Christmas 2015!

This Christmas Break we spent in India with a visit from GMa, Grandpa, GPa and Mimi (Howie and Cindy). We had a great trip to a few different places in India.

Day 1:

The first day here was Zimri’s 2^nd Birthday! First we went to Acsa for the “typical Sunday breakfast” and then we did a bit of a driving tour of New Delhi and stopped at the old Step Well near Connaught Place, went by Khan Market and Lodi Gardens. The afternoon was our ritual Family Dinner with 4 tortillas españolas, bread and wine.

Day 2:

Today we went to Qutab Minar in the morning via a combination of tuk tuk and metro. While we were very impressed with the 13^th century tower World Heritage Site, many other visitors were most impressed by the little kids in our group and asked for “just one snap” every few yards. Next we went to lunch at Raas in Hauz Khas and then checked out the second city of Delhi. Upon arrival home we took a tour of campus.

Day 3:

We began day 3 with a taxi ride to Old Delhi for our Bicycle Tour. We first went into the Jain Temple where they have a bird hospital. The Tour went to the Jamma Masjid, down the Chowndi Chok, into an old Haveli, into the Spice Market, and through many tight and packed streets of old Shahjahanabad (the 7^th City of Delhi). Back on AES campus we played some cornhole and for dinner we had our first Moti Mahal experience. Howie and Cindy arrived late.

Day 4:

This was the earlyish morning when we were off to see the Taj! It also happened to be the worst air pollution day so far with the AQI above 400. The cars were packed and ready at about 7:30 and we were off although the visibility was quite low. After a couple of hours we realized that one of the cars was running on fumes and we had the interesting experience of looking for a gas station and hoping that we’d make it the collective attitude was impressively optimistic while we thought that at most we had about 10-12 kilometers before we would sputter to a stop. We got back on the super highway (not “a” superhighway, the only one in North India) and then hit our exit a couple of kilometers later. Happily, another kilometer down the road we pulled right into a gas station!

We got to the Taj Mahal complex another hour later and decided to have lunch before entering so that we could all enjoy the experience and the kids would have full tummies. We found the nice little restaurant (again, not “a”) outside the West gate of the Taj and enjoyed a few beers and some delicious gravies, daals and tandoori chicken.

The Taj seems to always live up to expectations and for our second visit, the Al Moreno’s and Jensen’s third, and Bernie and Gretchen’s maiden voyage we all were struck by its majesty.

After the Taj and a camel cart ride back to the cars we hopped on the back roads on our way to Chambal. It was a hectic drive dodging cars, cows, people, dogs, pigs, water buffaloes, camels, and many potholes and bumps. After 2 hours or so we arrived at the Chambal Safari Lodge and were shown to our rooms. As we were the only guests that night we were invited to flatten some naan and throw it in the tandoori oven. Then we dined like kings.

Day 5:

We awoke around 7:30, breakfasted and then went to the Chambal River where we hopped in the boat and saw many crocodiles, birds (Bar Headed Geese, which fly over the Himalayas), Garials and even a Ganges River Dolphin or two.

In the afternoon we went on a great village walk of a village that seemed to have its hayday aobut 300 years ago. One highlight was when Laura challenged a local boy to a handstand contest. Then we went on a Temple Tour along the Holy Jamuna River. 500 years ago the King Jahangir ordered 100 temples to be built-we saw a stretch of 43 of them.

Day 6:

After breakfast the Jensen/Al Morenos drove back to Delhi and we took a slightly longer route through Agra so we could visit the Red Fort there. We parked and then toured many beautiful and ornate rooms in the Red Fort including the rooms with a view of the Taj Mahal where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for his wasteful spending of resources on private tombs. After our tour we found “The Only Restaurant” in Agra. It was very tasty and had a nice bathroom. Then it was off to Delhi.

Day 7:

Christmas! Really it was the 26^th of December but the kids are small enough not to have a keen sense of dates. We had a great morning and cooked breakfast at our house. Howie and Cindy prepared duck for dinner; everything was great. In the afternoon we toured Humayan’s Tomb with Vera.

Day 8:

We awoke early as we planned to leave at 5:00 for the train station and on to Jaipur. We left at about 5:30 and all was smooth until we were within one block of the train station. We found a massive traffic jam with no one moving in any direction. We waited 5 minutes without moving and then made a decision to walk. We got out and the taxi began to advance with all our bags in it! Finally we got the bags, paid the driver, and had about 9 minutes to figure out which platform and then board the train. We dropped several bags with Courtney and Zach who were still waiting to find Howie and Cindy and made for platform 2. Laura and Gretchen just walked by the X-Ray machine that seemed to be used to give the perception of security without actually screening anything. We boarded with about 4 minutes to spare and were soon joined by the rest of our group.

We enjoyed conversation and the sites of the small farm country side of the journey to Jaipur and then taxied to our hotel—a bit outside the city. We dropped our bags and all and then made our way to the Old City center and Jantar Mantar, the astrological park. We also toured the City Palace and were impressed with the stories of the history of the Rajputs as being one of the only regions that were not overtaken by either the Mughals or the British.

Day 9:

After breakfast we went straight to the Amber fort. We rode elephants up the winding road to the Elephant Gate and marched into the courtyard of the huge fort/palace. We then ambled around listening to the history of the place with our exceptionally patient guide. The views and the palace were extraordinary.

We had lunch on the way to the airport and then boarded our flight to Amritsar. Upon arrival we checked into the Clark Inn.

Day 10:

After breakfast we went downtown to the Golden Temple area and saw Jalianwala Bagh where the British General Dyer opened fire on innocent protesters and killed hundreds. We then had lunch at a locals’ joint called Brothers where we ate some delicious Punjabi gravies, paneers, and breads—it was our first Veg. Only restaurant of the trip.

In the afternoon we went to the Wagah Border Closing Ceremony where we were very impressed with the posturing of the guards and the nationalistic support of the Indians. The Pakistanis seemed a little more subdued but were also wholeheartedly supporting their guards.

Day 11:

We woke up early and went back to the Golden Temple area. It was thoroughly impressive and calming to be there among all the devotees and tourists alike. The guards seemed to be right out of a history book with their garb, long white beards and their spears. We walked the perimeter of the lake and then entered the Golden Temple (400 kilos of gold covering it) in a super slow line. “Totally worth the wait” was Howie’s quote and we all agreed.

After that we toured the area and shopped a little. We took a walk down the back alleys and found some beautiful scenes. Gma bought the girls “whatever they wanted” which turned out to be a Sikh Baby doll for Naila and a dolly with hair fixins for Maya. After that we went to the little golden temple which was purported to be a miniature “practice” version of the Goldent Temple which turned out to be a much more recent copy of the temple done be the Hindus in the 20^th century.

After dinner we flew to Delhi.

Day 12:

New Year’s Eve. We began the day with a breakfast at the Imperial. Then we went to Khan Market where the boys separated from the gals and we went back to campus and they went to Dilli Haat where they could buy some goods for loved ones back home.

For the new year we all had on our extravagant hats, we ate like kings from Beena and Kamla’s offerings, watched some slide shows of some of the photos that had been taken of the trip and then talked politics until the midnight hour. Courtney stayed up with Bernie 3, Bernie 4, and Gretchen. At Midnight the Michiganders headed to gate 2 and Zach and Bernie accompanied Gma and Grandpa to the airport.

Thanks to all for a wonderful Christmas adventure!