn't help much as our passports go to LA to be renewed. Paid $753.00 to get it all expedited and shipped via FedEx within 2 weeks. Was it worth it? Nah!!
Trip to Chicago in August was a pain as well. The Indian Consulate in Chicago was a mess when it comes to getting a simple Visa. $800.00 later we acquired four 10 year multiple entry visas. Do we have to see these jerks again in 10 years..probably! :(
Jan 4th 2006
Raj's friends were kind enough to drive us to the airport on Jan 4th 2006. We left Neenah @ 9am to get there before 1pm with necessary stops along the way. We could have flown via Appleton, but the snow and not getting there on time was risk we didn't want to take. After all we were visiting India after a decade!
All checked in and the nervousness kicks in. I get hugs from all three and it calms me a little bit, but fear lingers in the subconscious. I am afraid flying and of reactions. My self-esteem is a bit low.
Here we go: Chicago-Zurich-Bombay
mubin 2006©
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