Since we arrived late last night and it was midnight local time before bedtime, we all opted for an 11:00 am departure time with our local tour guide.
- However our driver was about an hour late so we left late witih our tour guide, nicknamed, Mountie, and our representative Adi. She notified me that she would be with us during our stay in India. That turned out to be a good thing.
- Pictures below are. Sandra and Carol in their rickshaw. The Cathy and Robbin in their rickshaw. Ron and Sue on the steps of a temple. Two street scenes in Delhi. Two pictures of beautiful Indian girls. I have another picture with 4 girls but I could not get it to upload. The gang in front of a temple with our orange scarfs on.
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- Our guide discussed with us Hindu and sheikh religion. However sheikh is not a religion but a way of life. A man who did not like some of the 9000 rules and rituals of the Hindu founded the sheikh way of life. About 30% of Indians are sheikhs. They do not cut their hair. Men wear turbans to cover their long hair.
Today is the 150th birthday of Mahatma Ghandi and it was a holiday in India. There are 20 million people Who live in greater Delhi. 8 million live in Old Delhi and 12 in New Delhi. Since it was a holiday we think 10 million were at the parks enjoying their family and friends. The other 10 million were at the Spice market and all in their very own vehicle. There are 1.3 billion people in India second only to China that has 4+ billion people.
India was under British rule from 18?? To 1946. Centuries before that, there were about 400 kingdoms. Finally the king ordered a united India. However, there are still places that refuse to unite, like Belarus.
Our first stop was at the sheikh temple. No shoes or socks and a head scarf were required. As the custom is, we cleansed our feet by walking through a shallow pool. We listened for a few minutes as the priest was reciting a sermon to thousands of people. Our next stop was to see the kitchen where volunteers were preparing vegetables. They serve 3 times a day adding up to 6000 meals a day. The vats for rice were enormous. As we departed we noticed how beautiful the young girls are in their colorful, bordering on brilliant, native dress. They really know how to pose. A young man was having his picture taken and I photo bombed him. The photographer liked it and wanted one more. Then he wanted a picture with Maria and me and him poising. I suppose the guys were in their early 20s. Another time we took a picture of 4 girls and they also wanted our picture. We walked through the shallow pool to retrieve our shoes and we were off to Old town for a rickshaw ride.
Two guests per ride. Ron and I were the heaviest and we had the oldest peddler. I guess he was pushing 40, but the other guys were 20 something. At one time, going up hill, a friend of our peddler came along side and pushed the rickshaw up the hill, just to help us catch up. We had the rickshaws for about 1 1/2 hours but we got off and and walked around and took pictures at a temple. We also drove by rickshaw to the spice market. The rides in India kind of remind you of “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.” Tuk Tuks and rickshaws, and motor bikes and cars and trucks are all vying for first place. Five or six vehicles wide on the streets with the same amount coming directly toward you. Beep beep! I am sure they learn this process of driving in elementary school. Beep beep! At one time a tuk tuk got too close to our rickshaw and the driver gave it a smack, and peddled on. Beep beep! See some street scenes above. We were told that if anyone drove like that in Jophar, they would be fined. I have been to three cities of India and they all drive the same. Trust me, you have to see the traffic to believe it. Beep beep!
It was so hot today. We were happy to go to a craft shop even knowing they would try to sell us something. Carol bought a beautiful loose ruby and Sandra bought a gorgeous red dress. Some of us were tempted to buy some silks, but we resisted.
We had a great lunch at an upscale Indian restaurant. It was a little too spicey for my liking. We were there about 2 hours. It took us a long time to order from the menu. Normal time to eat. A very long time to pay the bill. Again another day with just 2 meals. That is working out very well.
Thanks for sharing the ride. Tomorrow we visit The Taj Mahal.