Day #19 - Everest BaseCamp
Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Itinerary - Delhi Day Tour
Coming to you live at 8:20pm local time at the Trident Hotel in Agra, India. It’s been a whirlwind 24-hrs.
My flight landed about 2:15am last night in Delhi. We then had to stay on the tarmac for about 45-minutes before we were able to exit the plane. I waited another 45-minutes in the customs line before picking up my baggage. I hailed a cab about 4am to my hotel after exchanging some money. After going through the check-in process at my hotel - it was about 4:30am when I made it to my hotel room. I stayed at the Holiday Inn New Delhi International Airport. The place was awesome - I just wasn’t there very long. By the time I got to sleep - it was about 5:30am.
I was able to get about 5-hrs of sleep - awaking in just enough time to be back at the reception area for my 11am tour pickup. I decided to do the private tour so I don’t have to mess with Covid-19 concerns with a big bus tour - plus I can kind of control what I want to see and how long I want to be there.
Today consisted of a day tour of Delhi. I have a driver that will be with me throughout the duration of my 4-day, 3-night tour. I also have a guide that will be present each day - but I’ll get a different guide each day. Each guide specializes in their particular branch of the Golden Triangle.
The first stop of the day was to Qutub Minar - an Islamic mosque built from the ruins of over 20 Hindu temples. An interesting story how the mosque came about - actually controversial in the Hindu religion because of how their ruins were used to build a temple in the Islamic faith.
We then visited the Bahai Temple (Lotus temple). A beautiful temple somewhat resembling the Sydney Opera house in Sydney, Australia. Holds 4,500 people. They have 4 prayer services daily. It’s a newer religion. It essentially teaches the worth of all religions and the unity of all people.
We then toured the Ministry Area of town. Seeing the Presidential palace, the India Gate, and many of the governmental buildings.
After some traffic delays - we took the 3-1/2 hour drive down to Agra where I am this evening. I was amazed at the impressive expressway between Delhi and Agra. It was built about 12 years ago - as good as any in the US. Plus - there was very little traffic on the expressway.
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I took some notes throughout the day today - as I learned a ton about the country of India:
(1) There are 1.3 billion people in India
*60-70% Hindu
15-20% Islamic
Smaller percentages of:
*Buddhism
*Sikhism
*Jainism
Christianity
Hindu, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism were all started in India.
(2). Buddha was born in Nepal (human flesh) but became a God in India.
(3). India has 28 states and 8 national territories
North - light skin/light eyes
South - dark skin/dark eyes
East - come from Tibet
West - more beautiful
All have different languages, food, dress, etc.
(4) Hindu - red dot on forehead - married
Red dot between eyes - makeup
(5). India gained independence from Britain in 1947.
(6). Cow is sacred in India - do not eat beef. Cow is like a pet animal. Took care of baby upon birth if mother died - provided milk.
(7). 60% of India are vegetarian.
(8). Many cities have new names: Bombay is now Mumbai. Calcutta is now Kolkata
(9). Holi Festival - Mid March. People get drunk. Butter milk and marijuana. Varanasi - wildly celebrated there.
(10). 82,000 soldier names on India Gate - built in 1921. It’s a war memorial
(11). Only 1 term for the President- 5 years.
Prime Minister can be re-elected for as many terms as possible. Each term is 5 years.
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Tomorrow morning I meet at the reception desk at 6am to depart for the Taj Mahal - where we’ll watch the sunrise
Here’s to good times and discovery in India!
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