Last Days :-(

Monday:

What does one do during the last few days of a holiday? Shopping of course! I had decided that I wouldn't buy anything this trip but........ everything is sooooo cheap! So Tarun had a wonderful day taking me from shop to shop while I bought a whole lot of stuff I didn't really need. Actually he was very good natured about it and even pretended that he was enjoying it.

After shopping there was another new experience for me. We had brought a bag of wheat back from the village with us and Tarun took it to a place for grinding. It was all done while we waited.

Tuesday:

Tiredness starting to set it so today was a very lazy day hanging out in Delhi and quite a bit of driving round. Sometimes when driving on these roads I'm not sure whether I should be laughing or screaming. I did see something different today though... the traffic police pulled someone over for going through a red light. Given that most people completely ignore red lights I'd say that this poor guy was pretty unlucky.

The suburbs of Delhi are somewhat different than ours at home with much higher density housing . There are so many people on the streets till late, and of course there's the motorbikes! At 6 pm Tarun and went to a mall. At home the malls would be busy and the streets deserted but here it's the opposite. After sitting outside by a kids playground area listening to "If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands," " ABCD" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and watching kids for a while we went back to Tarun's, picked up his sister and wandered down the road for dinner. Still can't get used to this late eating thing here. It's an interesting time to be out watching people going about their everyday lives.

Wednesday:

My last day!

I have just had breakfast. My stomach is revolting and complaining about the very nice but very heavy breakfasts I've been having so today I gave in to it and fed it fruit. I had bought quite a bit of this at a stall on the road last night ... all for about $2. There were bananas, oranges, watermelon and papaya....all good . Tarun is still having eggs ... He needs to cook some for the dog anyway :-)

It was a day of being a tourist... temples, temples, Old Delhi and lunch at the restaurant  we ate at the first night here. Tarun is pretty clued up on all these Hindu Gods so was able to give me an interesting commentary as we went round the two temples... both very impressive but very different with one having a real commercial feel. 

Back to Tarun's house with a shopping stop on the way ... all the ingredients for the chicken curry he's going to cook tonight. If it's as good as the last one he cooked for me it'll be fantastic. This time I'm going to be standing beside him watching how much of each spice he puts in and writing it down . Recipes don't seem to be used ....they just know!

Hopefully I can repeat it at home.

I have to leave here about 5.30 am tomorrow to catch my plane home....arriving about lunchtime Friday. I have very mixed feelings . I'm pretty keen to see family and my dog, and to sleep in my own bed and eat salad and beef. However it's also the sad end to what has been an amazing 5 1/2 weeks. When I told Tarun I wanted to see the non- tourist side of India I had no idea as to what I'd get or where I'd go. Tarun I can't thank you enough. You have given me the sort of insight into your country that few tourists ever get and you have been open and honest about it all so I've been able to appreciate the good and the bad. In the time we've had together I've learned to like, enjoy, trust and respect you.  To everyone else reading this .... If you ever come to India contact Tarun ... he will  give you the best time possible. He has a level of integrity and responsibility way beyond his years and is a thoroughly likeable young man who can relate to people of any age. I have already arranged a repeat trip with him next March .

There are several reviews about his company on Trip Advisor...have a look.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attraction_Review-g304551-d4992274-Reviews-or10-Adventure_Holiday_Private_Day_Tours-New_Delhi_National_Capital_Territory_of_.html#REVIEWS

If you have any questions please feel free to email me  nazusw@gmail.com