Delhi day 2

Today i start the day at the Barrista cafe, and it lives up to its name, i think it is Illy coffee but it is seriously delicious. Looking out the large window at the commotion outside I wonder how will this city cope with the Commonwealth games. It is a city choking on fumes and congestion, with multitudes of dodgy 'travel agents' and 'information services' all bent on selling you 'Rajasthan tours and train tickets' and yet in complete contrast the upper middle class are surgically attached to their mobile phones, dressed superbly, the women especially. The beggars are there too although perhaps not in the concentration found in Mumbai and there is alot less shit in the streets, in the central city anyway. I am glad i am taking it easy in Rajasthan, the car tours sound exhausting, 5 hours per day driving, around the state in 12 days, one night in each place.

From Connaught Place i go to the old fort Purana Qila, dating from 15th century, this is built on a very old city site 'Indraprastha' some 3000 years old. It has a mosque with some beautiful delicate stone work and a library where the great ruler Humayan (see below) met his death with an apparent fall. The gardens are full of young indian couples, some in lovers embraces, some quietly chatting.










A short walk to the suburb of Sunder Nagar, an upmarket suburb, but with an excellent tea shop, where everyone gets to taste before buying. The teas are truely fresh and the aromas beautiful and complex, mostly from Darjeeling or Assam, the floral first flush, and the delicate muscatel darjeeling- the worlds most expensive tea. I had to get some of that to try, as well my the favourite masala (spice) chai. Lunch at 'sweet corner'- delicious north indian vegetarian- channa (chickpea) masala, tofu tandoori, dhal with chappati, and sweet lassi.









Now to the Humayun tomb and surrounds, a large world heritage site, pre-dating the Taj Mahal - very stunning. The gardens are being redeveloped and they are also very peaceful, I lie for some time on the grass, just soaking in the atmosphere.

I couldnt get the camera to reproduce the beautiful aqua color of the water pools that lie in front of the main tomb. But over all the camera is going ok. It seems to do better on closer shots. Some of the web photos seem a bit dark, although they looked alright on my laptop, every one should just get a mac i suppose, will make sure they are brightened for the next posts.














A short trip to Lodi Gardens and another peaceful enclave. It is a large park, with beautiful 15th century tombs of long gone rulers. the park even has a jogging track where indians and ex-pats run, indian ladies also jog it seems, track shoes with sari is an interesting outfit.

Now i am 'tombed out' so a quick look at the huge boulevard of Rajpath that stretches all the way from the presidential palace to India Gate is the final stop of the day. No dinner required tonight that lunch was so filling. Just ginger tea in Pahagnaj people watching. No time for the Red Fort, maybe in March when i have a day here before Manali.













Jodhpur is incredible....more soon