Radinja10

At last the post you have been waiting for - the final one. It is traditional to post pictures of a few signs and adverts that have given us a smile but before that a few statistics. Flights.                             3.           17488 km                    1 night Hotels                               7.                                              15 nights Homestays.                      8.                                              20 nights Eco Camp Tent.  ...

After supper we chat with Shukla, the lovely lady who owns/runs Lutyens Bungalow, and her daughter. The conversation gets to including showing pictures of Alex & Craig's wedding and then onto the subject of marriage itself. The Emirates car, a very smart BMW SUV arrives promptly and we are soon in Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International. This has changed out of all recognition since our first visit in 2011. Even the security checks seem to have got slicker. Shortly after midnight we are in the Emirates Lounge and have the place to ourselves. There is wine, gin & tonic, and even a cheeseboard with proper cheese! We doze fitfully and wake up to find there will be a short delay for our flight. This delay grows as it takes an age to get everybody boarded. Clearly there is no enforcement of the rule on cabin bag size and the staff have to spend ages finding homes for enormous bags out of the economy cabin. It's not as if Emirates are mean with hold baggage allowance...

We have a lie in until 0715 this morning. It's another bright, sunny day in Delhi. After breakfast we commence packing, slightly reassured by our generous Business Class luggage allowance. It takes less time than anticipated so we can enjoy another stroll around Lodhi Gardens. It's a weekday and much less busy so there is the chance to stroll without impeding the more athletic. There is a rose garden which has attracted a group of Red Naped Ibis this morning, birds which somehow appear rather scholarly. We cannot loiter indefinitely as we have a lunch date today. Lutyens Bungalow post check out policy is very generous, allowing us the freedom of the terrace and the teamaker. BB is going to collect us and take us down the road to Hauz Khas Village. At the appointed time we meet him at the gate and soon get deep in conversation catching up. It is three years since we last met but it seems like a lot less. We go to a Keralan restaurant called Coast, which specialises in ...

It is a bright sunny morning when we stir, if a little on the cool side. After an early breakfast we take a walk around the corner to Lodhi Gardens. We have usually been here on weekdays when it is quite tranquil. On a Sunday morning it is a seething mass of humanity running, jogging, power walking, strolling and barely moving. The soundtrack is cacophonous, featuring youths playing football, dogs, geese and groups of people chanting. Last night's downpour has left temporary ponds in a few places, providing new photo opportunities for the digital generation. We spend an hour walking and watching before returning to base for a bit more breakfast. One attraction even closer to the Bungalow than Lodhi Gardens is Safdarjung's Tomb. One corner of the perimeter is right across the road. Somehow we have never managed to visit this and this morning presents a good opportunity. It is a site managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) who are generally good at keeping ...