New Delhi - August 2013

The last stop on my 5 weeks of travel was New Delhi, India.  I was a little apprehensive about this leg.  I witnessed many friends directly after visiting India, and they did not look too good. I used bottled water to brush my teeth, only drank bottled water (and beer) and avoided eating anything washed (I did have a few pieces greens on a pizza, but lived to tell about it).

And food was still a highlight of the trip

My first dosai - Coconut Rava Masala Dosai - and yes you eat it with your hands.

After the dosai was a traditional Indian Sweet - Badam Halwa - crushed Almonds, Sugar, Milk, Ghee and Saffron

On the second day in the office, the view out the window was of a cow sitting in a dirt parking lot.  The cow is sacred in Indian, and after all the beef I ate in Seoul I was OK with that.

Friday night we ventured out to Dilli Haat and got henna tattoos.

Stephanie was having both her hands done at the same time.

Morag was super excited about her hands.

After it flaked off, I can see how smeared it became.  Luckily it is on my feet, and I don't look that close at my feet.

Saturday we were off to Agra - a 3 1/2 hour bus ride on a brand new expressway.  Before this road it was a 5-6 hour trip (one way) on very bad roads through lots of towns.  So we lost some of the 'feeling' of India, but got there a lot faster.

On the way we passed Buddh International Circuit where Formula 1 racing is held - kinda felt like I was in the southern part of the US.

On the way into Agra we passed under the end of the expressway we just got off of.  And it was literally the end of the road.

A lot more cows along the way - but there will be more later.

So - Agra is where the Taj Mahal is located.  Built in the 1600's as a white marble mausoleum by an emperor for his 3rd wife.  The day we choose to visit so did the Iranian president - so it was closed in the morning and we visited the Agra Fort 1st.  Located 2.5 km from the Taj.

So here is the Agra Fort - a Red Fort.

3/4 of the fort is occupied by the Indian Army (we did not see that part).

Taj off in the distance down the river.

Taj over my shoulder.

White marble with the sunshine coming through it.

After a traditional Indian lunch (no photos) it was off to the Taj.  No photos inside the mausoleum - so all pictures are from the outside.

Amazing marble work.

On the way out of town - lots more cows roaming freely.  We even witnessed one eat a tomato off a street vendor's cart.

Sunset over the racetrack on our way home.

Sunday was a relaxing day - I spent the morning at the hotel spa, then Stephanie and I went to a tea house.

My jasmine tea after my Abhyanga massage (traditional Indian).

Taxi which took us to and from the tea store.  All public taxis look like this, and none have AC.

My tea purchases.

 Monday night's dinner was in a revolving restaurant with traditional Indian food.

Tuesday night - last night before a red eye flight back to HK - went back to the South Indian restaurant for another dosai.

So that is it - 5 weeks of hard work and great food.  I get to do it again in October, but only for 3 weeks.