After a steady 7.5 hour flight we arrive to the scent of Dehli, warm, slightly spiced with just an occasional hint of a smell you don't want to think about.
December in New Dehli is winter and the locals have sweaters on and we're in shirt sleeves. John & I both started with a cold lurgy at the start of the week which instantly slips away with the gentle warmth in our bones. It's five years since we last went on holiday and felt the sun - this is welcome!
Pradeep meets us at the airport to take us to our driver, another Pradeep, and then to our first home stay, Thikara. Pradeep is a smiley confident young man, has two jobs, one full, one part time and is studying at home for a Masters in Tourism having done his degree in the US. He chats on while John & I listen in on his facts and figures and gaze out the window. Today is Shrinivar, Saturday.
We freshen up and anxious to keep on the move and enter our new Kolkata time zone accept Pradeep's plan of lunch in Defence Colony. We have a wander and choose Swagathi. The restaurant is busy, mainly with the 15 or so staff all charged with different tasks, standing, napkins, standing, serving, standing, serving drinks, standing, hammering in Christmas decorations. Yes, for everyone at home worried if we would get Christmas, we have it in tinsel spades!!!!
Deepa who has organised our itinerary and bookings Facebook'd me early yesterday to confirm a change in our first home stay. The website looks charming and Tripadviser reads amazing.
A few hours after our arrival at Thikara the owner, Atul arrives offers us a beer and suggests we order some chicken tikka wraps and says 'watch this film, funny as shit!' - Dehli Belly - it's hilarious. We sit in the lounge with other European guests laughing out load. LOL!!! x
December in New Dehli is winter and the locals have sweaters on and we're in shirt sleeves. John & I both started with a cold lurgy at the start of the week which instantly slips away with the gentle warmth in our bones. It's five years since we last went on holiday and felt the sun - this is welcome!
Pradeep meets us at the airport to take us to our driver, another Pradeep, and then to our first home stay, Thikara. Pradeep is a smiley confident young man, has two jobs, one full, one part time and is studying at home for a Masters in Tourism having done his degree in the US. He chats on while John & I listen in on his facts and figures and gaze out the window. Today is Shrinivar, Saturday.
Deepa who has organised our itinerary and bookings Facebook'd me early yesterday to confirm a change in our first home stay. The website looks charming and Tripadviser reads amazing.
A few hours after our arrival at Thikara the owner, Atul arrives offers us a beer and suggests we order some chicken tikka wraps and says 'watch this film, funny as shit!' - Dehli Belly - it's hilarious. We sit in the lounge with other European guests laughing out load. LOL!!! x
 |
| Sam's henna hand |
The henna hand is great, but I am assuming it is not for life!
ReplyDeleteNo, just for christmas
ReplyDelete