Delhi

Today was the first day of our big 'Griswold Vacation' in North India. We are only here for 5 days but hope to catch a bit of Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Jaipur. Our flight from Bangalore to Delhi was great - uneventful, which is my favorite way to travel. Two and a half hours is about my limit on a domestic flight with no real food to eat or entertainment for the kids. So it was right on the cusp of me losing my mind......  Always a treat with Indian flights saying they offer food but don't actually have any of the options advertised..... Jack was so looking forward to those Pringles chips but alas he had to go without or eat Spicy Jalapeño Tortilla chips instead - pass !!

Our luggage arrived safely (always a bonus in India) and our driver Rakesh was waiting outside the terminal - with my name spelt correctly !! Score!!  Due to some issues with my 'booking skills' and 'the general Indian way' we had to skip lunch and go straight to sightseeing around Delhi. 'No time Madam!'

Out first impressions were great and the difference from Bangalore to Delhi was very evident. Delhi is much, much cleaner, more organized in discipline with traffic, and they have larger and better conditioned roads. New Delhi is just like many other modern cities and in many ways reminded us of Canberra. Lots of diplomatic residences, parliament houses, large parks and common grounds and fountains that seems to have 'semi-clean' water in them. We didn't spot any cows, the streets were generally cleaner and the roads in much better condition.

We got to see many of the Delhi sights -  India Gate, the Mahatma Ghandi Memorial, the Jama Masjid Mosque, Red Fort and lots of the Delhi surrounds.  We were mobbed by kids at the Ghandi Memorial and Mum managed to meet a lady from Canberra who we thought might stalk us for the rest of the day - we lost her whilst being mobbed by school kids asking for our photos. The mosque was amazing and to see people bathing in, and drinking the holy water was shocking but in some ways a reality check to our 'cleanliness obessession'. It was visually very big and 'red' and knowing it could house 20,000 people at Eid or Ramadan was amazing.

Afterwards, there was a family hand sanitization session, and then on to see some more sights.  We headed to the hotel late in the afternoon - the boys had a swim, and then off for a big hearty dinner ( and a few wines). We are staying at a great hotel in the southern part of New Delhi - we have learnt that hotels in India are either 2 star or 5 star - not a lot in between. I say 5 Star all the way!!!

Tomorrow we travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal - can't wait.

An update on Dad's diet - he is sticking to crisps , candy and some fish and chips ( frozen..... And then deep fried p) Of course, Kingfisher has become his new friend.