THROWBACK THURSDAY!-INDIA

June 29, 2017

6/29/17

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Hi World,

I am here in my humble abode reminiscing of my fabulous trip to India. I am nostalgic of those happy times as I am currently preparing for our family trip to Dubai tomorrow. Since we did venture to several different parts of India including New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Mumbai I will pinpoint and extract my favorite event from each city and elaborate on their glory and wonder.

New Delhi: Beginning, we stayed at the Imperial Hotel, an exquisite home away from home with ornate construction and a delicious feast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our first exhibition was to the India Gate Arch and the Palace where the president of India lives. This was one of the largest Palaces in the world when India became a democracy in 1947 after previously being a colony. Additionally, we also visited the home of a wealthy family where Gandhi resided and also got assassinated at age 79 in the courtyard while praying. He was killed by a radical Hindu fanatic after 149 days of residence at that home. Next, we visited Humayun’s Tomb, who was from the Mughal Dynasty which was very prosperous in India at one point in time. Following, the Sabates clan went to the Sikh Temple in New Delhi. While we visited, we had the opportunity to see many of the 25,000 children, men, and women whom the temple was feeding solely from volunteers. Finally, we went to Khan Chacha in the Khan market which is located in a chic, upscale market in New Delhi where I enjoyed a nice cup of frozen coffee.

Old Delhi: Consequently, the Sabates gang relocated to Old Delhi to get a more authentic and quaint flavor of the city. We began our journey at the Jama Masjid Mosque built in the 1600’s by the Mughal Dynasty. My favorite part of Old Delhi would have to be the rickshaw ride and street food experience because I truly felt like a local while exploring every aspect Old Delhi had to offer. One of the markets we went to was the Chandni Chowk Market and another sight we saw was the Qutab Minar Mosque.

Agra: Then, we drove to Agra with a population of around a hundred million (we could see the Taj Mahal in the distance!!).We finally reached our hotel, the Oberoi, after a long journey. The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan for his wife whom he built in order to express their eternal love. Next, we went to the Red Fort which was built in the 16th Century by the Mughal Empire as administrative and military headquarters. We also visited he sub-capital previous to Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, to protect the Emperor of the Mughal Dynasty, Akbar.

Jaipur: We again traveled five hours to the next Oberoi Hotel in Jaipur in the province of Rajasthan. Additionally, we visited the Amber Fort in Jaipur with its beautiful architecture that you can spot from a mile away. This was constructed by Raja Man Singh in 1592 and its construction took 125 years to complete. It was originally the capital but in the early 18th century the capital shifted to Jaipur.

Udaipur: Next we took a thirty minute plane ride to Udaipur on Spice Airlines until we landed and took a two hour plane ride to the Jan temple two hours outside of Udaipur. Quick note about the Jainists; they must broom the floor before they step because it is forbidden in their religion to kill a living thing including an ant. We visited one of the largest Jain temples in India, built in the 14th century by the White Clan Jainists, and taking 50 years to complete. The Jan religion pursues a life filled with non-violence. Finally, we went back to the Oberoi, Udaipur addition, to swim in the relaxing pool area and eat traditional Indian cuisines. The following day, we visited The Lake Palace in Udaipur by boat through Lake Pichola which was also featured in the movie Octopussy, for all the movie fans out there. Next we visited the residence of the Royal Family, and the Udaipur City Palace, along with a local Hindu Temple and the occasional camel ride!

Mumbai: This is one of the most fascinating cities. Even though the city is supposed to be the most innovative in India, 55% of their population lives in the slums, including those with stable occupations. Another interesting fact is that the Mcdonalds’ in Mumbai are all vegetarian because the Hindu population are forbidden from eating meat. Also, the second most expensive house in the world consisting of 27 floors and 600 servants for a family of five, is located in Mumbai. Consequently, there is an effective food delivery system in Mumbai called Dabbawala where people essentially order lunch bags that the local women cook and put into containers that are then returned that night. After reaching the Gateway to India and Victoria Station, we finally reached our last destination in India, the original home of Ghandi where pictures hung up actuated the selfless life he led. Final side not about Mumbai; it is the 3rd most expensive city in the world, consisting of 20 million people.

I met some very impactful people on that trip including our loyal tour guide Nuru whom I truly appreciate. So I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and…

Be Brave Today

Lyricallivi