India, my friend, of course it is you that wins the honor. My shiny new travel blog Destination Series needs a beginning…and you were my delightful surprise, the catalyst, that litmus journey to catapult international travel to a magical new never to return from level. For that, you will always have my heart. You were my first exotic, my first taste of wonderment at an authentic world so vastly different than the one I knew at home & a deeply moving connection to a broader humanity so delicious, I’ll always be hungry. YES, YOU SHALL BE MY FIRST.

#1 DELHI

My first view of Delhi from the air was a smoky expanse of dim yellow lights & an unexpected dotting of random small campfires throughout the city of 28 million (small personal open fires on street corners for cooking & warmth I learned later are common in blighted areas of the city).

Flights from the states arrive in the cover of darkness & after 22 travel hours (15 for the flight from Newark to Delhi alone… ugh), the airport transfer to the hotel is a total blur so the next morning light of day reveal creates such a dramatic overwhelming visual, you just don’t want to blink. Every frame you see is a brilliant, alive page from a National Geographic you once saw on your Grandma’s coffee table but today it’s not a paper magazine, the smells, sounds, and colors are real and right the hell there. My first thought was…”Holy Krap! We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”

I’d been anticipating … well, more like salivating over our first day’s itinerary for weeks…both a Sikh & Muslim temple . My first exposure to either… EVER… and I was SO excited…just like a kid on Christmas morning! The Sikh house of worship in New Delhi was impressive, tall, clean, a large beautiful white marble building topped with a wide white tower that was crowned by a golden round cap. It had an expansive open courtyard of the same marble with grand steps leading down to a massive pool who’s water perfectly mirrored the temple in the morning sun. I knew of the Hindu & Muslim populations in India, but was completely ignorant of the Sikh religion and our agenda (which merely stated “visit”) completely understated what we were about to experience at Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. The deeply moving impressive tour needs special attention and I will share how that exceptional morning unfolded in a separate blog post of its own “INSPIRATION #1- Sikh Temple Feeds Thousands Everyday”. Stay tuned….same trippin channel, same trippin station! **wink**wink** https://trippinwithnatalie.travel.blog/destinations/india/inspiration-1/

To reach the next iconic landmark in Old Delhi, the 17th century mosque Jama Masjid, required a drive across town giving us the opportunity to experience first hand the legendary Delhi traffic with its 11 million vehicles (that’s right 11 MILLION, M-I-L-L-I-O-N eleven of them!!). It was an absolutely unforgettable ride through saturated clogged streets, routing us past the wide chaotic bustling roundabouts of Central Park where honking cars, trucks & buses race just inches apart along side tuk tuks (a small open air 3-wheeled motorized rickshaw named for the sound they make), motorcycles, scooters, bicycles & people powered rickshaws that bravely (suicidal?) weave between.

Then there were pack horses & even a wagon pulled by a cow steadily transporting cargo among the hoards of vehicles. It was a nail biting, absolutely nucking futs drive especially considering we were maneuvering in a full size tour bus (our steel nerved driver earned our immense respect in those first hours of our tour...the man had skills)!

By far the most jaw dropping, are you freakin’ kidding me, moment happened deep in an urban business neighborhood (remember we are in a DOWNTOWN CITY OF 28 MILLION PEOPLE) where maintenance workers had been trimming overgrown trees & piles of freshly cut large leafy tree branches were laying in the street waiting to be loaded into a dump truck. But, India’s front end loader of choice is actually a large muscular elephant painted with cheerful bright pink & green flowers. A barefoot man stands atop “Jumbo’s” head & the two work as a team to collect the debris the same as any front end loader & driver would to clean the street. Wow, crazy, blew me away… but super efficient (did make me wonder, tho, who gets to clean the street after the elephant has his potty break!)

We were allowed entry at India’s Largest & Best Known Mosque, JAMA MASJID, once we replaced our shoes with the slippers provided at the gate, my scarf covered my head & the large floor length robe I was given completely covered my street clothes (not my most attractive look… oh, my!).

It was late morning & prayers were over an hour off, so the courtyard of the Mughal style Islamic temple was fairly empty save for us tourists and a few young adorable families enjoying the sunny day as little ones (my favorite!) splashed in the small pool that lay center of the large expansive courtyard. This father was especially tender.

Thin sandstone minarets (tall skinny belfries where a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer) towered above the complex while 3 beefy dramatic round red sandstone gates anchored the massive complex, each with 30 plus steps rising from the traffic congested streets below. Although the mosque is located in the heart of Old Delhi and surrounded by busy streets & markets on all sides, the bustling sounds didn’t seem to permeate the worship space, but from the look of the space keeping the dirt & debris at bay must be a challenge.

We returned to the Western Gate to get our shoes and walked down the dramatic steps that led into the fascinating Old Delhi busy market district of Chandri Chowk with it’s narrow side streets & alleyways filled with tiny shops selling spices, fruit, saris, silver & traditional Indian fare (essential oils, stationary, incense). There sat several bicycle powered rickshaws for hire … and soon we embarked on a crazy adventure. Look for my upcoming Wild Ride #1 Chandri Chowk Rickshaw Blog coming soon for details of the fun! https://atomic-temporary-168687877.wpcomstaging.com/destinations/india/wild-ride-1/

The afternoon visit to Humayun’s Tomb (Dormitory of the Mughals) within the city was a striking contrast to Delhi’s crowded surroundings & our first exposure to a 16^th century Islamic India grand mausoleum (precursor to the Taj Mahal). We were blow away by its monumental size & opulence, but considering it honors 150 royal family members buried within its unique chambered architecture, perhaps the lavish & spacious gardens aren’t such a shock. Gorgeous!

“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
~ Mahatma Ghandi

A Delhi must see is the home of Mahatma Ghandi “Father of the Nation”. The simple humble room in which he stayed has been kept as it was the night he was assassinated during a nightly walk on the grounds. It seems every country has a visionary man or woman, leading their people to positive change who becomes a martyr, sadly at the hands of an extremist in their own land. Such was the case with Ghandi. The 12-room house holds an interesting museum marking his fascinating life & work. It was a privilege to observe the reverence held for this man, his life and role relating to India’s peaceful emancipation from British imperialism & his leadership to shape India’s independence with priorities for education, work ethic and cooperation. Consider, if you will, prior British relegated power in 1947, literacy was 15% and today it has jumped to 80%, an accomplishment we heard about with pride (and rightly so)! India’s brain export factor around the world is a well known fact & it blows me away what India has accomplished in 70 short years!