I’ve been exploring in our area of Model Colony: had small cups of spicy chai at street stalls, been introduced to an amazing (vegetarian) Indian restaurant, patronized by all the locals, tried bargaining with traders of veg and fruit stalls (not much doing!) and slaked thirst with coconut milk.
I’ve heard a lot about the markets here – clothing, fabric, pots and pans etc so plan to explore those by rickshaw soon. There is also a German bakery that apparently is a favourite haunt of the students from the Institute when they crave a cinnamon bun or some good bread!
This weekend have been invited to make a foursome and head off to the Unesco designated caves at Ellora and Ajanta, about 5 hours drive from here. An enterprising hotel manager, Mrs S has booked the driver (300 km / day for 8000 INR) and a hotel with great stone cottages overlooking the caves.
So a few quirky things: it takes about 10 minutes to summon up courage to cross some of the roads. The drivers here could learn a thing or two about pedestrian safety from Canada. You read about the trash sorters: here they are on our local street sorting through wheelbarrows and trucks full of plastic, paper and just… plain garbage. What they don’t sort the goats and dogs go through. I did see two cows on the pavement yesterday: just about 300 metres from a new shopping mall. They could be walking in to Sears – perfume counters, Armani, Gucci etc Incredible India as the slogan says. A land of contrasts.