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I am back in Denmark! And have been back for more than a week already - time flies by…
I went on the early morning train on the 27th from Udaipur to Pushkar where I arrived in the afternoon and took a cycle rickshaw to the hotel where Matilde was staying. It was SO good to see her again and catch up. Both of my days in Pushkar were really lazy when it comes to sightseeing (the famous lake and ghats were all dried out anyway because of the time of the year) but when it comes to catching up, chatting, eating nice meals, drinking beers, do some shopping and in general have a good time I was definitely not lazy! :) It was two very nice days with lovely company. Matilde and I met two Swedish girls whom we spent some time with, and during my time in Pushkar it was some kind of festival week (India has so unbelievably many festivals!) so there were colours and music in the streets of the city with more than 1.000 temples…
On the 29th Matilde and I joined each other heading towards the train station in Ajmer (30 mins from Pushkar, where there is no train station) - Matilde jumped on her train with Jodphur as her destination while I went to a holy Muslim place called the Dargah nearby a bazaar in Ajmer. I started out making the mistake of accidentally walking on some holy stairs with my shoes on… NOT good! I apologised and apologised again and then found the right entrance - leaving my shoes outside first and covering my hair loosely with a scarf to show respect. I walked around the Dargah sucking in the atmosphere when a huge Muslim family smiled at me and waved their hands in the gesture of saying join us. I of course joined them and we tried to make a conversation which was quite tough when they were speaking so little English. I sat with them for 10 mins maybe then thanked and left the Dargah heading back to the train station. When entering the Dargah you cannot bring anything but your wallet (it's like that everywhere in India because of the risk of bombs) so I didn't have my phone to check the time. When I got my bag with my phone and checked what time it was I found out that I really was in a big hurry! My train to Delhi would be leaving Ajmer station at 3.50pm and when I looked at my phone the clock said 3.40pm! and I was far away from the train station in a bazaar where there are no auto rickshaws… I luckily found a cycle rickshaw and told him that I was really late and he did his best to cycle through the massive crowd. As soon as we got out of the bazaar I paid the guy and got into an auto rickshaw instead who also got the message of me being in quite a rush! When we arrived at the station I paid him quickly and then ran as fast as I could to the cloak room to get my bags and then I ran into my train just two mins before departure… Man, it was stressful. I made it, though, so that was quite a relief. I didn't get to buy water and food, however, but just as I was thinking this a steward (if that's the name on trains as well?) walked trough the carriage giving all of us a cold bottle of mineral water… I was stunned, just as I was when I got on the train and found out that my carriage was with air-condition. While my thoughts were wondering I received a menu and a tray with several snacks, biscuits, and tea… And the menu let me know that I would get dinner as well. Later I found out that when travelling with Shatabdi Express (the train) meals are included and the price is more or less adjusted to this. It was really nice to try, though. Especially because it was unexpected.
After 7 hours train ride reading my book and chatting with fellow Indian travellers I arrived at New Delhi Railway Station. I got out of the train and called the number of the person I was going to stay with (JP's good friend). He explained my taxi driver the way and I arrived in a small apartment in West Delhi close to midnight. Bagh, the friend of JP, gave me a warm welcome and I got to say hi to his niece Rani (21 years old) as well and the three of us had a short chat before we went to sleep. The following morning Bagh's wife had made my breakfast and Bagh made me tea. I also met Bagh's son Simson at 13 years. It was a nice morning and soon they were all at work or in college except for Simson who had holiday until April 1st. I finished my breakfast, had a freezing cold shower and had a look around. The apartment had a toilet, a bathroom, a very small kitchen, two bedrooms and a living room. Bagh and his wife had a room each (women and men in India don't sleep together even when married), and Simson and Rani, the niece, slept in the living room. While I was staying in their home I had got Simson's bed, while he slept in his Mum's room.
At around noon Simson showed me the way to the closest metro station, TagoreGarden, from where I got the metro to the centre of Delhi. Their home was not in mid-Delhi so it was very nice with a well-functioning and modern metro connecting the centre and their place. I spent my three days in Delhi meeting up with Rafael, the guy from Chile that I met in Jaisalmer, doing some shopping, going to the cinema (where you also only can bring your wallet…), and having a good time with "my" family :) My last day in Delhi was really nice. I went with Bagh to his job at a center where they educate slum kids and also give 6 months courses in stitching for women - he is managing the place. It was a very interesting visit. At night Rani had made us all dinner which we enjoyed, and afterwards she showed me how to bind my sari. It looks so good! Then I had to do a fast, last (!) packing of my backpack and then drive to the airport after some family snaps :) The night before was nice as well. Rani painted henna tattoos on my hands and feet which turned out very well.
All in all it was very very nice to spend my last days in India with a private family. They were so hospitable, accommodating and friendly in a way that only Indians can be.
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