Group Dinners - Delhi and meeting the crew in Kathmandu

We left Varanasi by plane flying to Delhi for our last night on the Indian leg of the tour.   

Dinner was in a restaurant that was housed in a building that was over 200 years old.  THey had restored and renovated it about 15 years ago and it was magnificent.  You can really see the Islamic influence on the architecture with arches and details and central courtyard which keeps the air flow and hence keeps things cool.  There were traditional dances and it was a set menu of  traditional Indian cuisine…I am still cautious and avoided the heavily spiced foods - just trying a mouthful!

 

We farewelled each other back at the hotel - Jack and Mai are off to Sri Lanka, Linda heading home to the US and Sam and Davey off to Chandigarh.

The next morning was a relatively early start with a 7.30 am pick up for a flight to Kathmandu on Indigo. Arriving at the hotel about 3, I had a quick bite and refresh before wandering the few blocks around the hotel to get in a little fresh air and exercise before meeting the next group at 6 pm.

It strikes me that the traffic is so much quieter than India…the driving behaviour is more considered and less frenetic.  There were traffic control police at major intersections controlling the traffic flow and while there was an occasion horn honking - nothing like the constant cacophony of India.  

Same electricians as India!

Kathmandu is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities and is a hilly city from what I could tell.  The hotel, the Yak and Yeti, is housed in an old palace but has all the modern conveniences - I am in the new wing which appears purpose built.  

The new group consists of 6 women - aged 24 to me!  Judy and Lucy (mum and daughter) are English; Anina is Swiss from Zurich; Nikki and Alina are Indian Fijian with Nicki recently moving back to Fiji while Amina lives in Australia.  Our tour leader is Amit.  

The group dinner was a traditional Nepalese banquet - it strikes me as much less spicy and Amit advised there is little meat - only a little chicken with the rest of the food vegetables and rice.   We also tasted a local rice wine which would blow your socks off!