It's 8:20 a.m. here in New Delhi! I have been at the YWCA International Guest House for about eight hours!!! I have slept a little bit, rearranged some of my belongings whilst looking for others, gotten cleaned up and had breakfast . . . puris and omlette . . . yum!!!
The IGH is a place that I frequented from time to time on visits to Delhi from Woodstock School. There's nothing fancy about it, but it gives you the basics . . . a bed, an ensuite bathroom and breakfast is included. It's in central Delhi, not far from Connaut (I'm sure I didn't spell that correctly) Place. The staff speaks good English and is pleasant. The same man was at the desk last night when I arrived about midnight and again this a.m. when I came down for breakfast.
I haven't been here for 13 years! I stayed here with the 4/5s of the Henderson clan on my last night in India in June 2002. The restaurant, at that time, had become quite POSH. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have lasted. Don't get me wrong, it is good enough, and nicer than my first visit here. I was surprised to find a buffet set up which meant that I could easily not have cornflakes with hot milk . . . I am not at all sure where they got that idea! I have certainly never had that anywhere but here! Adequate . . . simple I just overheard other guests with British accents comment. They are just beginning their breakfast,and I haven't turned around yet to gawk!
Last night, though I was in something of a daze from the long journey, there was something so comforting about the familiarity of Delhi!!! Though I miss staying with the Wetherbys out in the burbs of Delhi, it is nice to be back in a more central part of the city! The great contrasts of the country were very much in evidence last night as a Mercedes passed my somewhat rickety black and yellow taxi shortly after we had passed several cows roaming along the sidewalk. Passing the Freedom Fighters monument and lots of circles . . . a little bit smoky, but ahhhhh, Delhi!!!
This a.m. as I lay in my bed thinking I wish I could go back to sleep, the thought of the abuse to the body from traveling half way around the world in less than 24 hours, most of it on a plane, really is just that! Ever so tired last night, I had trouble falling asleep,and then the brain turned on early this a.m., and there was no other thing but to just get up and get on with it! Hopefully, I can make it through today and get to bed, and sleep, early tonight because tomorrow a.m. it is up early to catch the train for Dehradun . . . my base of operation for the time here. It means that I will be able to completely unpack and organize that which I have with me. On Sun after lunch, I will have packed again to spend a week with friends in the 'Queen of the Hills', Mussoorie . . . one of my home sweet homes!
Let's see what we can get accomplished today . . . a phone, a manicure (they are lovely and inexpensive here, and in looking at my hands yesterday, I could use one.) Let's see what I can find out from that nice man at the desk about a phone . . . I know where to get a manicure. I wouldn't mind just laying low with my feet up . . . happy to report that even a few hours horizontal last night helped greatly with those swollen ankles!
Though it isn't as far from Boston to Paris as it is from Atlanta to Amsterdam, I did miss being in airports that I find familiar. I found both the Boston and Paris airports very comfusing, and there wasn't any Southern hospitality or Dutch jovialness in either place. There was also almost no lay over . . . by the time you had gone through security AGAIN, you were lining up to board! The plane to Paris was larger than the plane to Delhi, so it was nice to have a bit more leg room. Neither flight was full, and the seat next to me was empty both flights!!! It was nice to be able to spread out a bit!!! Imagine my surprise in Paris to board a flight to Delhi with more white people than people of color. That IS a first for me!!!
All for today . . . until next time! It is great to be back in my beloved Hindustand, but . . . my friends/family in the USA, you are also very much in my heart! God bless!
The IGH is a place that I frequented from time to time on visits to Delhi from Woodstock School. There's nothing fancy about it, but it gives you the basics . . . a bed, an ensuite bathroom and breakfast is included. It's in central Delhi, not far from Connaut (I'm sure I didn't spell that correctly) Place. The staff speaks good English and is pleasant. The same man was at the desk last night when I arrived about midnight and again this a.m. when I came down for breakfast.
I haven't been here for 13 years! I stayed here with the 4/5s of the Henderson clan on my last night in India in June 2002. The restaurant, at that time, had become quite POSH. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have lasted. Don't get me wrong, it is good enough, and nicer than my first visit here. I was surprised to find a buffet set up which meant that I could easily not have cornflakes with hot milk . . . I am not at all sure where they got that idea! I have certainly never had that anywhere but here! Adequate . . . simple I just overheard other guests with British accents comment. They are just beginning their breakfast,and I haven't turned around yet to gawk!
Last night, though I was in something of a daze from the long journey, there was something so comforting about the familiarity of Delhi!!! Though I miss staying with the Wetherbys out in the burbs of Delhi, it is nice to be back in a more central part of the city! The great contrasts of the country were very much in evidence last night as a Mercedes passed my somewhat rickety black and yellow taxi shortly after we had passed several cows roaming along the sidewalk. Passing the Freedom Fighters monument and lots of circles . . . a little bit smoky, but ahhhhh, Delhi!!!
This a.m. as I lay in my bed thinking I wish I could go back to sleep, the thought of the abuse to the body from traveling half way around the world in less than 24 hours, most of it on a plane, really is just that! Ever so tired last night, I had trouble falling asleep,and then the brain turned on early this a.m., and there was no other thing but to just get up and get on with it! Hopefully, I can make it through today and get to bed, and sleep, early tonight because tomorrow a.m. it is up early to catch the train for Dehradun . . . my base of operation for the time here. It means that I will be able to completely unpack and organize that which I have with me. On Sun after lunch, I will have packed again to spend a week with friends in the 'Queen of the Hills', Mussoorie . . . one of my home sweet homes!
Let's see what we can get accomplished today . . . a phone, a manicure (they are lovely and inexpensive here, and in looking at my hands yesterday, I could use one.) Let's see what I can find out from that nice man at the desk about a phone . . . I know where to get a manicure. I wouldn't mind just laying low with my feet up . . . happy to report that even a few hours horizontal last night helped greatly with those swollen ankles!
Though it isn't as far from Boston to Paris as it is from Atlanta to Amsterdam, I did miss being in airports that I find familiar. I found both the Boston and Paris airports very comfusing, and there wasn't any Southern hospitality or Dutch jovialness in either place. There was also almost no lay over . . . by the time you had gone through security AGAIN, you were lining up to board! The plane to Paris was larger than the plane to Delhi, so it was nice to have a bit more leg room. Neither flight was full, and the seat next to me was empty both flights!!! It was nice to be able to spread out a bit!!! Imagine my surprise in Paris to board a flight to Delhi with more white people than people of color. That IS a first for me!!!
All for today . . . until next time! It is great to be back in my beloved Hindustand, but . . . my friends/family in the USA, you are also very much in my heart! God bless!
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