To New Delhi, 6 July 2004

As we set out in the morning towards New Delhi, we decided to drive through a town called Chail. It was said that this town had a nice palace, and a cricket ground at the highest altitude in the world. When we got to the town, however, it seemed uninteresting and we simply drove through the town.

By about 11:00 AM, we were more or less out of the steep hilly regions, and the drive now was beginning to be comfortable. When I suggested to the driver that we can perhaps drive through Chandigarh, he politely pointed out that Chandigarh was not on the itinerary and, moreover, the cash he had with him would not cover the toll that he would have to pay to enter Chandigarh, a city in another state. (In India, every time you enter another state by road, you pay a toll). We focused, therefore, to drive straight towards New Delhi and, when we got to the main New Delhi - Chandigarh highway, stopped for lunch at a roadside restaurant.

The restaurant we stopped by for lunch is a marvel of a place for dining: a swarm of flies, and a litter of dead flies, greeted us as we strode into the restaurant. It was unbearably hot and the place was not air-conditioned; a hum of fans tried to provide a comfortable environment, and it was not very pleasant. The buffet was good, though, and we ate a sumptuous Punjabi meal.

By the time we arrived in New Delhi, it was about 6:00 PM. The driver went away agreeing to pick us up the next day at 8:30 AM, we checked in, and my friend obliged us once again with his visit. My children would have dinner at no place other than Saravana Bhavan, and we drove towards another restaurantof the chain, in Connaught Place. We enjoyed the meal very well, topped it with vanilla (or other) milkshake, and retired for the day.