I'm now sitting on the airplane to Kathmandu (well I was when I started this but then it took a while to get internet to post this) reflecting on my time in Delhi and India as a whole. Overall, I enjoyed my time Delhi and it was probably my favorite city to visit.
Saturday
Saturday at 6:30 AM the six of us left for our 2.5 hour flight to Chennai from Kathmandu. I had to send my big backpack through a security thing before I checked it at the counter and this whole process took a very long time. The plane ride then felt quick because I was asleep for the majority of it although I was very cold the whole time.
Once we landed I was very happy to realize that I would never be in Chennai again and was looking forward to the rest of my travels. We then took a taxi to our hotel and were all welcomed by a beer. This was a very nice surprise and the staff was very welcoming so I felt quite comfortable. After eating some tasty cheese parata (kind if like a thick tortilla) we took a nap and decided to roam around Delhi a bit.
Tim left without us right away because that's just what he does and Evan stayed back so Mike, Bon, Morgan and I then went out to first see a sight a friend recommended to me and then was thinking about seeing some shops. We first had to figure out the Delhi metro and quickly became masters. Rides on the metro were very cheap with the average ride costing 15 Rs. or so (~25 cents).
Our first sight was cool to see because it was a place where they stored water a long time ago and had some nice architecture to it. I especially found it nice because it was located in somewhat modern neighborhood but the community still kept this old landmark. Once Mike got pooped on by a bird we then decided to move somewhere else.
We then found an auto to take us to a shop recommended to us that had some classic India stuff for tourists and such to buy. I knew I couldn't buy any more stuff because I still had to buy stuff in Nepal but my friends ended up buying scarves as gifts...but then I couldn't resist and I bought a plain scarf I liked for the equivalent of $3.30 USD.
Later we got a text from Tim sayings he was at an American diner so we went there right away desperate for American food. Of course it wasn't the greatest but my spinach, feta and mushroom omelet was incredibly satisfying. The food I miss the most here by far is spinach because I'm kind of a spinach addict.
Then we decided to head back and we had another drink with the friendly hotel staff.
Sunday
Sunday we did a hop-on hop-off bus tour to see the sites around Delhi and the highlight was Red Fort. The other places we went to were cool to see but I've already forgotten what they use to be and whatnot. Here's pictures though.
The night ended by going to a famous restaurant called Karims. It's famous because the cooks are the great great grand kids of the cooks of the kings at the time. It was especially cool because it's a Muslim restaurant so no one ate until sun set. Once the suns did set though the waiters first had to eat and they ate so much food in ten minutes. Then they quickly got up and took orders without writing anything down. The food was of course delicious and I had a few kebab pieces that were as good (if not better) than what I had in Turkey.
Monday
We left at 6:00 AM to leave for our tour to Agra. Our first stop after a quite bumpy ride was at the site where Lord Krishnan, a Hindu god, was supposedly born. I didn't really get the place because I'm very unfamiliar with the Hindu religion. There were no pictures allowed and the place was nice on the inside but I also thought it was a bit gaudy, especially the shops selling plastic toys and guns.
After being stuck in Agra traffic for a very long time our next stop was Agra Fort which was really nice on the inside and you could also see the Taj Mahal in the distance.
The grand finale was the Taj Mahal and costed us 750 Rs. This was a ton compared to the previous 100 or 250 Rs. tickets we had to pay for other attractions but it was still equivalent to only $12.50.
I was nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype that so many people have created about it but it truly was a great piece of art. I don't know how to explain it but all of the marble and the intricate designs was just awesome. The tour guide told us it took 22 years to build and 20,000 artists to construct it all.
weren't allowed to take pictures on the inside but if you ask me, the inside wan't as cool as the outside. Maybe I'm saying this though because it was pretty dark in there with inly natural light so I didn't see a ton.
After about 97,364 pictures hour two hours were then up and we headed back to the bus, avoided the many people trying to sell us crap and got back to Delhi by 10 PM.
Tuesday
We decided to sleep in for a bit on Tuesday and really didn't do much that day. We eventually went to a shopping place similar to where I was in Hyderabad that sold Indian stuff from all different states and was a good place for the other people in my group to get last minute gifts. I only got a few small things even though there was a ton if stuff I wanted to buy. It was also nice though because we found a different market nearby where I was able to buy some stuff I needed for Nepal like scissors, a pocket knife, and a lighter. It then started to downpour so we waited out the storm in a shop and then decided to relax at the hotel for pretty much the rest of the day.
Oh, and most of our meals was from this small Chinese restaurant around the corner from our place that made a ton of food for only 50 Rs which is less than one dollar. And it was quite tasty so that was a plus.
Wednesday
We saw India Gate which was okay but we could go in to walk around because it was closed. We then went to Lotus Temple in seemingly the most round about way possible and enjoyed the calmness of this place. Last stop was the Akshardam which was a Hindu temple that opened in 2005 and was giant and very intricate. It was nice but I also didn't get it because I don't understand the religion.
After a long, very hot and humid day we went back to the hotel to rest, have one more free beer and were on our way. I separated from the group at the metro station when they had to go to the airport back to Chennai and I went on a different route to IIT Delhi campus.
My time with the Srivastavas
My friend from high school, Jay Srivastava and his dad offered me to stay with his relatives who live on IIT's campus when they found out I would be alone in Delhi for two days. This ended up being very nice because the campus is very safe and the family was also very nice to be with.
Jay's uncle greeted me once I got to their apartment and then met the mom and two daughters, Mitali and Matisha. I then had a delicious dinner with this awesome chicken, some paratha and something else but I forgot. I then learned that they planned to feed me all of my meals and I was so happy for this because homemade Indian food is way better than the stuff I've had at the restaurants.
Overall, I enjoyed my time in Delhi and especially enjoyed my time with the Srivastavas. They were incredibly helpful and nice and even gave me a gift which I kind of felt terrible about because I didn't have a gift to give them...but it'll be sent in the mail once I get home. I also learned a lot about school in in India from the girls and I think they also learned a bit from me about a few things about American culture and whatnot.
Reflection On My India Experience
India is a very unique country with an incredibly rich history. With this the culture is a lot to handle for someone who grew up in America and I cannot say by any means that I understand the culture. I think someone has to stay there for at least six months or one year to maybe say "I get it" but even this may not be enough time. Some systems don't work very systematically but also seem to work (not sure if that makes sense) and I'm not sure if I'll ever understand it but it sure is interesting and respectable. I definitely feel like I've grown as a person because of this experience and have a learned a new way of find beauty in things I see. Although my group saw "Cranky Caroline" when talking to auto and taxi drivers more often than I would have liked or I would get frustrated with the way things went in the lab and at restaurants, I'm still very glad I came to India because it's been an incredible experience.
I know my perspective or outlook will change a lot when I come home and I'm kind of nervous about being bitter about how selfish or ungrateful I'll see Americans at home. We have so much stuff and have a huge mentality that buying more stuff will make us happier but this is such a twisted mentality. I'm also guilty of this because if you know me, you know I have too many clothes and knick-knacks but I have this urge to go back home and minimize the amount of stuff I have that kind of clutters my life. This really hit home when I was staying with the Srivastavas and seeing how few things the girls have compared to me. They only have one third of a closet of clothes, share a room and did not have too many decorations or toys and also lived in an apartment smaller than the apartment I just moved out of at school. And with all of this, they seem just as happy (maybe more) without so much stuff and have a special appreciation for the simple things like the nice weather or the successes of their family.
I will remember my night at the nice nightclub with the MTV DJ in Hyderabad and I will also remember seeing many people sleep on the sidewalks and sleep with just their clothes while walking Delhi at night. This range in sights I saw was a very eye-opening experience and has made me reflect a lot about my life in America and also what life is about in general. I am very appreciative of my experience in India and have realized yet again how lucky I am that I happened to be born in America and have never really had a real worry in my lifetime compared to so many others in the world.
Thanks for reading my blog about India and I'm incredibly excited to tell you about my time in Nepal. I've been here for four days now and have loved everything so far...but I'll tell you more later! Can't wait to share!!! Here's a sneak peak to the view I have every morning with the Himilayas in the distance.
Saturday
Saturday at 6:30 AM the six of us left for our 2.5 hour flight to Chennai from Kathmandu. I had to send my big backpack through a security thing before I checked it at the counter and this whole process took a very long time. The plane ride then felt quick because I was asleep for the majority of it although I was very cold the whole time.
Once we landed I was very happy to realize that I would never be in Chennai again and was looking forward to the rest of my travels. We then took a taxi to our hotel and were all welcomed by a beer. This was a very nice surprise and the staff was very welcoming so I felt quite comfortable. After eating some tasty cheese parata (kind if like a thick tortilla) we took a nap and decided to roam around Delhi a bit.
Tim left without us right away because that's just what he does and Evan stayed back so Mike, Bon, Morgan and I then went out to first see a sight a friend recommended to me and then was thinking about seeing some shops. We first had to figure out the Delhi metro and quickly became masters. Rides on the metro were very cheap with the average ride costing 15 Rs. or so (~25 cents).
Our first sight was cool to see because it was a place where they stored water a long time ago and had some nice architecture to it. I especially found it nice because it was located in somewhat modern neighborhood but the community still kept this old landmark. Once Mike got pooped on by a bird we then decided to move somewhere else.
We then found an auto to take us to a shop recommended to us that had some classic India stuff for tourists and such to buy. I knew I couldn't buy any more stuff because I still had to buy stuff in Nepal but my friends ended up buying scarves as gifts...but then I couldn't resist and I bought a plain scarf I liked for the equivalent of $3.30 USD.
Later we got a text from Tim sayings he was at an American diner so we went there right away desperate for American food. Of course it wasn't the greatest but my spinach, feta and mushroom omelet was incredibly satisfying. The food I miss the most here by far is spinach because I'm kind of a spinach addict.
Then we decided to head back and we had another drink with the friendly hotel staff.
Sunday
Sunday we did a hop-on hop-off bus tour to see the sites around Delhi and the highlight was Red Fort. The other places we went to were cool to see but I've already forgotten what they use to be and whatnot. Here's pictures though.
Red Fort
Red Fort
The Mosque we didn't like so much
Market
Market
The toy in my Happy Meal
The night ended by going to a famous restaurant called Karims. It's famous because the cooks are the great great grand kids of the cooks of the kings at the time. It was especially cool because it's a Muslim restaurant so no one ate until sun set. Once the suns did set though the waiters first had to eat and they ate so much food in ten minutes. Then they quickly got up and took orders without writing anything down. The food was of course delicious and I had a few kebab pieces that were as good (if not better) than what I had in Turkey.
Monday
We left at 6:00 AM to leave for our tour to Agra. Our first stop after a quite bumpy ride was at the site where Lord Krishnan, a Hindu god, was supposedly born. I didn't really get the place because I'm very unfamiliar with the Hindu religion. There were no pictures allowed and the place was nice on the inside but I also thought it was a bit gaudy, especially the shops selling plastic toys and guns.
After being stuck in Agra traffic for a very long time our next stop was Agra Fort which was really nice on the inside and you could also see the Taj Mahal in the distance.
Red Fort
Tour guide explaining the game kings would play by having a life-size board with beautiful women as the moving pieces
Agra Fort
Agra Fort
The grand finale was the Taj Mahal and costed us 750 Rs. This was a ton compared to the previous 100 or 250 Rs. tickets we had to pay for other attractions but it was still equivalent to only $12.50.
I was nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype that so many people have created about it but it truly was a great piece of art. I don't know how to explain it but all of the marble and the intricate designs was just awesome. The tour guide told us it took 22 years to build and 20,000 artists to construct it all.
weren't allowed to take pictures on the inside but if you ask me, the inside wan't as cool as the outside. Maybe I'm saying this though because it was pretty dark in there with inly natural light so I didn't see a ton.
Gate outside the Taj Mahal
The men and their mustaches...
Boy band imitation picture
It was my dad's birthday that day so I tried to show I was thinking of him
I was sitting on this bench and then these people kind of pushed me off
And then they wanted a picture with me
After about 97,364 pictures hour two hours were then up and we headed back to the bus, avoided the many people trying to sell us crap and got back to Delhi by 10 PM.
Tuesday
We decided to sleep in for a bit on Tuesday and really didn't do much that day. We eventually went to a shopping place similar to where I was in Hyderabad that sold Indian stuff from all different states and was a good place for the other people in my group to get last minute gifts. I only got a few small things even though there was a ton if stuff I wanted to buy. It was also nice though because we found a different market nearby where I was able to buy some stuff I needed for Nepal like scissors, a pocket knife, and a lighter. It then started to downpour so we waited out the storm in a shop and then decided to relax at the hotel for pretty much the rest of the day.
Oh, and most of our meals was from this small Chinese restaurant around the corner from our place that made a ton of food for only 50 Rs which is less than one dollar. And it was quite tasty so that was a plus.
Wednesday
We saw India Gate which was okay but we could go in to walk around because it was closed. We then went to Lotus Temple in seemingly the most round about way possible and enjoyed the calmness of this place. Last stop was the Akshardam which was a Hindu temple that opened in 2005 and was giant and very intricate. It was nice but I also didn't get it because I don't understand the religion.
After a long, very hot and humid day we went back to the hotel to rest, have one more free beer and were on our way. I separated from the group at the metro station when they had to go to the airport back to Chennai and I went on a different route to IIT Delhi campus.
India Gate
Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple
My time with the Srivastavas
My friend from high school, Jay Srivastava and his dad offered me to stay with his relatives who live on IIT's campus when they found out I would be alone in Delhi for two days. This ended up being very nice because the campus is very safe and the family was also very nice to be with.
Jay's uncle greeted me once I got to their apartment and then met the mom and two daughters, Mitali and Matisha. I then had a delicious dinner with this awesome chicken, some paratha and something else but I forgot. I then learned that they planned to feed me all of my meals and I was so happy for this because homemade Indian food is way better than the stuff I've had at the restaurants.
IIT Delhi Campus
IIT Delhi Campus
Matisha and Me
Mitali and Me
Mrs. and Mr. Srivatava
The girls
Overall, I enjoyed my time in Delhi and especially enjoyed my time with the Srivastavas. They were incredibly helpful and nice and even gave me a gift which I kind of felt terrible about because I didn't have a gift to give them...but it'll be sent in the mail once I get home. I also learned a lot about school in in India from the girls and I think they also learned a bit from me about a few things about American culture and whatnot.
Reflection On My India Experience
India is a very unique country with an incredibly rich history. With this the culture is a lot to handle for someone who grew up in America and I cannot say by any means that I understand the culture. I think someone has to stay there for at least six months or one year to maybe say "I get it" but even this may not be enough time. Some systems don't work very systematically but also seem to work (not sure if that makes sense) and I'm not sure if I'll ever understand it but it sure is interesting and respectable. I definitely feel like I've grown as a person because of this experience and have a learned a new way of find beauty in things I see. Although my group saw "Cranky Caroline" when talking to auto and taxi drivers more often than I would have liked or I would get frustrated with the way things went in the lab and at restaurants, I'm still very glad I came to India because it's been an incredible experience.
I know my perspective or outlook will change a lot when I come home and I'm kind of nervous about being bitter about how selfish or ungrateful I'll see Americans at home. We have so much stuff and have a huge mentality that buying more stuff will make us happier but this is such a twisted mentality. I'm also guilty of this because if you know me, you know I have too many clothes and knick-knacks but I have this urge to go back home and minimize the amount of stuff I have that kind of clutters my life. This really hit home when I was staying with the Srivastavas and seeing how few things the girls have compared to me. They only have one third of a closet of clothes, share a room and did not have too many decorations or toys and also lived in an apartment smaller than the apartment I just moved out of at school. And with all of this, they seem just as happy (maybe more) without so much stuff and have a special appreciation for the simple things like the nice weather or the successes of their family.
I will remember my night at the nice nightclub with the MTV DJ in Hyderabad and I will also remember seeing many people sleep on the sidewalks and sleep with just their clothes while walking Delhi at night. This range in sights I saw was a very eye-opening experience and has made me reflect a lot about my life in America and also what life is about in general. I am very appreciative of my experience in India and have realized yet again how lucky I am that I happened to be born in America and have never really had a real worry in my lifetime compared to so many others in the world.
Thanks for reading my blog about India and I'm incredibly excited to tell you about my time in Nepal. I've been here for four days now and have loved everything so far...but I'll tell you more later! Can't wait to share!!! Here's a sneak peak to the view I have every morning with the Himilayas in the distance.
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