The Red Fort

One day my friends took us to the Red Fort in Delhi. It was built in 1639. It took nine years to build and cost 10 million rupees (over $200,000) which back then was an astronomical amount! Half of the money was spent on the exotic palaces inside the fort. The fort is build of red sandstone and is octagonal in shape. A wide moat surrounds the fort, which was originally connected with the river and was always filled with water.

There was great shopping in the fort and I loaded up on goodies for my children and upcoming grandbaby! He will have lots to take to show and tell one of these days!

For pictures you can go to www.akshardam.com.

More later.

Old Delhi by Rickshaw

I certainly enjoyed my trip to India but one of my favorite parts was riding through Old Delhi in a rickshaw. Now, this rickshaw was pulled by a man on a bicycle so at least he wasn't just pulling us on foot. Still, my friend and I settled back and let him do all the work while we gazed at the sights. It would have been difficult (if not almost impossible) to get through those narrow streets in a car. And it would have been even more dangerous to try to walk them on foot. So it seemed that rickshaw was the only way to go.

We stopped here and there and did some shopping. The rickshaw driver told us that wherever we stopped and bought anything -he got 1%. I guess it is a way for the shop owners to get them to get people to stop and buy from them. Anyway, we picked up a few things and were glad to let the rickshaw driver in on the deal.

We stopped and ate at a local Indian restaurant and had the most delicious NAAN (a flat bread) that I have every had. It was hot from the oven and delicious. Now, alot of the Indian food is a little spicy hot for me but I always manage to find something I can enjoy. And besides the "spiciness" I always try and taste a little of everything.

After our Rickshaw ride we headed back to the area our friends live in. We had a spectacular dessert while were were in Delhi. It is called gelobjamun. I know that doesn't mean much to you but BOY - was it ever good. It tasted like a Krispy Kreme donut hole right out of the hot grease! Yum, yum!

More later.

Trip to India

Rick and I just returned from a week in India. India is the seventh largest country in the world. Bound by the Great Himalayas in the north, it tapers southward into the Indian Ocean.

India is a union of 28 states and 7 union territories. (Union territories are governed by an administator appointed by the President of India). Each state/union has a unique population, culture, heritage, festivals, food, etc.

We visited two of the largest cities in India: New Delhi (in the north) and Bangalore (in the south.) Over the next few blogs I hope to share with you some of what I saw and experienced.

Hang on to your hat!