Finally here!
Just as I was getting off the plane in India, I saw a woman who had just gotten married. She was going home with her new husband to continue the wedding celebrations in her hometown. In India, they decorate their hands when they get married and she let me take a photo.
I made it to India, and finally got my backpack at baggage claim, which they forced me to check. These days, they hardle want you to have a carry-on on the plane with you.
When I got out of the airport, Neena, her cousin Justav and uncle Hans Raj waiting for me (at 2am)! Oh, they are so sweet and so hospitable here. Here’s she and I at the airport. The first thing I thought to myself was how pretty she looked in traditional Indian dress!
Her uncle hired a car to come and get us (apparently that’s the best way to get around) and “in true Indian fashion” as Neena says, we got a flat tire on the way to her family’s house.
She tells me no matter what you plan, it always takes longer to do things in India than it does in America, so I have to just sit back and accept the pace. We got out of the van and in no time we were back on the road again, headed home… but not before passing another poor car with a flat tire. The traffic wasn’t all that bad, I actually expected much worse based on all that I had heard and Neena says it’s because I arrived in the middle of the night that the traffic was pretty good. It’s unusually foggy here, and so we had to contend with that.
Anyway, we got to her family’s house and I met Neena’s aunt. In no time, she whipped up an amazing meal of dahl (lentil soup), paneer (cheese and vegetables) and homemade roti (wheat flatbread) and I got my first taste of real, Indian food. Delicious!
We sat and talked for a while (with Neena and Jusdav translating), smiled a lot and used sign language to get our points across. They are such a sweet family. Apparently, Neena has a very big family and soon I will meet more of them. Can’t wait!
Off to explore Dehli, today!
January 4, 2010 at 3:13 am
What is it about the roads in India that people keep getting flat tires? How does homemade Indian food compare to what we had recently in Philly? Looking forward to those pictures of Dehli!
Love,
Mike