Last Thoughts on India

As dry, dirty, dusty, and tired-looking as we found New Delhi and most of the cities we visited here, there are, in fact, plentiful green spaces. Beautifully planted and manicured parks with mature trees, lots of flowers, and green lawns are abundant in parks and around important monuments. Most parks are former vast grounds surrounding temples and tombs of ancient leaders. Most date between 1400 and 1600 AD. This must have been a very affluent time for this territory, as these monuments are often very large and multi-storied and still standing much as they did hundreds of years ago. Embassies representing many countries of the world are located along several grand shady boulevards. These buildings are often museum-quality beautiful and usually represent the best the country can offer. Best of all is the greenway along Kartavya Path that connects the President of India’s Residence to the India Gate. streaming past the vice president’s home, important museums, and other government buildings. Quite naturally, this would be one of the prettiest parts of New Delhi.

We are saying goodbye to India tonight. We’ve enjoyed it much more than we ever expected we might. We found Indian people to be kind and welcoming for the most part. That is, unless you’re in a line trying to be in front of the Taj Mahal at sunrise. I will never forget the push-and-shove free-for-all there. But the Taj was worth it. In stark contrast to that experience, the staff at our little boutique hotel in Mahipalpur, just outside New Delhi and very near the airport, were like family, as kind and welcoming as can be!

Off to Bhutan on a 4:45 am flight tomorrow! Yikes! But we are anxious to explore this Buddhist kingdom!