DELHI... INDIA

I'M HERE. 

the morning finally came, that my friend viv, came to take me to the airport.

it was a beautiful send off  from tassie, that bid me farewell.

i did have some luggage issues.

TOO MUCH..

decided i needed to take it all, so i resigned myself that i would just have to pay the excess.

ended up 15 kg excess.

GREAT THINGS HAPPEN AT TIMES.

i went to the check out, expecting to be paying big $$$$

the woman looked at my name on computer screen, and said ' it says you don't have to pay any excess fees'

i started to ask her 'why' 

she said' i have never seen that before, so lets not ask too many questions"

I JUST SAID THANKS.

family came to see me off the island.

when i was walking across the tarmac, i was remembering, how i was last year, august 2013, when i was leaving for 6 months.

this is what i remember.

i was so sad. 

thinking of what had happened in my life, that had enabled me to go away for 6 months.

i was physically exhausted. mentally tired. 

this time, 31st august 2014, 

1 DAY & 1 YEAR TO THE DAY. 

i feel so different.

i am sooo excited about returning to india, jaipur and the n.g.o.

ALL necessary stuff.

the COUNTDOWN, is nearly DONE. 

clothes, jewellery & dupatta's (indian long scarf)

another view.

not the shoe boxs.

staying 'COTTAGE YES PLEASE' 

phar ghung. 

room is $20 per night.

1843 - 44 LAXMI NARAYAN, STREET, RAJ GURU ROAD,
CHUNA MANDI. PHAR GANJ.
PH. 91 11 23562100, 23562300, 43081300, 43081400
EMAIL.. cottageyesplease@yahoo.co.in
www.cottageyesplease.com
www.yespleasehotels.com

i email them  for accommodation request, they reply very quickly.

yes, it has hot water. good bed, clean sheets. FREE WI FI. 

what else do you need?

my FAVOURITE chai wallah.

this little hole in the wall shop, is across the street from 'cottage yes please'

i come here before breakfast, sit with the men and enjoy the BEST CHAI.

i think the taste has something to do, with the fact, the water, tea leaves, sugar has been continually boiled, added to, in the SAME SAUCEPAN for a thousand years. 

'AJAY' 

auto driver.

mobile in delhi. 

7836824612

he works near 'cottage yes please'

i have been using his services of the auto for a few years now. he recognised me in the street yesterday.

i organised for him to take me out in the auto today to DILLI HAAT. 

i must try and explain this conversation i had with ajay, regarding directions to go to a market.

i told him the name of market.

he said... i know it very well, very well.

i said... are you sure you know it.

he said... yes, very well

then he took the map from my hand, looked at it, turned it upside down, then to the left and then to the right.

he said.... if i don't know it, i will find some one who does.

GHEE!!! I LAUGHED INSIDE TO MYSELF.

this is india.

one of the many reasons, i love it so much.

lunch at DILLI HAAT.

crispy noodles with chop suey. 

yes.... i know i should be eating indian.

just behind the bowls, you can see a hot pink grass basket.

i bought this at DILLI HAAT, made in BENGAL.

i thought it would be really handy to take to the market in jaipur, to get fruit & vegetables.

wanting to avoid plastic bags.

it is washable. HOPEFULLY the vegetable dye does not run.

aren't i a messy eater.

in the process of adding a few noodles, stir, eat, add more noodles.

this man is from BENGAL.

he was selling all hand stitched bed covers, sari, etc. 

this is the piece i chose to purchase.

it is a single bed size. 

stitched on silk.

no backing, i will get it finished in jaipur.

it took 1 woman, 6 months of work. 

few more examples of the work.

random photo of stalls at DILLI HAAT.

a different region of india, is featured every 2 weeks.

the current region is BENGAL.

a carpet seller.

a brass & enamel bowl i bought.

2 bowls. made from cow horn.

TURKISH design earrings i bought.

sapphires and crystal.

i told the seller, that i will wear these to the next wedding i get invited to.

I LOVE THEM 

a random photo, looking over the auto driver shoulder.

delhi has got a lot of trees.

known as the GREEN CITY.

my NEW BEST FRIEND.

a container of PRICKLY HEAT POWDER. 

how sad is that !

maybe not, if it keeps prickly heat away.

i will go out into the teaming throngs of people soon, wander, have dinner.

cold shower again, then bed.

TOMORROW, I AM GOING TO JAIPUR.

another exciting chapter to my journey.