Hello!

So we are five days in with intentions to write the first blog post on the first day. I volunteered to write the first blog and haven’t had the energy to get to it till now! Apologies for not getting to it sooner.

first rooftop breakfast, after late arrival

 

It has been a whirlwind since we arrived. Arriving in Delhi I had no clue what to expect. I knew what

I had seen in movies like slum dog millionaire and Lion but didn’t think that this was the reality that would greet me (as everyone knows, movies are often an obscured interpretation) I was surprised to find though that Delhi looked as if I was watching one of those movies. Even at 10pm when we arrived, the streets were filled to the brim with people. Children running around barefoot or clinging to their mother’s hip, men selling fruit on the street. The city was still very much alive even late at night. Pulling up to our hostel that was situated in the backroads of Delhi we were ushered up four flights of stairs our rooms.

Delhi Traffic

The next day we jumped right in. Driving through the streets was a bizarre experience. The dividing lines on the road were a suggestion that every car ignored, motorcycles weaved their way through the larger vehicles, and tuk tuks never waited for oncoming traffic to stop. Not to mention the horns were a incessant conversation saying “I’m here.”
Delhi traffic

The first place we visited was called the Qutab Minar. It was a stretch of garden with clusters of ruins and a tower built by the the first muslim ruler in India. The ruins were a mix of muslim and hindu buildings that had been built over hundreds of years. It was so amazing to see the mishmash of architecture scattered across the UNESCO site. The most surreal part though was having Indians coming up to us asking for pictures like we were celebrities.

Amazing sandstone carvings at Qutab Minar
Hindu columns in the foreground, muslim ruins behind


We then made our way to the much quieter Sanskrit museum which looked like a compound of beautiful buildings scattered across the property. We got a tour through the many small museums there learning about pottery from different regions of India and the traditions of decorations. One of the most interesting things about India is that all of the imagery is rooted in religion or nature. We learned about the gods and how the Indian people would use craft to either worship the gods or to tell their stories. We also learned about the rich history of textiles that thrives within India. Clio, Julianna, and I were all in heaven when we got to the textile museum and were gutted to find we weren’t allowed to take pictures. The level of skill that went into every piece was astounding and we definately took our time in there.

Another highlight of our trip has been the food! While at the museum we were served an amazing meal of traditional Indian food (with the spiciness turned down a lot).


The first day was such a wonderful introduction to the city and really set the tone for the rest of the trip. We have had so many adventures since then and we will be back soon to tell you more. Thanks for being so patient while we get this thing up and running!

See you soon,

Emma