After a five hour flight from Singapore, we arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning. The Singapore Airport is amazing and surprisingly, even at midnight, most of the stores were open (though we didn’t go shopping). We spent a few hours at the Kris Lounge until our flight departed. Jane managed to nap on one of the couches while I FaceTimed with Hannah and Kyle and then with Renee and Pierre. The flight itself wasn’t the most restful, as there were several crying babies nearby.
We landed around 7:00 am and were first in line at immigration for the non-India passport line (small victories like this feel great when traveling).
Since I am ten pills short for one of my medications., I stopped at the airport pharmacy. I showed the pharmacist my prescription bottle, and he easily sold me ten pills for just 28 rupees—equivalent to 32 cents. Imagine getting prescriptions that cheap in the U.S.
For this trip, we’re participating in a two-week guided tour with a company called G Adventures. This is a first for us, as we usually plan and explore on our own. However, given India’s chaotic nature, we decided to follow the advice of others and go with a guided tour.
Since we arrived early and couldn’t check into our hotel until the afternoon, Jane, in her infinite wisdom, had booked a half-day tour of Delhi. Our driver picked us up at the airport and drove us into the city, where our first stop was Gurdwara Sis Ganj, a Sikh place of worship. Here, we met our tour guide, Ahram.
We walked through the sanctuary while prayers were taking place and then visited the community kitchen, where they provide free meals for 20,000 people daily. All this was done barefoot, even while walking on the cold marble outside. It was a fascinating visit, as we knew little about Sikhism beforehand.
Our next stop was Uggarsaom’s Baoli, an ancient water well, followed by a drive past the National War Memorial for WWI.
Later, we visited Humayun’s Tomb, an iconic structure built in the mid-1500s. This beautiful landmark, surrounded by lush gardens, inspired the design of the Taj Mahal, which was built 80 years later. Next, we headed to the Lotus Temple, a Baha’i house of worship resembling the Sydney Opera House. We had lunch at a restaurant called Chido—I enjoyed my meal, but Jane found hers a bit too spicy (welcome to India).
We checked into Hotel Singh Sahib, located amidst street-level auto repair shops. The hotel is a bit worn. G Adventures takes pride in supporting locally-owned establishments.
That evening, we met our fellow tour participants in the lobby. Our guide, or Chief Experience Officer in G Adventures lingo, is Manvendra. The group includes a couple from Vancouver, another from Calgary, one from England, a woman from Southampton UK. a guy from Zurich, and two sisters from Melbourne (one of whom just graduated high school). We all went to dinner together, which was a great way to break the ice.
This morning, we headed out together and piled into three taxis, with our first stop being the City Walk Project. This organization helps street children by providing lodging, rehabilitation, and educational scholarships. G Adventures supports this incredible initiative, which made the visit feel even more meaningful.
Next, we visited Jama Masjid, where the ladies in our group had to wear long coats reminiscent of those in The Handmaid’s Tale.
Afterward, we returned to the Sikh house of worship we visited yesterday. This time, we were able to sit quietly and observe the service for a few minutes, which was a peaceful and reflective experience.
From there, we took the metro to the heart of Delhi, Connaught Place. The metro itself was an experience, with separate security lines for men and women, as well as dedicated subway cars for women. For lunch, we enjoyed kabobs.
The afternoon was unplanned, so Jane and I decided to explore central Delhi with Mark and Larenda, the couple from Vancouver. After about an hour of walking, they headed back to the hotel. Not long after they left, Jane mentioned that she had chipped her tooth at lunch, and it was starting to bother her.
Knowing that we’d be on the move for the next two weeks—and traveling for four more weeks overall—I suggested she see a dentist right away. A quick Google search led us to Stunning Dentistry, which had excellent reviews and looked very clean in the photos.
True to its name, Stunning Dentistry impressed us. The lounge attendant brought us coffee, tea, and bottled water while Jane was seen by two dentists. An X-ray confirmed the chipped tooth, and she had it repaired along with getting a filling replaced, all for the bargain price of $138.
Later, we met up with the group for dinner at Bikanervala, an Indian food court. I enjoyed a dosa, which was flavorful and satisfying.
Delhi is overcrowded, noisy, dirty, and overwhelming, but I’m glad we had the chance to experience it. Two days here feels just right—enough to soak in the chaos without feeling burnt out. Tomorrow morning, we leave early for our next destination.
Traveling Walters 