Friday, November 8, 2013

Likir House Delhi

We have moved to the Likir House in the Lajpat Nagar area of south Delhi close to the Defense Colony. We really like this guest house a lot. The rooms are roomy and very clean. The staff are wonderful Tibetan people. Some of the help are what they call 'fresh' - newly arrived after escaping Tibet. There was a young man staying in the Buddhist Temple who had recently escaped Tibet but his parents had not made it out. It is a subject they don't want to talk about.

This guest house has a better feel to us than the Temple and is more comfortable. The attached bathroom at the temple had a very bad sewer gas odor when water was run down drains. Likir House has never had that problem when we've stayed here. We have noticed that problem in a lot of places in India and Nepal but usually in the more rustic rural guest houses. The rooms at the Likir House are also larger than at the Buddhist Temple in East of Kailash.

Although the big deal difference is that the Defense Colony market is just a short walk away from Likir House. Crossing the big road,on the way is easy because just across the road from the Likir driveway are steps that go up to the raised metro train. Just take those steps up and then down the other side and turn right and then left on the next street. Three blocks down and there is the circle of Defense Colony Market and the great variety of Restaurants and shops. The neighborhood is also more upscale than East of Kailash or Kailash Colony making it a cleaner more relaxing walk.
We ate at Sagar late this afternoon, and it was wonderful! We had the Thali which was very good with plenty of refills by a very attentive wait staff. (if you order Thali it usually includes free refills until you cry uncle). Thali is the same as Dahl Bhatt - spicy Dal or beans and rice with curried veges, curd, a green vege and several other small dishes of delicious things to eat with the rice and bread. I had a masala buttermilk to drink for the first time -- wonderful if you like the taste of curd (yogurt) with some mild spices and I did. It really helped with the hot spices in the Thali. Then we had south Indian drip coffee -- two cups each. Really good with a small desert. We did not get the Dosas, a south Indian standard that can be a meal in itself. But we will be getting plenty of that in South India next month. We were so full we couldn't even look at the beautiful chocolates in the desert shops around the colony. That is serious full.

We leave for Rishikesh and Hairdwar in the morning for four or five days, with Mr Omprakash driving and Veeru as our guide. It is about a 5 hour drive from here. It will be cooler there and beautiful with a many meditation and yoga ashrams around the area. We will return and eat more at Sagar before leaving for Rajastan and Gujariat with Mr. Omprakash and Lalit on the 16th.

We purchased our flight tickets this morning for the Grand Canyon hiking, and Whitefish skiing trips. So that piece of administrative planning is out of the way and I can quit checking the fares and trying to make sure I have good wifi available.

Also, a load of trekking gear and unnecessary clothing was packed up and sent via UPS back home with great help from Lalit. The shipping agent came to our guest house where we loaded the box and did the weight and payment. Another thing done! Getting lighter! I wish it was that easy with body weight - just ship it off! Ha!

We are having mixed drinks (mango juice and soda water) with nuts and snacks in the room tonight. Yummm.

Hope everyone Is doing well and staying Happy.

Namaste, Jullay, Peace, Darryl and Susan

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