Delhi to Jaipur, Jan 14-18

Sikh temple

Bedlam!  Crossing in front of the Red Fort in Delhi on a 6-lane road turned into a 12 lane road by rickshaws, trucks, motorcycles, cars, and tuk-tuks is no small feat, but well worth it for a visit to the Sikh temple.
We give up our shoes and socks to the bag checker, step outside and onto wide, shallow steps that become a rivulet with the water slowly cascading as we walk up them to the main part of the temple covered in gold leaf.  Three musicians are playing small cymbals, a table accordion, and a drum,  providing soft music for the worshippers.  We stop and take it all in.  On the way out we descend through the rippling water where those coming in stop to take a palmful to drink.

Sikhs at Red Fort

they asked to have photo with me!

with our oranges in front of Red Fort

funerary pots left at Red Fort

We walk back by the Red Fort and marvel at its massiveness both inside and out.

Abdulla and Noor's 2 children (Lalafie in background)

Tonight we are invited to dinner at the home of Noor, the owner of Highland Travels.  Noor is providing us with a driver who will show us as much of the northern part of India as we can fit in.  We arrive as his son and niece begin their Islamic lessons, and we feast on chicken masala, Kashmiri rice, dal, shish kebab while listening to the Koran read aloud and the ladies of the house chatting in the kitchen.  They don't join us for dinner; presumably they have already eaten or will eat later.  There is no dining room or table; we eat sitting on couches with a small table in front of us.  The food is simple and delicious, but we can't stay too long; we have a big trip ahead of us tomorrow as we set out for the city of Jaipur.

We leave at 8:30 traveling southeast, amid horrendous traffic, and we pass many factories along the way. By the time we get out of the big city of Delhi, we begin to see camels used for moving goods and working along the road.  By now, we are in an agricultural area and spot mustard and dill growing alongside something bright green but unknown to us.  There is a tremendous amount of construction and, indeed, we find that everywhere roads, metros and structures are being built.  There is constant rubble alongside the road, and we aren't sure if it's left over from the construction or if it has been there for a long time.  We think the latter.  We pass people working very hard, women in their sarees (their spelling) carrying bricks on their heads or sweeping the streets.  The living conditions are frequently poor with garbage in great abundance, although we are told that their living quarters are quite clean.  They are just averse to paying for trash collection, so the local government does not pick up any, and they sweep it out into the street where it waits for someone to take care of it, which never happens.

camel earning his keep

typical scene along the highway

this is on a major highway!!

We arrive in Jaipur in the late afternoon, and people are already making fires on the streets where they will spend the night.  Tomorrow we will see a beautiful fort, among other things, and ride an elephant, but for tonight, we are really tired.  It is impossible for us to even think about driving here, and watching our driver dodge trucks, motorcycles and cows has done us in!

we squeeze inbetween a truck and a bus on a 2 lane road!!