Tuesday 2/27/2018
This morning I was on my own again, and had another crazy incident!
I had looked up a few things on the internet that I still wanted to see while I was here.
I always want to see the most while I am traveling - never know when or if I'll ever be back.
​
My first stop was going to be the National Science Center. I took the Metro and got off at a station that I thought was close enough to walk . Again...I started walking in the wrong direction – I have got to understand my map better! Turn around and go the other way - crap, now I am at an odd intersection - you know - 5 streets all merge together and there is confusion, so I cross the busy street and start walking again, only to realize that I was supposed to go right. UGH - Ok-only 20 extra minutes of walking.
Now I am finally walking in the right direction and the Center is just up ahead, but on the opposite side of the 6 lane street. Not a problem, it looks like there is an intersection up ahead with a traffic light.
As I am walking on the sidewalk, I came across a group of people hanging out. I thought "ok, uncomfortable for me, but I will just smile and pass by", but as I got closer they started yelling for me to stop – at least that’s what I thought. I couldn’t understand what they wanted me to do so I gave a look like - what?
One of the guys came up to me and walked me back behind the wall to what looked like a little community. (I thought he was going to show me a way around them!)
He pointed to the sink and then to the cow…HUH?
I was thinking, what do you want me to do – wash my hands and then pet the cow?
Uh - No!
I said "what", but he didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Hindi so he took me back over to the other side of the fence to show me a sign on the wall - in Hindi -– I said with attitude and frustration, "I can’t read that!!!"
I think he tried to get me back behind the wall but luckily another man came over and asked me where I was going – thank goodness he spoke English. (Why didn't he stand up right away?)
I told him that I just wanted to go to the Science Center and he showed me that it was just across the street and down a little.
OK - but why couldn't I stay on the sidewalk until the intersection just up ahead - NO I had to go down over a rocky little hill right on to the street.
Here we go again - run and hope I don't get hit!
Later that night when I went home and told Shail and Shannon about this – we had a good laugh and they were just as confused as me! Hopefully some day they can go back there and see what it was all about!
Weird things always happen, but they make a great tale.
National Science Center
The National Science Centre is a fun, interactive museum. I thought about how fun it would be to have Silas with me.
As soon as you walk in, there is a huge, floor to ceiling, ball maze. I stood there for a while just watching the balls going in different directions.
I got a brochure and began my journey through the center. It was laid out so that you can just walk from one exhibit right in to the other. I learned so much and had the best time. It was fairly quiet except for a few class trips going through, but they went by most of the exhibits very quickly.
​
The very last room is a very interactive play area. Everything was hands on and while I was there a class came in. As usual, they were all looking at me! These kids were fascinated with me (go figure!)
The teacher came over and asked if I would mind talking to the children and telling them where I was from and why I was in India. Of course not! They all hurried over to me and I told them briefly where I was from – I actually asked them if they could guess, but they guessed every place but USA! We then took a picture.
The rest of the time we spent with all the toys! It was just so entertaining, and I could have spent many more hours there.
 Intelligence Display |  Air and Space |
|---|---|
 Models of places in India |  Me with the kids |
 Part of the Ball Maze |  Ball Maze |
 Stairs leading to the Body Exhibit |  Model of the Sanchi Stupa |
 Dinosaur exhibit |
I left the Science Centre and took a rickshaw to Humayun’s Tomb. This was on every must see list and I had been trying to get there for a couple of days. When I arrived, I could kind of see it from the outside but I decided that I just didn’t want to pay another 1000 rupees to go in.
​
As I left, I took a different way out and I walked around the back and stumbled on to this beautiful gem.
​
A decade of work has had created this beautiful 90-acre park dotted with historical monuments, 280 tree species, 36 butterfly species, two amphitheaters, a bonsai enclosure, a peafowl zone and so much more.
Sunder Nursery
 Center walkway |  Pots waiting to be planted |  Beautiful Ice Flowers |
|---|---|---|
 Pavilion in the Gardens |  Lake |  So many paths |
 Lakkarwala Burj |  Lotus |  Gorgeous Park |
 Amphitheater |  Sunderwala Mahal |  Rows of flowers |
 Flowers |
These pictures don’t even begin to capture the beauty and serenity of this place.
It was so beautiful and very peaceful and a great way to end the day.
Deer Park /Hauz Khaz
 Deer in the park |  Check out the antlers |
|---|---|
 Bunnies and guinea pigs living in harmony |
 Golden Elephant Stool |  Great use of a door as a table |
|---|---|
 Soda hutch |
Wednesday 2/28
Hauz Khas Village is another item on every India list. Shannon and I took the Metro and first stopped at the Deer Park before heading into the village.
​
As we walked in and from what we read, we expected deer to be roaming freely within the park. That soon became apparently wrong since there were so many people and dogs roaming around. Ok, so where are they? We found the bunny cages that actually had guinea pigs in there also. Of course, they were very cute.
We were like – nothing is going on and we can’t find the deer so let’s just go.
​
Walking around the other way to exit, we came across the deer cage. Wow, there were lots of them. They were all in various stages of their antlers growing.
The interesting thing was that all the deer had the exact same configuration of antlers, whether young with small ones or older with huge ones.
​
​
​
​
​
Off to the village for some shopping. We walked around the shops for a while looking at some of these unique items for sale.
 Overlooking the river |  So many doors |
|---|---|
 Ruins of long ago |  Stairs leading up |
 Feraz Shah's Tomb |
The Hauz Khas Complex is a historical ancient community of ruins which includes a mosque, various tombs, and the previously important water tank.
​
Built in the early 1300’s, the water tank was designed to store rainwater to be used when needed in the dry season.
​
Nowadays, the complex is a public Delhi park, a place to go to just hang out with friends, and chat while sitting on ancient stones and tombs. We also saw some artists painting and drawing.
​
​
​
​
This area also contained Feroz Shah’s Tomb. Even though he died in 1388, he built his tomb in 1350.
​
The grave in the center is Feroz’s, while the other marble graves (not visible in this picture) are those of his son and grandson.
That evening we all went to the Lock and Key restaurant for dinner. They had music playing then a young girl and her guitar player started singing. We could hear her fine and she had a lovely voice.
About half way through her set, we saw a lady go up and take the microphone.
Shannon and I looked at each other and said “this isn’t going to be good”.
She got all our attention and waited until everyone stopped talking and then took what seemed like forever to tell us that we were all being too loud and she wanted to hear the music. She came here to listen and she couldn’t hear above all our talking. What??
Basically she was telling us all to shut up and listen to the music!
Qutab Minar
 Qutab image |  Alai Minar - unfinished second tower |
|---|---|
 |  Walkway |
 Uncompleted Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque |  Don't know these people just wanted a cool shot! |
 Grounds |  Tomb of Iltutmish built in 1235 by himself. He died a year later at the young age of 25 |
 Intricate patterns on gate |
Thursday 2/29
My last day in India.
One of the displays that I saw at the Science museum was this awesome statue of Quatab Minar.
I looked it up and saw that it was close enough to visit, so on my last day I was seeing one more sight.
I got off the metro and found a tuk-tuk driver to take me to Quatab Minar for only 100 rupees.
He was talking about something – I swear these drivers never shut up! I really wasn’t listening, mostly because I couldn’t understand him and the next thing I know we are pulling into some shop.
What in the world, here we go again, I knew what was coming out of his mouth next!
​
Just go in and look around, just for 20 minute he said.
Oh my gosh – NO.
​
Why do all these drivers want me to shop? I said “no – I don’t want to shop, take me to where I want to go.” This is my last day in India and I don’t want to waste time shopping.
​
This was the last straw. We didn’t speak the rest of the way. He knew I was angry and dropped me off at the entrance.
 | Walkway |
|---|---|
 Tower |  |
 Gates |
Qutab Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom.
He was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, and commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar, but could only finish the basement before he died. His successor, Iltutmush, added three more story’s, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last story.
The tower ‘s five distinct story’s are each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top.
​
The first three story’s are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth are of marble and sandstone.
At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled. I didn’t try this.
The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India.
Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer.
​
No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.
​
Other spellings include Qutb and Qutub.
Prior to 1981, the general public was allowed access inside the tower but a freak accident that killed 45 people during a stampede following a power cut in the tower led authorities to forbid the public access to the interior section.
Leaving the area I could see all the tuk-tuk drivers lined up just waiting for people to come out. This time I knew what they do and I wasn’t getting hijacked!
I walked out and said that I wanted to go to the mall.
How much? 100 rupees said one guy. I said ok but you will take me directly to the mall! The other guys started laughing as we walked to his tuk-tuk. I said again, you will take me right to the mall and if you don’t, I will not pay you!
That worked and I was dropped at the mall for some relaxing shopping and then back to the apartment for my last few hours.
My flight was leaving at 9 so I figured that I would get an OLA to take me to the airport around 6 and get there by 7. Shail was working and headed home to say goodbye so we made the mistake of not calling for the OLA until after 6:15.
Unfortunately the driver didn’t show up until 6:45 and off we went. I swear that driver took the worst way to the airport – he was not in the right lane and we got caught in lots of traffic. We were finally driving up the airport drive and going so slow – I finally told him to speed up, I was going to be late.
​
We pulled up and I jumped out and ran for the door. A line through the first security stop, The guy looked at my ticket and said “you better hurry, you’re going to miss your flight” I said I know, where am I going?
​
I ran to the check in and there was a long line – “can I please get in front” I yelled – everyone looked at me and one guy pointed behind me to a desk that had no one. The guy quickly took my bag, phew, 8pm, just in time to get my bag checked.
Great – I now have an hour to get to my gate. Sigh of relief… oh no…not so fast, through TSA – 20 minutes. Now my gate – WTF - its all the way at the other end of the airport – 20 more minutes walking and running and finally made it to my plane just as they were calling last call to close the doors.
Holy cow – that was close. 2 hours to Mumbai and again, the 2 hour layover consisted of all of us going through security again and right back on the plane for the 16 hour flight home. Landed in Newark –thank goodness!
I love to travel, but coming home is also fabulous. Took an Uber to get my rental car and on my way home. (it was cheaper and faster to rent a car to drive home than to hassle with the train.)
Goodbye until next time!
Final thoughts on India.
I made the major mistake of not learning any Hindi before I went. I guess that I figured that Shail could translate for me, not thinking that he wasn’t with me all the time!
I thought Shannon was doing a great job learning it so she was helpful but here again she wasn’t with me a lot. I did enjoy her interactions with the shop keepers and hearing her speak Hindi. I was grateful for those people who spoke English.
Most people were nice and very friendly and willing to help.
I got stared at a lot and so many people were trying to take my picture. It was annoying sometimes and other times I went along with it. Not sure why people that I don’t know would want my picture! I was paranoid towards the end and even for a while back home!
​
Pedestrians have no rights. Actually it seemed that anyone in a car was completely oblivious to the fact that people were walking.
​
​
​
​
Security was tight – all cars going into the public parking lots had to be inspected – trunks open, and cameras under the cars. All public places had security at all the doors.
This meant that you walked through the metal detector, your purse got searched and you got wanded and sometimes patted down. Some places had x-ray belts for all bags. I never once felt unsafe. There was always a separate ladies security line and there were separate ladies cars on the Metro.
​
People drive like crazy but it seems to work. Everyone gets where they are going and I didn’t see any accidents although I did see lots of cars with dents in them!
Even though there were painted lanes on the highway, no one seemed to follow that. Most people just drove down the center of the line weaving in and out!
​
The history of all the places I visited is incredible. Looking at all the architecture and realizing that the people that built these structures without any of our modern equipment is something that I cannot even believe to understand. It is so beautiful.
​
I am so thankful that I got to experience this great country. A huge thanks to Shannon and Shail for letting me stay with them and to Shail's family for their hospitality. It was so special to meet all his family and they were so generous and I had so much fun. Thanks to Frooty and Dhruv, and both their families for making me feel welcome and allowing me to be a part of their great wedding.
One last thing - I also realized that I really don't like to shop!
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed my adventure to India. Please send me an email with your thoughts or comments below.