Tourists...Finally!

And we had a day of rest.
A sweltering day of rest, swimming through the incredible Delhi heat and humidity.  Seriously, I think I lost 5 pounds in water weight it was just that hot.
We had a day of rest, but that doesn't mean our work was done! It was time to do the tourist thing; we took our guests on the Delhi tourist route: Dilly Haat and the India Gate.  Despite the heat, it was absolutely incredible to have a break from hotels and high schools and to be a part of life again.  To see beautiful things, touch beautiful fabrics, gaze upon antiques and chat up shopkeepers.  To hear birds, to peoplewatch, to eat real food, to stand beneath the India Gate.  It is wonderful being alive, isn't it?

Driving through Delhi

Phew!  The last few weeks I have been traveling like a crazy person - Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi - and my poor little camera has been used for work purposes only.  Today we were stuck in traffic (and more traffic and more traffic) so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots out the window.  I just love India.  Is Delhi my favorite? No.  But I love that life is so vibrant.  Even amidst the traffic.

I'm back :)

I got to Delhi around 3:30 India time and had to gather my luggage, go through customs, and recheck my luggage before heading through security and to my gate.  My first thought as I entered the airport?  It smells like India.  When I was here before, I don’t think I recognized it because I lived in it.  But coming, back, the heavy mix of incense, sweat, spices, and people hangs in the air.  I smiled - I’m back.

While I was at the baggage claim, a couple other white men stood by me to wait for their bags.  One greeted me with a, “Well, you surely aren’t Indian.  Where are you from?”  I laughed and we went through the niceties - I am from Minnesota, he’s from Mississippi.  I asked what he’s doing here, he’s on business, and I couldn’t grasp from our conversation if it was short or long term.  He’d never been, but seemed to speak of his wife and home like it was so far away.  So I asked  “So are you here short term, then, or will you be here for awhile?”

His response: “Oh, well to me it seems pretty long term.”  I nod understandably, thinking maybe he’ll be here til Thanksgiving or Christmas like others I have spoken with.  

He continued: “I’ll be here until the 5th.”

I felt my eyebrows raise, and I asked, “of September?”

“Yes, I won’t go home until Labor Day.  What about you, how long are you here?”

I laughed and said, “Well, I’ll be here a little bit longer than Labor Day...”