Indian Summer

It’s was just cool 100 F as we step outside Delhi Airport at midnight. I couldn’t breathe with the humidity, did I forget how Indian summer was? It was twenty years back since I last experienced summer and monsoons in India. At least, there was no traffic as we headed to our hotel near the airport. That was a plus, as I contemplated my decision to come to India during the month of insanely hot and humid weather.

The kids on the other hand were clueless about heat and more excited about staying in JW Marriott and ordering room service. Having had no food for last fifteen hours they were thinking about good Indian food they could feast on. Yes, they hate plane food and cover their noses when the food is served. And there is no way of making them eat that…. very frustrating!

Staying the night over in a hotel was one of the best decisions! India can be a bit excruciating when it comes to relatives, and they are everywhere you go! We were fresh and ready to head out to my parents house next morning! Yes, after eighteen hours of flying time and another six hours of hanging around in the airport, we still had another three hours of train travel to get to our final destination. Yes, it’s lovely to travel across the globe!

Chandigarh, India

It’s been two weeks since we reached and it’s been total relaxation and food heaven and I couldn’t have asked for anything else to recharge for the next whole school year! The heat and humidity are unbearable when you are out and about. But, that’s made us stay back home and spend quality time with my parents. I wouldn’t suggest visiting Northern India in summer for site seeing, unless you love being in hot and humid weather combined with unruly extremely chaotic traffic.

Lephakshi Temple

Neglected ceiling paintings

Lephaski, 15th Century Temple, Bangalore

My side trip to South India, Bangalore on the other hand was amazing! The weather was extremely nice. Did I get lucky? Guess Bangalore is cooler than Northern India during summer and that I find a bit strange. But, I didn’t complain! Getting away from heat was the best thing, I could finally step outside and go enjoy shopping, sightseeing and eat amazing South Indian food and catching up with lots of friends.

Lephakshi Temple

MTR Tiffin Food, Bangalore

We visited a old temple almost two hours away from the city. It was a trip well worth! It’s a 15th century neglected temple with beautiful paintings on the ceilings. It’s frustrating to see how they maintain old monuments in India. The ceiling paintings are fading away with temple smoke and neglect. There is no concept of saving history in India, except maybe Taj Mahal! Or maybe they don’t have the time and energy to do so with trying to maintain 1.3 billion and counting people here!! The people in Southern India were polite and warm.

It’s another five days before we head out to our next destination for the summer. In the meantime, I am enjoying my mom’s food, taking to my parents about all the time we spent as kids, catching up with my college friends and making the most of this Indian Summer!

Some more pictures of India trip…