Delhi - April 23-24

Photo of Chris (L) and myself in front of Delhi's largest temple...this is as close as we got, due to late hour and long lines to get in.

After a 14 hour flight direct from Chicago, arrived right on time in Delhi. Brother Christopher (Dr. Buck) had arrived on time from, Newark about 15 minutes earlier. We laughed out loud that it had been that easy/efficient to get together 7,000+ miles from home. Good travel karma... amazing. I had flown first-class (thanks to FF miles on American) and Dr. B. had gotten lucky with three open seats... so we were both rested and ready to go. Our hotel had sent the driver, as we'd arranged in advance, so we got my luggage and set out for the Regent Continental Hotel in Karol Bagh section (about 20 minutes from the airport).

First impressions of Delhi... Hot (80's F)... muggy and noisy. Traffic is typical of crowded major metro places... chaotic jumble of vehicles of all types jockeying for position.... a river of honking, hydrocarbon spewing humanity... the rules of the road are not obvious. Mental note to figure this out at some point on the trip. Driving British side of the road.

We arrive at the hotel at about 10PM local time. Sit in the lobby on a sofa while waiting for some bureaucratic hurdle to be cleared by the desk. Eventually get to a room that is Euro-style beds, ceiling fan, bathroom with shower, dingy yellow walls, and air-conditioner putting out warm air. I meditate... stretch. I do not sleep.

Mindful Moment: I am buzz cutting my brother's hair. We are in our hotel room in Delhi. He has decided that he likes my own no maintenance buzz and knows pretty much what he will look like with that same lack of style. We look a lot alike... funny how DNA works.

We spend Thursday siteseeing Delhi... hire a car/driver to take us around. This is a good idea... for about $20 US we have flexibility and a guide who speaks enough English that we can organize our day. We visit several temples, including the Hanuman Temple in Karol Bagh. We enjoy the temple rituals, offerings, blessings. Also visit Gandhi's tomb (one of my favorite Delhi places). After the requisite stop at the shop of the driver's boss (a carpet/fabrics importer) for tea and a sales pitch, we return tired to the hotel. Quick dinner... yoga... meditate... I sleep two hours. We get moving at 4AM for airport... flight to LEH at 6AM.