The Family Blog: India Trip

Karan is now officially married. He and Nina signed the paperwork just days before we arrive in Delhi. Unfortunately, she had left by the time we got there, so we didn't get to bond with her. On the other hand, we went up to Mussoorie to hang out with Karan, so he should be less sore at me for not going to his real weddings in June/July.

We arrived in Delhi at 3 am on the 2nd of April. Karan met us at the airport and took us to his parents' apartment in Kalkaji. We hung out for day in Khan Market, eating naan and butter chicken in Chonas and then wandered into this really nice bookstore/coffee shop to stare and the newest stuff.

Then we took the midnight train up to Mussoorie. Dan's first experience on an Indian sleeper train was looking pretty good, until our compartment was invaded by a suuuuper talkative family with at least one baby and several other children. Dan says the glare of the father's laptop kept him up half the night, and when the guy finally went to sleep, his snoring kept me up for the other half. All part of the experience I suppose.

Buying Lays chips at the station

First day in Mussoorie: took the windy cab drive up to Mussoorie. Karan had booked us rooms this Devdar Woods. It was pretty simple accommodations with bucket baths and cold walls, but it was really just perfect - like a B&B, actually. Anyway, the best part was that it was in Sister's Bazaar, so it was still, chilled, and quiet in the mornings. So serene, and we could see several mountain ranges.

Second day: We went down to the school, which was just awesome. There weren't a lot of people I knew anymore, but they were all very welcoming, very warm, and let us go through the campus. Everything was just the same - only better. They had spent some time beautifying the campus, and of course the new gym was just terrific. Lunch at cozy corner, a day hike to flag hill, a visit to the dorms, and then finally, a dinner of momos.

Third day: At this point we're pretty tired and have found worms living in the bath buckets. Still, we're up at 7 am and walk to the ruins of George Everest's house. I'd only been there once before, but somehow we muddle through and get there. A great spot for a picnic, but we didn't bring food! The trip is 12km there and 12 back. We did have lunch at the tandoori chicken place in the bazaar, and then dinner with Karan and his friend at Madras cafe. Oh, and of course, chai and sweets right next door, and paan a few doors down.

Dan drinking his coffee outside the B&B

Eating breakfast at Char Dukan

The Khare sisters names are on these Parker Hall plaques. Dy is on there twice!

The gym. Nice. The outside facade was just rustic enough, but the inside was totally modern, with badminton, basketball, squash, table tennis, courts etc. Very nice, although Mr. Mark (who was my advisor group mentor, and is still the gym teacher) says that the kids in our classes were much hardier! He probably says that to everyone ;)

Dan and I met up with Karan and his friends at Cozy Corner. Same old Grover, making the same old wai wai with cheese.

Going to the bazaar, with Woodstock in the background

In Cambridge bookstore.

Chilly momos for dinner at a new Tibetan restaurant called Kalsangs! I had weird tummy rumblings after this.

They announced in assembly that Dan and I worked the the Mayo Clinic, and we were here to talk to the 11th graders. So, we gave a short spiel in Mrs. Datt's biology classroom to talk about what we did, colleges etc. As you might predict, the kids didn't care too much!

A trip to Flag Hill.

Permanent graffiti on the way to dorms.

Midlands. Going down the hill toward the senior dorms - both have been renovated since Dy and I were there and they're awesome. Brij Lal is still around too. Still no TV though, except on special occasions. What a great school.