Deli part Du. 

Rickshaws were so much fun we opted to do it again. We had a slightly more formal tour but figured out scheduling and managed to show up for the Rickshaw tour on time. It was just our family and a couple guys from Iceland....more very white people- we will blend in well. 

I’m telling you if I could gift one travel experience to anyone it would likely be the Rickshaw ride through the narrow packed streets of Old Deli. It’s seriously crazy. 

We toured the spice market again. This guide gave kids a face mask to wear-why you wouldn’t just want to experience that full on and suffer the bronchial spasms that follow I don’t know but the kids put them on like the sad little tourists they are and marched on. 

We had the chance to go through the Sikh Temple. They feed 15,000-20,000 people a day here.   Really. It’s pretty amazing. It wasn’t busy when we were there but they were obviously preparing for a meal with pots(more like large kids swimming pools) full of some earth toned concoction. Sikhs wear turbans on their heads and are thought to be honest and trustworthy. A lot of guide books suggested if your in trouble look for a Sikh to help. They all seem to have warm eyes and smiles. Again the cute girls seem to be our welcome ticket wherever we go. As we walked in dawning our necessary headpieces making us look like either fancy pirates or gypsies, a friendly eyed man approached the girls and I and asked if we wanted to join them for a meal. The guide translated that they were relaying that they believe families that eat together are happier. Our guide had other plans for lunch so we politely said no thank you, though I kind of wish we had. Sikh families all volunteer their time and money and food to run this place and anyone can eat there for free. I’d seen it on an episode of one of my favorite programs “Parts Unknown” with the late Anthony Bourdain.  They were eager to show us how they make tons of their bread on a conveyer belt, even opening the doors to show the kids how it worked. Everyone eats on rows on narrow fabric draped across the floor, no tables, no chairs, no silverware, just metal oval shaped trays that are filled with whatever the days meal is that others with buckets and ladles walk around serving. 

I noted that it seemed so simple yet so amazing. People were grouped together as if they knew each other. Maybe some did, maybe some don’t, but overall it took on the look of a Thanksgiving dinner. 

We left the eating area to tour the actual temple. The Sikhs worship their founders, apparently there are 10(sorry if I’m wrong in this I have not fact checked this) and one of them is the actual scripture(a book). The book is there. There were people singing and praying. There was also a bedroom where the book gets put to bed each night. 

It was a fascinating experience. After we were told someone would offer us a small “sweet treat” as we left made of samella, sugar, oil,and I forgot to pay attention to the other ingredients but should have. We were told we should take it out of respect as it represents a blessing. I was handed a warm blessing that was not small but rather the size of a big tangerine. I watched the tour guide shove the whole thing in her mouth.  Oh geeze. I am I think the most considerate person in my family. I never want to offend anyone. At that moment I really wished I was the rude one. 

So I put the whatever it was blessing in my mouth and managed to get it down.  With the ever present fear of someone puking hanging over us I have been carrying a plastic bag in my purse. Before anyone even made it up to me I had it out as I knew all 4 would not be interested in their blessings.  One by one they dropped it in. 

The same person who built the Taj Mahal and the Mosque we visited the other day is buried in a special park and building that his wife made for him. It was built I believe in the 1500 and was beautiful and fun the explore. The air was worse today I think so visibility was about 1/8-1/4 of a mile but it made for strange sunlight. We walked and ran around the place before going back home. Once home we did the usual....we fell asleep. The nap we had intended was clearly going to translate into bed so I forced everyone up at 7:00 because no one really ate much and I didn’t want everyone up at 2:00am in my room fighting over the last few almonds we have left. Everyone was too tired to try new food or go anywhere so I send Todd out for pizza...don’t judge but ya. So he returned with pizza. Kids woke up enough to eat and went back to sleep. Win win.