Early 2020, I took my first trip to India. Although not my first trip to Asia, I was very excited about the opportunity for another adventure. I was looking forward to the new sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
From Houston, I flew to the Dubai International Airport (DXB) and from DXB I flew into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi. Although I was transiting through DXB and landed very late at night, many of the stores were still open. It is always a pleasure to transit though DXB because no matter what time you arrive, you will still find a plethora of dining and shopping options. All of the retailers and advertisers in DXB featured international companies. The most prominent foreign advertisements featured the car brand Chery and notably did not include any Dubai based businesses. I found time to rest and dine at the Ahlan Lounge by way of DragonPass. Lounges are always a welcomed retreat while traveling as you can often find massage chairs, unlimited drinks, and deceptively delicious buffet options. After a couple of hours of relaxation, it was time to hop on my flight for the final leg of the journey.
My arrival to the modern airport in Delhi generated immense excitement and delight for the dual treasures of completing a marathon flight and the opportunity to explore a new and exciting land. Deplaning was smooth sailing until I reached the utter chaos and cacophony of the mandatory health screening, which was temporarily being staged in front of the passport control queues. The ill organized screening, immigration and customs clearance took nearly four (4) hours. There were lots of hiccups, for example, in order to get through immigration one had to complete two (2) forms; however, no one knew where to get the forms or what to do after waiting in long lines. This resulted in hundreds (if not thousands) of exhausted disgruntled passengers, causing many people to push, shove and skip lines. After undergoing health screening, which simply encompassed having my temperature taken, I was free to go to yet another set of lines for passport control. The entire ordeal was very stressful and was arguably worse than that 20+ hour flight. But alas I made it out of the airport and to my transportation.
Transportation in Delhi is an experience in and of itself. Driving in Delhi can best be described as organized chaos - no one drives in his or her lane and the traffic is literally all over the place. Motorists constantly blow their horn. I later learned that motorists honk to warn other motorists of their presence, but horn blowing is also used as a form of aggression, i.e., road rage. Traffic laws did not appear to be strictly enforced, rather lane demarcations, stoplights and signs were merely suggestions and not mandatory. It was typical to see bicycles on major thoroughfares, as though the bicycles were cars. You could even find cows on and or near the road along with lots of litter.
The food was the jewel in the crown of my trip. During my trip, I was able to completely avoid beef and pork as neither were readily offered. I found traditional and modern restaurants like Sutra, which had an open-air balcony, a dance floor, and local Indian bar food staples. Fly Dining, a more upscale restaurant offering, is a 24-seat restaurant suspended from a Crane was a welcome shift in typical restaurant options.The authentic cuisine was deliciously diverse. I tried foods such as Malabar fish curry, diced chicken in black bean sauce, jal jeera, mirch ka salan, pasta in saffron sauce, Shanghai cauliflower, moong dal halwa, and black lentils.
Despite what one may hear and read about Delhi, my lodging options were always excellent. From the more familiar J.W. Marriot to the lesser-known Fortune Inn Grazia, lodging never disappointed. Hotels were well equipped with gyms, pools and decent bars and restaurants.
Security was one thing that was quite different in Delhi. At the airport security officers walked around with AK47 rifles. This was not an unfamiliar sight, as I quickly learned. At hotels and nicer restaurants, I would frequently see guards behind militarized fences with AK 47’s. I must admit that it was quite an experience to have lunch and have militarized security forces walk by with full battle regalia. I didn't know if the threat was that great or if it was overkill but in any case it was quite an experience.
In all, my trip to India opened up new doors of enlightenment and I am glad that I visited Delhi and experienced the food, culture and people. I look forward to visiting the country again. There is no much more I want to see and experience.