July 20 - We were allowed to sleep in longer this morning, meeting at 8:30 for breakfast. At around 9 in the morning we boarded a bus again for a day long tour of Delhi (the old, new, and British parts). Our first stop, as directed by our new tour guide for the day, was an Islamic Mosque placed in the heart of Old Delhi. After walking up the tower of steps, most of us had to dawn ourselves with very colorful cloaks and remove our shoes in respect to the religion. We also had to pay 200 rupees to bring our cameras inside.
After the mosque, we headed back down the tower of steps into our awaiting rickshaws. It was drizzling a bit as we began our journey, but no one was prepared for what happened next. As we were winding our way through the streets of Old Delhi it began to down pour! A real live Indian monsoon was raining on our parade, literally. With laughs from locals, we continued our trip grinning and baring the weather upon us. Even though the rain was extreme, we all agreed it was one even we will all never forget.
So after our shortened 30 minute stroll through the streets, we again returned to our bus defeated and soaking wet (this time not by sweat). The second stop was the Tomb of Humayun, a precursor to the Taj Mahal. This tomb was built by a wife for her husband rather than like the Taj Mahal, a husband for his wife. Because of this, the tomb was built to appear more masculine meaning they used much more red sandstone. The ironic thing about the building is the steep climbing stairs that lead up to the tomb of Humayun because his cause of death was an "accidental" trip down the stairs of his own home.
Lunch came next at one of the best places we have eaten so far. For some of us, the tummies were a little sensitive, but other than that the food was flavorful and unique.
The next stop on our tour was a memorial for the Indian legend, Mahatma Gandhi. We walked through the house that Gandhi spent his last 144 days of his life and the place he lived whenever he returned back to Delhi. The family who owned the mansion after Gandhi's assassination turned their home into his memorial which is unusual for the followers of Hindu. We got to venture through the garden that he walked through daily to go to his prayer spot. There in the garden was a memorial of the place he was shot and killed on January 30, 1948. One thing was to be said, the whole place was simple and serene just like the life that Mahatma (meaning Great Soul) Gandhi lived.
With dryer clothes we proceeded to our next to last stop which was at the Hindu temple complex located closer to the British part of Delhi. The temple, as stated by our tour guide, is the most popular Hindu temple in all of Delhi. Our last stop was for more shopping and perusing. Then it was back on the bus feeling less defeated than before, but still laughing about our rain conquests of the day.
Leaving on a positive note, today was at least 15 degrees cooler than it has been our whole time here in India thanks to the monsoon!
(Posted by Kim and Brean)
After the mosque, we headed back down the tower of steps into our awaiting rickshaws. It was drizzling a bit as we began our journey, but no one was prepared for what happened next. As we were winding our way through the streets of Old Delhi it began to down pour! A real live Indian monsoon was raining on our parade, literally. With laughs from locals, we continued our trip grinning and baring the weather upon us. Even though the rain was extreme, we all agreed it was one even we will all never forget.
So after our shortened 30 minute stroll through the streets, we again returned to our bus defeated and soaking wet (this time not by sweat). The second stop was the Tomb of Humayun, a precursor to the Taj Mahal. This tomb was built by a wife for her husband rather than like the Taj Mahal, a husband for his wife. Because of this, the tomb was built to appear more masculine meaning they used much more red sandstone. The ironic thing about the building is the steep climbing stairs that lead up to the tomb of Humayun because his cause of death was an "accidental" trip down the stairs of his own home.
Lunch came next at one of the best places we have eaten so far. For some of us, the tummies were a little sensitive, but other than that the food was flavorful and unique.
The next stop on our tour was a memorial for the Indian legend, Mahatma Gandhi. We walked through the house that Gandhi spent his last 144 days of his life and the place he lived whenever he returned back to Delhi. The family who owned the mansion after Gandhi's assassination turned their home into his memorial which is unusual for the followers of Hindu. We got to venture through the garden that he walked through daily to go to his prayer spot. There in the garden was a memorial of the place he was shot and killed on January 30, 1948. One thing was to be said, the whole place was simple and serene just like the life that Mahatma (meaning Great Soul) Gandhi lived.
With dryer clothes we proceeded to our next to last stop which was at the Hindu temple complex located closer to the British part of Delhi. The temple, as stated by our tour guide, is the most popular Hindu temple in all of Delhi. Our last stop was for more shopping and perusing. Then it was back on the bus feeling less defeated than before, but still laughing about our rain conquests of the day.
Leaving on a positive note, today was at least 15 degrees cooler than it has been our whole time here in India thanks to the monsoon!
(Posted by Kim and Brean)
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