Friday, November 21, 2008

To India and Back

I am finally back from my trip and still feeling quite lazy. There are so many things I want to write about but am getting confused where to start! So in this post I will tell you all about our experiences and observations back home.

We landed at the Delhi airport at dawn. As soon as we reached the arrival area we were overwhelmed by the number of people reuniting with their families. While waiting for our pickup Hubby and I were amused looking at the people around us. A typical scene at the airport - families uniting, children meeting their uncles and aunts after a long time. The most amusing quote was "beta tauji ko pehchana?" We heard this one from atleast 3 different families...so well loads of nephews/nieces were meeting their uncles on this day!

The first day H and I took the car and went for some work. And boy it seems we have to follow everything but the traffic rules here. Even though we have lived mostly in India and driven there a lot, it takes a day to come back to our ruthless selves :). There are some simple rules one must follow -

  • cross a signal no matter what the signal light indicates - that's just a colour!
  • if you see a pedestrian crossing the road - NEVER stop! remember you have to win the race here
  • if you need to turn right, stay on the left most lane and then cut at the last moment
  • you are free to overtake a vehicle from any side - afterall we live in a free state!
  • keep driving forward till your bonnet touched the vehicle in front - coz if you don't someone will surely come in front of you (remember? it's a race...)
  • The side mirrors are supposed to remain CLOSED. Yes if you try opening them, someone will just brush against it and break it. So it is safe till the time it is closed
  • Blow the horn at every opportunity you get
  • All drivers must compliment their driving skills with some verbal abuse without which it is just no fun!
  • Remember - it is a race - and you have to win!
Nevertheless we were back to our normal selves the next day - driving as if we never left.
The weather was very good and I hated coming back at this time. I love the wintry cold hazy mornings with fog (which sometimes meant no school in the good ol days :) ), the festive atmosphere, winter clothes, red cold nose, drinking loads of ginger and tulsi tea. In short everything that Renu is enjoying in Lucknow right now...
Well other than the weather, going back to India means loads of treats for us. It's as if we don't get any food here in Dubai. Everyday was reserved for one speciality which we had to eat since we were in Delh/Lucknow. So from Moolchand ke paranthey to Haldiram ki chaat in Delhi and Basket chaat and yummy Chilly Paneer of Royal Cafe in Lucknow, we ate it all. To top it all we carried Tundey ke Kebabs for all family and friends in Delhi and Gourmet Ice's Chocolate Truffle for the folks in Lucknow. That's our way of showing we care ;)
What do you do when you go back home? Other than meeting family friends and relatives, what is it that you must do when you visit your home town/country?

14 You Spoke:

Rajindarjit said...

You feel the sweet smell of your home
and
Relax.

Nice sharing here.

Dhindsa

Mampi said...

This was really really great.
I loved the bulleted list of the do's in the t(rat)ffic of India. I follow a few of them myself. A few, mind it. Not all. Lest you should censure me.
Great to know you had a good trip. You were missed.

Unknown said...

what more to do huh?
1) visit a holy place
2) go shopping to a crowded bazaar and trade insults with the shop keepers
3) take a taxi drive preferably with an old driver and get friendly... you will get to know the latest in politics and much more..
4) take long walks....

I guess that should cover the "brief re-discovery of India"..:D

Maybe Rakesh Sharma(first Indian in space) is wrong when he says "saare jahaan se achha" but am sure that there is no other place like our lovely(and screwed up) country... anywhere on earth....!

my space said...

Lol! Jisne india mein driving kar lee wo kahin bhi drive kar sakta hain!!
Haldiram ki chaat mujhe bhi chahiye and even chilly paneer...even though m in india phir bhi ghar ki baat hee kuch aur hain..remember that poem/
ek chidiya ke bacche chaar...
ghoom liya humne jag saara,
apna ghar hain sab se pyaara!

DeeplyDip said...

@Rajindrajit: Going back home always is a pleasure :) Thanks for stopping by :)

@mampi: thanks! but well no ways of censuing anyone...I have been guilty of many of these driving skills as well ;) It feels nice to know I was missed. In fact I was so surprised to see refelctions message asking me where I was etc...its' great to have friends like you all. thanks :)

@Abraham: You have a great sense of humor...lol...and you are so right. I visited temples which I forgot to write. I would have had to visit the over crowded markets had my sis also come the same time (cos she likes to)and guess what - we did take long walks as well :). As for India - no matter how good/bad it is, still home for us so we will always love it...

@myspace: sahi bola...after driving in India every other place is a cakewalk...now that you are gng to delhi you can also have haldiram ki chaat and tell nikky to get the chilly paneer for you ;)
now that you say the poem i partly rememebr it - why don't you write a post on some of our fav poems? would be good fun reading it

Maddy said...

I could understand. Whenever I go to India, for first few days while crossing the road I look leftside(Like here) instead of rightside.

One agenda in everytrip....Meet friends. This time I could meet 2 of my classmates after 15 years. Fortunately met two blogdosts too.

D said...

You were in LUCKNOW? And you didn't want to ME? What's WRONG with you?

You know I'm kidding, right?

Reflections said...

LOL at "beta tauji ko pehchana?" I can just imagine. In India every relative in town will land up to greet u at the airport & that too if u r arriving for the 1st time;-P.

All those names of yummy yummy food is making me hungry....esp. Haldiram Chaaat...I can get the taste in my mouth now:-(

Salomie said...

Hey thanks for blog-rolling me.....just noticed that :D

DeeplyDip said...

@maddy: yes it takes a while to get back to our usual selves!Its nice na to catch up with old friends...thanks to all the social networking sites, this time even I met up with a classmate I last saw some 13 years back!

@D: hehe...I get very lazy when I go to Lko...nawabiyat aa jaati hain kya karun...next time we will meet up for sure :)

@Reflections: ya so many people come to greet their guests...any other place one is expected to reach home on their own - esp at such odd hours...
Yes Chaat was good :)

@Shalom: No thanks, I enjoy reading your posts and want to know everytime you write one... :)

Iya said...

hey..thanks for your comment on my blog..and well i dont think u are being fair when u right that list.. ok so we arent perfect but then we arent that bad too !!!

DeeplyDip said...

@Iya: Thanks for stopping by :)
The list is not to ridicule the system but to laugh at it. And well being an Indian, I am guilty of many of the points listed here as well ;)

Magical Homes said...

1. sit for gossip and heart to heart chats with mom over endless cups of chai
2. go out with the gang from school for a noisy night out.
3.visit all familiar shops and bazaars and shop
4. since my home town is delhi, have a plate of gol gappa at my fav chaat corner everyday
!!!!!

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