29.01.2019
After my Goa chill out vacation I had 2 days in Delhi before the 2nd Brahmaputra Cruise Tour would start. Those 2 days were very eventful!
My flight from Goa was only slightly delayed, my bag came fast and since I had chosen Air India – I had landed at the main terminal T 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
I just had to walk out and into the Metro Station for the Airport Express Line. But before going into the city to my hotel, I took a detour to Vivanta by Taj. I knew a colleague of mine had just accompanied the Ganges Cruise Tour and would be flying out tomorrow morning. I wanted to make a surprise visit. I took the metro for one station to Dwarka and walked the few hundred meters to the hotel. The staff recognized me – I had been there often recently and I was wearing my uniform jacket – it was the only warmer jacket I had brought. In Goa it had been 35°C this morning and here it was barely 15°C! I left my bags with the bell boy and had reception call my colleague’s room. – Hi, here is Kathy! Mike? – Kathy? Do I know a Kathy? – Yes you do! The Kathy from the Brahmaputra! – Aaahhhh! THAT Kathy! Of course! Where are you? – I am standing at reception! – Oh! I am coming down! Go to the bar! I will be there in 5 min!
It was a fun meet. We do know each other over 10 years, but only ever meet maybe once a year, sometimes not even that. It is mostly because we do work in different areas of the world and we basically share the tours in India.
There was Happy Hour in the bar and we got quite a few beers 2 for 1 in before dinner while chatting away – mainly talking shop about the Ganges and Brahmaputra Cruises since we will be doing them a few more times this year. Eventually Mike went for dinner in the huge buffet restaurant with his group and I tagged along. I was well-known as belonging to the group. The Buffet Dinner there is one of my favorite hotel buffets. There is sooooo much food! And today they had the best Thai Green Curry! We sat with some of his nice guests and chatted more. But I had to leave … We bid our farewells – who knows when and where we would bump into each other again … Mike would be flying back with his group tomorrow morning and the following night my new group was arriving.
I walked back to the metro station and then took the Airport Express Line all the way to New Delhi Metro Station. It was a relatively quick trip. The express line is fast, cheap and hassle free. And by now I know the drill with the security checks and how to get the tokens.
I had set up a day out with a friend of mine – Komal. We had met in 2008 in Paris at French Language School. Believe it! We had kept in contact and met up again in Paris in 2009. She found that photo of us on my facebook …
After that it was almost 10 years before we managed a catch up again. That was a year ago for a short cocktail infused evening in Vivanta by Taj when I was there with a group, but could not leave the hotel in case … you know …
This time around I had a bit more time and we had planned a day out. She had booked me into her husband’s small hotel which was in the city center. It was in my budget and it was central. The reception had already whatsapped me for my arrival time and I was running late. Please, hold my room! I am on the way!
At the New Delhi Metro Station I was stormed by tuk tuk drivers but waved them all off and tried to do app based Ola. Only thing was, it kept telling me – Your car has arrived! – But in the traffic chaos between the Metro Station and the Rail Station I could not find the right nondescript car! I gave that up and a few meters away from the hassle I went with an old man on his tuk tuk. I had to lead him with my GPS, because he did not know the hotel. Not surprising, because the area around the train station is very busy with hotels. It was about 4 km to the Treebo Sisley The Boutique Hotel and traffic was a bitch! It was a crazy ride!
But we made it safe and sound and thanks to google maps we found the hotel easily. Check-in was quick and the staff was very friendly. I had a beautiful room on the 3rd floor. What a change from my hut by the beach in Goa!
It was about 22:00 when I got there and I was ready for bed. I watched some TV and providently I put on not only my jumper, but also my wooly socks for the night! Good thing! It was cold at night! Colder than in Goa! Much colder! The thing is, that there is no central heating or heating per sé in India. They do have ACs and fans, but no heating. The houses never warm up in winter – the concrete never warms up during the day. So, everybody wears jackets and hats inside as well. The bed had a proper duvet, but even with jumper and socks, I doubled it up!
30.01.2019
This morning I took it lazy. Komal was going to pick me up around 10:30. Reception actually called twice – Madame, your breakfast is ready! – No, thank you! I do not eat breakfast! – Oh! … Quite frankly, I just could not be bothered eating breakfast. And I was so used to not having it for the last 10 days, might as well keep it up.
Sometime around 10:30 Komal messaged me, she was downstairs to pick me up and I ran down. I had no idea what she had planned today other than that I wanted to meet her little baby Ivaan. Her husband Lucky was waiting with the car outside – no parking available! – and we drove just around the block to their house in a quiet side street.
Komal lives with her husband Lucky, son Ivaan, her parents-in-law and 2 huge Labradors in a big house. She is very lucky with her Lucky and so out of the ordinary in India. She is a working woman and runs 2 youtube channels of her own. I had known her way before she started this line of work and had followed her growth on instagram. Now she has over 300000 subscribers on her MyHappinesz channel where she mainly is a fashion influencer. Her second channel KomalVlogz is close behind with almost 150000 subscribers. There she blogs her daily life. – Please note, I did know and was friends with her already long before she was famous! And no, she does not need me to advertise for her, she is famous in Delhi! I am just totally impressed!
Little Ivaan is going to be 2 years old in April and he is the cutest kid. I am not good with babies and small children – let’s face it – usually they start crying when they see me! But Little Ivaan was just cute and stared at me with huge eyes. He was so attached to his mother! Not a bit of hyperness, no cry, no fuss, no running around. He answered to simple questions in clear English and just smiled most of the time. By the way, he is in most of Komal’s videos and already famous for himself.
While we sat and chatted – catching up – the resident monkeys would run outside the windows balancing on the wires and staring inside in search of the dogs. Komal said, before the house was bought by the family and completely renovated, it was a deserted property and monkeys used to live in it. So they seem to come by regularly to check on the happenings.
Ivaan is going to playschool a few times a week already and his father took him today so Komal could spend the day with me. Another very unusual thing for India – the father escorts the child to playschool and stays with him there! Usually, this is the women’s thing to do. Guess, times are changing even in India.
Once Lucky and Ivaan were off, Komal took me in her little car into town to Connaught Place. She drove through that crazy Delhi traffic like a pro all the time chatting up a storm with me. She never once touched the horn to honk, though. I was totally flabbergasted. She could talk a mile a minute while weaving in and out of traffic and found a parking spot right outside the restaurant.
She took me to Odeon Social at Block D of Connaught Place. “Connaught Place, popularly known as CP, is steeped in imperial and independent Indian history as being the heart of Delhi, with its rich culture, food legacies, business and commerce. Odeon Social has taken its design inspiration from how places in CP used to be – which are now fast disappearing. It transports you back to the time where things were slow and gentle and ‘socializing’ meant chit-chatting over endless cups of chai or coffee. Keeping with Social’s design ethos of minimum intervention and maximum upcycling, all elements used in the space have been sourced from schools and offices in and around CP and Central Delhi. Just like CP, Social sees a transition through the day – from a buzzing workspace building on creative disruptions, it transforms seamlessly into your favourite neighbourhood bar and café. The space takes you back to an era where people waited for the mail, booked trunk calls to relatives in another states and used whiteners over typewriter errors. The heritage of the location of Odeon befits the drive and innovation of those pushing boundaries. Reviving CP’s café and bar culture is what Odeon Social is all about – resurrection with innovative insurrection.”
I would never have found this place on my own. There was a nondescript entrance door with a couple of security guys. Walking up the stair we arrived in this cool bar place filled with leather sofas and wooden tables. Komal decided to sit outside on the balcony. Wooden benches and tables were lined in the narrow space overlooking the busy street.
There were wooden boxes on the table filled with bar & drinks menus in form of newspapers. Komal had asked me if she could blog our outing and I had agreed as long as I did not have to act anything. But no, she would just film some of the stuff we did today. She started right when we were looking through the menu. And the first insta story went up on her account as well.
They had an impressive menu – food as drinks alike. I chose an Erdinger Dunkel. Believe it! They had Erdinger – a famous German dark wheat beer! I had to have it. The last time I had Erdinger Dunkel was probably 20 years ago at the Safety Stop Beach Bar in Koh Tao – we would treat ourselves to one at the end of the day when it was a busy time in the dive shop and we made good money. Those where the times! … Komal stuck to coffee, but I had to have the beer …
For food I took a “Who’s your Papaya Salad” with tenderloin. I read it in the menu and the papaya salad was immediately my choice. It gained in appeal when I saw the add-ons – there were either chicken, prawns or tenderloin. Verifying with the waiter that tenderloin meant indeed beef tenderloin, there was no question of what I was going to have! Beef in India! You have to grab the chance if it opens! I did apologize to Komal – who is Indian and vegetarian – for eating the holy cow!
We chatted about old times and when my food came I was totally delighted. This seemed to be a fusion place – and they took the recycle-upcycle theme to a totally new level. The plates were enamelled tin dishes and the salad came in a tin can with a huge syringe filled with chilli sauce. The plate was lined with a banana leaf and I had to dump the salad out of the tin onto the plate and add the tenderloin strips which came on a separate plate. And I can honestly tell you – this Papaya Salad was one of the best ones I had outside of Thailand!
Komal had a soup followed by a Bombay Bhel Puri Salad which consisted of rice puff granola, pomegranate and malta orange topped with a tamarind chutney dressing. It came in a glass jar with a lid and was very spicy!
After lunch we walked around CP. The constant presence of shoe shine boys was somewhat annoying. But I had my India mode on and just ignored them. – Yes, I know my shoes are dirty! But I still not want to have you shine them! Thank you! Bye! – I think Komal started laughing at me, because I ignored all of those boys – and there were many! But my shoes were dirty, only they cannot shine them, they will never shine – maybe they could brush the dust off, but not shine possible …
At a street stall I got a new tempered glass for my mobile phone. It had a tempered glass on already, but I still obtained the spider app and it was just getting too much. I had been looking around for the past month in India, but in all the official shops they had just told me, my phone – even though it is just 1 year old – is an old model and they stocked only accessories for the newest phones … Komal said, I just looked in the wrong places! So at this street stall the guy got one fitting tempered glass out of his car. He actually had boxes and boxes of those for all kinds of mobile phones. I bought it for Rs 350 and thought, I put it in a safe place to put it on the phone tonight … when I unpacked it later it was looking even worse than the one I had on my phone now … Well … I guess I live with the spider app for a while longer …
We went to Janpath Fleamarket. Komal said she goes here sometimes to get special clothes and accessories for photo shoots. She did warn me that I – as a foreigner – would be hassled more and bargaining was probably a drag – tell me something new! She told me that even she sometimes gets mistaken for a foreigner or an Indian living abroad, because she was a modern, trendy woman.
She had told me this story about when she went to Taj Mahal and they wanted to charge her the foreigner price which is many times more than the local price. She spoke to the ticket man in Hindi and when he still did not want to give her local price she used some special indecent Delhi slang words on him which made him laughingly admit that she sure was from Delhi and would get the local price.
Anyway, in the fleamarket there was everything from beautiful flowy pants and dark glasses to denim shirts and jumpsuits to sailor-print sneakers and “I love India” tops. Komal said this is where tourists come to get decked out. And quite frankly, it looked just as the shopping mile in Palolem beach in Southern Goa, if a bit more compressed, more shops squeezed into a small street. Well, we did walk all the way through despite of the constant familiar shouts of – Hey lady, best price here! – You! Please come to my shop! – Looking! Just looking! It is free! – Come come! Here is my shop! Very cheap!
We reached later another section of the market area. There were clothing and jewelry shops lining the street. There they had fixed prices. And even though I was not going to buy anything … I did try on a couple of kurta blouses. I did find one I liked and bought it for Rs 350. Even if I was not going to wear it – but I will – it was just € 5! Nothing! But I did wear it in the meantime and I am even tempted to go back and get a couple more in different colours next time I am in Delhi ….
Another side street had more textiles and silver jewellery set out on street stalls. We browsed through the silver rings and Komal found a dish full of fake nose rings. You know, those clip-on nose rings. She tried a couple on and made me do it as well. Of course I did not look as cool as she did! Hahaha! She did buy hers and it showed up on some of her photos since.
From there we walked to Agrasen ki Baoli which was not too far away. There was a geocache hidden there and since we were in the vicinity I wanted to find it. Komal did not have a glue what I was taking about … But she was all up to walk there. On the way we found many cool graffiti.
Agrasen ki Baoli is a 60 m long and 15 m wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, holds a very significant value in Indian heritage and is protected by the Archeological Survey of India. Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it was believed to have been built by the legendary King Agresan during the 14th century. It is a grand step well built to provide a continuous supply of water to the city and is a cool resting place for tiresome travelers. This Baoli – with 108 steps – is among a few of its kind in Delhi. The visible parts of this historical step well consist of 3 levels. Each level is lined with arched niches on both sides.
It is worth visiting to enjoy the hypnotic step-like architecture of the baoli. Some believe the Agrasen Ki Baoli to be haunted by ghosts from the past – indeed, the wall plays a part in many stories of the area, making it the perfect place to soak up local culture.
We did the touristy thing first and I took some photos. Then I went in the courtyard by the street – Komal looked at me questioningly – You cannot walk any further there! – I do not want to! I am here … I had to step up on some tree roots and reach in between the tree trunks to retrieve a small paper box – clearly a box of a hotel soap – with the logbook inside.
Komal was just shaking her head … Then I saw her eyes wandered behind me … And there was a young woman smiling from the distance and waving – You are Komal! I recognize you! I am a follower! So good to meet you! … My first glimpse of just how famous my friend is in Delhi! It was a good distraction, though, all eyes around were on them and I could hide my secret box secretly again.
Outside of the monument the street was lined with graffiti on the walls as well. I had to take a few photos more. Komal made me take one of her posing there and she actually posted it in her instagram later. I feel honoured! By the way, from her tagging me in her stories that day I gained 40 new followers on instagram. Believe it! Most will unfollow in a while because there will not be more of Komal there, but who cares?
After this adventure we were ready for another break – Komal calls it – Going for coffee! – She suggested Starbucks or United Coffee House. Since I can do Starbucks anywhere in the world, I opted for the later and off we went. She called Lucky to join us as well. He had put down Ivaan for his afternoon nap and left the nanny in charge. We would meet him there.
On the way back to CP Circle there was yet another encounter with a MyHappinesz Fan! A girl came running after Komal, because she had recognized her when we walked past. There was much hugging and giggling involved and I volunteered to take the photo for the girl.
“Among all of Delhi’s vintage restaurants, the United Coffee House UCH in Connaught Place has stood out with its art deco interiors, 8 m high ceiling, Harry Winston tapestry and the sprawling Viennese chandeliers – No other restaurant in Delhi has had exuded such class – and for so long. This is the 75th year of UCH, which was opened by Lala Hans Raj Kalra at a spot where there stood a grocery store catering to the families of the men who presided over the steel frame of the British Raj. A manufacturer of country liquor and owner of a classy booze shop in Chandni Chowk, Lala Hans Raj had opened a 24-hour restaurant named Esplanade, in honour of the central promenade of the Old City, in 1938-39. Esplanade mainly served the American GIs stationed at Red Fort. The restaurant featured live music — the GIs danced the nights away with their Indian girlfriends before heading to the most difficult battlefields in the world in Burma and China – and it was famous for its hot dogs, crab cakes, chicken in the basket and buttermilk biscuits in gravy. In the year 1942, when Delhi’s calm was shattered by the Quit India Movement heralded by Mahatma Gandhi entrepreneurial Lala Hans Raj had been informed that some of the Connaught Place traders were thinking of selling their shops -he stopped at a grocery store up for sale. Impressed by its high ceiling, he decided to buy the place and open Delhi’s first cafe where people from different walks of life would be united by their love for good food and beverages of all kinds. It was this vision of togetherness that led to the restaurant being named United Coffee House. Soon, the cafe became famous for its cheese balls, keema samosa, nargisi koftas and railway mutton curry and it attracted an eclectic crowd, from artists, journalists and writers to film stars.”
When Komal and I got there, the doorman first would not let us in, he said it was full. But when Komal mentioned her husband was coming as well, all of a sudden they said to wait a few minutes, some people were just leaving and they would clear a table quickly. It was probably, because I look a bit hippie in my mix of not-matching clothes next to the top-styled Komal …
In no time we were seated. The Café definitely reminded me of the classic coffee houses in Vienna and Budapest – high ceilings and huge chandeliers, leather furniture and a special atmosphere.
The menu was totally impressive! There was a whole book full of food of all kinds. They had classic Indian to all sorts of Asian and European. The drinks menu was not less impressive and the list of signature cocktails was my favourite. You know, I am a sucker for fancy cocktails in special places! I had to have one and chose “Molly Memsahib – The Persona”. It had Gin, Vermouth, Saffron, Calvados and Hibiscus Tea in it apparently. And I can tell you – it was very good!
Of course, we also had some food. I decided on Roasted Pumpkin, Truffle & Parmesan Soup. Komal and I ordered at the same time and while we waited Lucky arrived. Funnily enough, I got my food and drink soon and even Lucky’s came quickly – but they obviously had forgotten Komal’s order totally. We had to ask twice for it.
My food was very good as well. The truffle oil however, had probably only stood in the same room as the pumpkin – there was absolutely no trace of truffle in that soup! Believe me, I know! I work on the French rivers and have visited the truffle farms many times!
Nevertheless, we had a great time in United Coffee House. Lucky had been adventurous and had order a coffee called “The Last Good-Bye”. Hahaha, that coffee was strong! There were like 3 different liqueurs in it! He only took one sip and decided that it was not for him. Well, it was right up my alley, though and I sipped it away!
Eventually also Komals coffee and salad arrived. We took our time eating and chatting more and enjoying the classy atmosphere in the coffee house.
After a great day hanging out, Komal & Lucky drove me back to the hotel. I had a blast today! Cannot wait to see what they put together for Komalvlogz of that adventure! You can watch it by clicking the link below – She had been nice to me and called me “experienced” … yeah, thank you, it sounds better than – She is old! … Hahahaha ….
While I took a short break in the hotel, there was a knock on the door and the staff brought me a gift from Komal. She had already given me a beautiful shawl and now send me a MyHappinesz bracelet. And I had only brought her chocolates … German chocolates , though …
My day was not over yet – I got on an E-Rickshaw to the metro station after my short break. Another friend of mine was arriving tonight and since he was going to Agra early the next morning and I had to meet my next group, that night was the only chance to have a beer and catch up. I had told him, I would come to pick them from the airport before I realized they were flying IndiGo domestic and would arrive at Terminal 1 which was a hassle to get to on public transport. But well …
Rush hour traffic outside the hotel was crazy. It took a while before I found an E-Rickshaw willing to take me. My E-Rickshaw man was good, though. He drove like a champ through the traffic and dropped me at the New Delhi Metro Station for the Airport Express Line. The token to Aerocity was Rs 50 and I caught the next train. That Express Line is very fast and like 20 min later I got off at Aerocity. There I had to change to the Feeder Bus for Terminal 1. There was a small desk where a woman was selling the tickets for that Feeder Bus for Rs 30. Outside the station however, there was no sign for the bus, nobody knew where the bus would stop. I just followed everybody else and after maybe 15 min waiting, a bus arrived and everybody piled in. The ride was maybe 15 min and when I wanted to get off at the first stop, they told me that is only the other metro station and the Terminal would be the next stop. Well, when I finally arrived at the Terminal, the display showed that my friend’s flight had just landed. Since they had no check-in luggage – they only came for a 3-day-visarun – and were flying domestic from Varanasi, they were out in less than 20 min.
We made our way back to the bus – much asking around again for where it is stopping. At the Aerocity Metro Station it was easier in this direction – buy a token and go. There was a hold up at the token window, however, because somebody wanted to pay with card and the card terminal was not working. So all the people in line got a bit impatient since the trains leave only every 15 min and the next one was approaching fast. In the end we made that train, though.
We got off at the end of the line at New Delhi Metro Station, because Alex & Sergey had booked a hotel close to there and they wanted to buy also train tickets to Agra for the next morning. By now it was approx 21:00. So we made our way into the chaotic train station and were soon directed across the footbridge to the other side where the ticket windows for tourists were supposed to be. Just at the end of the footbridge we got held up by a guy – not uniform, not official looking, but very persistent – who wanted to see our platform tickets and made a fuss because we did not have one. I do know that to go to the actual platforms you need either a valid train ticket or a platform ticket. But since we only passed the footbridge that did not seem necessary and none of the security officials we had to pass on the way had said anything, either. Well, he just would not let up, but I just kept talking and annoying him. Anyway, in the end he said he would lead us to the train ticket counter. He did lead us away from the station, though and brought us to a Tour Agent who specialized in train tickets. Oh well …
But since it was late and those train tickets are complicated to get, that was anyway the easier option. If we had gone to the ticket window at the train station then there would always be the problem, that they do not speak enough English or do not want to look up trains or that it is just too noisy to actually make yourself understood. So this tour agent at least spoke proper English and looked up all kinds of trains for my 2 friends. They wanted to go early the next morning and return early the day after. In the end it was all sorted, they got reasonably priced tickets and the agent’s fee was not that bad.
Now we made our way through the busy bazaar street which is lined with restaurants, shops, hotels, hostels, snack stalls etc. We found their hotel in a dark side street and they dropped off their bags. It was time for beer. Mr. Lucky had told me where to go for cheap beer, but it turned out that it was more like a night club, the music was deafening. But across from there was a restaurant and they had beer and the guys needed food anyway, so we went there.
We sat and chatted away. The guys ate and I just drank beer. Alex and I go way back to Nepal 2010 when we met on top of Kalar Pattar at 5545 m! We had met up last March in Nizhni Novgorod, where he lives half of the year – the other half he is in Thailand – when I did the TransZip and was on the way to Moscow. And now we met again! Some travelers just meet again and again everywhere. I had to laugh when he first messaged me about his coming to India and we figured that my hotel is approx 3 km from his. He had said – Oh, that is far! – No, not far by Delhi standards! – But I am not sure about the safety at night in Delhi! – You tell me about safety in Delhi? You were the one that attempted to travel to Damascus from Libanon a couple of years back! In Delhi I just get on a tuk tuk or taxi or Uber, no problem.
Just before midnight we bid our good-bye, happy travels and stay safe – I hopped on a tuk tuk and was back in my hotel before the 2 had walked back to theirs. In the middle of the night traffic is light even in Delhi.
31.01.2019
This morning I packed up and checked out of the hotel around 10:00. Imagine my surprise when I did not have to pay! Komal & Lucky treated me not only yesterday, but also for the room! Thank you so much! Next meeting will be my turn to pull out the credit card again!
I asked the staff to call me a Uber to take me to the New Delhi Metro Station. I was going to take the Airport Express Line to Dwarka Sector 21 and make my way to Vivanta by Taj.
When I got there around 11:30 they were happy enough to let me already check in, even though it was early. The rooms for the group were blocked for the night, but everybody would only arrive at 04:00 at night.
I dropped off my luggage, did some quick remote work communication with Assam and Germany and then got back on the metro. I took the Airport Express Line to Dhaula Kuan Station where I got off and walked. There were some secret boxes hidden in Nehru Park and I also wanted to see the Lenin Statue. While walking I thought about changing my plan and rather visit the National Rail Museum, which was also located around there, but then dropped that plan again and went for the National Indo-African Friendship Rose Garden instead.
This garden, commonly known as the National Rose Garden, is situated in Chanakyapuri, the national capital’s diplomatic enclave. The garden was inaugurating in 2015 ahead of the 3rd India-Africa Summit and is dedicated to India-Africa friendship. It boasts of housing umpteen varieties of roses curated from all over the world. The park is especially crowded during November to January when apparently the roses are in full bloom. Unfortunately I did not see many roses blooming today.
It had 2 parts and in each was supposed to be a geocache. The first one was supposed to be hidden in a bush in the middle of the garden. I did not dare look much closer, because as a foreigner you always stick out of the crowd. There was no crowd there this afternoon, but just next to the location was a couple lounged and they already looked at me suspiciously. So I did as told in the listing – Do not take any chances! Take the photolog option!
The second part of the garden was across the road and it was equally nice, but there were more people lounging in their lunch break. The area around here has many embassies and government offices. Here the geocache was supposedly hidden under a little bridge. There I would have been even more eyed by everybody. So also here it was the photolog option.
I kept walking the wide avenues and reached Nehru Park soon enough. Nehru Park is a large park situated also in the Chanakyapuri amongst many embassies. Named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the park is spread over an area of approx 320000 m² and is close to the heart of the city. It was established in 1969.
It is today one of the city’s leading green areas and a venue for “Music in the Park” concerts and the annual Bhakti Festival. The park is also a popular spot for art events, yoga classes, morning and evening walks and lunch time picnics. It also houses an ancient Shiv Temple. Nehru Park is one of the most famous landmarks of Delhi and a beautiful place to hang out during a sunny winter afternoon in Delhi – it was packed with lunch time picnickers lounging on the lawns.
But I came there because of Lenin … The Park has a life-size statue of Vladimir Illjitsch Lenin, the leader of the Great October Socialist Revolution of Russia – Believe it! – That there is a Statue of Lenin in Delhi, I mean! The statue was installed in 1987 during the 70th anniversary of October Revolution. It was unveiled by then Soviet Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov, Indian Prime-minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia Gandhi.
Following my tradition of photographing all Lenin Statues in Russia I had to see this one as well. And I would have never found it unless there was a geocache hidden nearby. The geocache was also gone, however. It was supposed to be in a fence in the proximity of the statue, but the fence had been repainted and there was no secret box anymore. Another photolog it was then …
From the park I took a tuk tuk to the closest metro station, which was Lok Kalyan Mark at the Orange Line and took the Metro for Rs 20 to Rajiv Chowk at Connaught Place. The regular line is not as fast as the Airport Express Line, the trains were older, but it was even cheaper. It was around 14:30 by now and I had not had any food today yet. And since I am an habitual creature I ended up in Odeon Social again – Thanks Komal for showing me this place! I settled on the outside balcony again, but after a while they made me move inside, because for some reason they were not allowed to serve alcohol outside today … and I had a beer to start. I ordered the Who’s your Papaya Salad again – of course – with tenderloin and it was as delicious as yesterday.
Since I had no big plans for the rest of the afternoon and was just hanging out, I looked through the Cocktail Menu. I had seen a woman having a cocktail in a funny bathtub-shaped “glass” a couple of tables over. So I googled the cocktails and found my favourite! “Two Lost Souls Swimming in a Fish Bowl”! It was a Margarita in a huge fish bowl like glass with an upside-down Kingfisher Beer in it. And I can tell you – it not only looked cool – it was also very good!
And while I was sitting there slurping my cocktail I decided to splurge in another Who’s your Papaya Salad! Yes! I did eat a second one! With tenderloin! And it was as good as the first one! Today the tenderloin did not come on a separate plate, though, but was already mixed in the salad.
I spent half the afternoon in Odeon Social and then walked around Connaught Place to the Shivaji Stadium Metro Station.
Located right in the heart of New Delhi, Connaught Place is a bustling hive of activity. As well as being one of the city’s key financial and business centers, the area is also filled with all things cultural, from antique cinemas and toy shops to leading contemporary art galleries and international chains of clothing shops. I walked around it and on the way to the metro station stopped at the gas station, which I knew already sold Schweppes Tonic! I stocked up on that and then also visited the Wine Shop in the metro station and bought a small bottle of Gin & Lime to mix.
The metro ride back to Dwarka was quick and in afternoon rush hour the metro was busy. Arriving at the hotel I did some photo beaming, writing, watching TV and also took a short sleep … The guests were supposed to land at 01:50 at Terminal 3 and I had to go there and welcome them. The sleep was however a bit longer than expected – I got a message from the Agent, who would be meeting me at the Airport, that the flight was 1.5 hrs delayed und I would not have to be there before 03:00 anyway …
