Bumming around in Delhi...

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