Day 2, 21st November, YWCA Blue Triangle, New Delhi

We wrote this earlier this week but had to cut and paste it once wireless established.
Photos still challenging - we're working on it.

Namaskar! The distant sound of traffic, parakeets, horns and the occasional bang drifts into our room at the YWCA. The day after our early morning arrival in Delhi and we’re slightly less fazed by jetlag, and revived by toastbutterjam and pizza. Yesterday afternoon we walked down the road and through a few back lanes to Connaught Place: good practice at crossing New Delhi’s wide streets and the wild traffic, alarming for the uninitiated. Modern India transformed by the arrival of western conveniences such as air-conditioned coffee shops (with caffeine) and Pizzahut. The streets and constant buzz (and bangs) of the street are enough for the children to start with as we adjust to all being here. We look up and there are kites in the sky, just like home, though many more; and scruffy pigeons sit on the window sill hoping to hop through the window past the mosquito nets. But the screetch and flash of green as parakeets swoop from the trees are new. Late November and the hazy sun makes the days a warm 25 degrees by midday but it cools at night.

Kids good travellers so far: lots of smiles for the three of them complete with back packs and Harriet/Holly/Max cuddlies.  The older 2 stayed awake on the plane watching videos on demand and then L crashed out in the taxi oblivious to monkeys, cows, crazy traffic.  Last 24 hours as predicted: everyone a bit wierded out – M by shoeless children, L by time difference (up reading Horrid Henry at 4am) and W by unfamiliar food.  However, team spirit high –  all camping out in one YWCA room with a second room and bathroom ensuite – and learning how to brush teeth without using the tap water and trying to be a bit more pro-active about handwashing …

M: We went on an auto-rickshaw. Every time we swerved past a corner it felt like it would tip over because it tipped over to one side. When we almost back at the hotel when saw a huge temple all lit up with strings of light. It looked amazing!

This morning, after breakfast which was toast omelette and chips! Yes I know I said CHIPS!   We went outside and saw a banana tree growing in its local habitat. Then up in the branches we saw a green parakeet!  

L: This morning I am getting ready for my Christmas show which is Room-on-a-Broom, and at the end there is a really crazy sheep. It is changed a little bit. I have written a script. On the aeroplane I couldn’t go to sleep so I listened to stories and music. Last night I couldn’t get to sleep because of all the fireworks and bangs, and the cars. It is quite hot. Yesterday we went for a walk and we saw squirrels, birds and lots of stray dogs. Today we are going out to a restaurant and we might have dal and rice and chappatis - yum.

W: I liked the thing we went on when we all got squashed [the autorickshaw]. It’s sometimes hot and sometimes cold. Sleeping was the best with Mum.