Another long bus ride today. We went from Agra back to Delhi. We made a potty stop about two hours in.
Our first stop of the day was at a Sikh Temple. This Temple has a kitchen run primarily with volunteers. They serve between 5,000 – 8000 people a day during the week and on Sunday over 20,000 people show up for a free meal. Everyone is served regardless of religion. It was a beautiful example of humanity at its best.
We got to tour the kitchen where they made the food. Ladies were rolling the bread dough into balls. Men were stirring huge pots of lentils. They had an automated machine that makes the bread.
We watched a group of people being served. They come in a big auditorium like room and sit in rows on the floor. Someone comes along and gives them a metal tray. Someone passes out bread and then they get their food. They get 15 minutes to eat and then the next group comes in.
After we toured the kitchen we went to the Temple where they were having services. We walked through the Temple and then came out and took some pictures. We went through a blessing line where we were given a small ball of some sort of food. We had to hold our hands a special way and then do a little blessing afterwards and then eat the ball of whatever it was.
After we left the Temple we went for lunch. As we were walking into the restaurant a little girl came up to one of the ladies in the group. The little girl was selling necklaces. She called the lady Mom and held her hand and kissed her hand. She made the lady pinkie swear that she would buy something after lunch. When we walked back to the bus after lunch the little girl came running up to the lady and she got her dollar for the necklace. It was cute to watch.
Lunch was at a nice restaurant. I ordered French fries and onion rings. Nicole got a pepperoni pizza. All were safe foods for me and not spicy. I am still full and I think I will skip the dinner tonight. I need some decompressing time alone.
Tomorrow our wake up call is at 5:35. We have to have our bags out at 6:05. Breakfast is at 6:30 and we are leaving the hotel at 7:00. We are close to the airport. It sounds like the check-in process may take a bit as security is very tight due to the suicide bomber that happened earlier this week in Delhi. We fly to Kathmandu, Nepal. The flight is less than two hours.
We will get checked into our rooms mid afternoon and get to stay at this hotel for three nights. Tuesday early morning we take our short flight around Mount Everest. I’m not sure what we are doing the rest of the day or on Wednesday. Thursday begins the trip home but our flight isn’t until midnight Thursday night. We are hoping we get to keep our room until early evening Thursday or else it is really going to be a long trip home. We fly to Dubai again, change flights and then fly to JFK. From there we fly to Detroit and then finally to KC. We arrive in KC sometime late Friday. I think it will take us 36 hours in total although we are going back in time for 11:45 hours. That time thing makes it weird.
When I got to the room today I repacked my suitcase and backpack. We have to have all electronics and cords in our carry-on. I guess they are really strict about what they allow. I hope I remember all the rules so I don’t screw something up. When we land in Nepal we have to get a Visa for $30. Our guide will be with us so all should go smoothly,
It is going to take me some time to process what I saw in India. It has been a very different experience for me in many ways. I’m grateful I came and got to see it but am also grateful I get to go back home to my quiet little town. Way too many people, too many smells, and too much noise and chaos here for me. I function best in the quiet and that can be hard to find here.
Got an email from the Detention Center letting me know they placed the pizza order and when they are doing the Thanksgiving Dinners. They are doing one on Wednesday and one on Friday. I need to remember to pick the cookies up on Monday so they will have them when they need them. I will also have to go up to Casey’s and pay for the pizza on Wednesday and Friday. I wonder if Casey’s has ever made 86 pizzas for one order before?
Everyone on the tour looked really tired today. Yesterday was a huge day with the Taj Mahal in the morning and then all but me went on another excursion in the afternoon and we all ended our day with a special dinner and entertainment. Hopefully tomorrow will go well and easy and all can get some good rest tomorrow night in Nepal. I’m so glad I stayed in yesterday afternoon and didn’t go on the excursion.
Kathy let me know Phil got the addition painted. I should be able to use that room for us to eat our Thanksgiving feast in. That will make that easier for me.
Three more tour days and then the long journey home starts. I will be ready to get home by then. I am on sensory overload and it will take me some time once I get home to decompress.
Grateful for another safe bus ride today, grateful to get to see the beautiful example of humanity at it’s finest, and grateful for a free evening tonight.