Don & Kully's World Cruise on Viking Neptune

Today we departed the Viking Neptune in Sri Lanka for a one-week overland trip in India. We had a 4:00AM transfer to the Colombo airport for an 8:20AM flight to Delhi, India. Sri Lanka requires check-in three hours prior to an international flight. The security was very thorough, our bags were x-rayed at two different check points and hand inspected as we boarded the plane, so they needed the full three hours to process and board the flight. Our flight was on Air India, definitely not Delta, but the plane did get us safely from point A to point B, needless to say it was an interesting experience.

Our group of ten arrived in India and was met by our very enthusiastic guide, Prashant Singh, who will be with us for the entire time we’re in India. Once we got all of the bags loaded, we headed toward the city and to our hotel. Enroute, Prashant went over the planned itinerary for the first two days in Delhi and a little bit about local history. We stopped at a German Beer Hall for lunch prior to checking into the Eros Hotel.

We took time to unpack and freshen up before heading out for a short evening tour that included a driving tour around key government buildings including the Presidential Palace, Old Parliament, New Parliament, Finance Ministry, Ministry of Defense and residential area for other government officials.

We made a stop at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple, the second largest Sikh temple in the world. The Sikh religion was founded by a disenchanted Hindu Guru in the fifteenth century. The faith is based on the idea of living an active, creative and practical life of truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity is above metaphysical truth, and that the ideal man establishes union with God, knows his will and carries out that will. Believers live their faith through daily prayer and service to others. The temple operates an open kitchen that feeds approximately 35,000 people every day. The kitchen operates every day of the year, feeding three meals each day, is funded totally through donations and staffed by volunteers. The meals are considered a holy meal and are consumed not only by the poor and needy but any one desiring food. No one is turned away.

Our final stop was at the India Gate located on the eastern edge of the ceremonial axis of Delhi. At the opposite end of the Axis, or Kartavya path, is the presidential palace which is flanked by other ornate government buildings.

We had a great first day in India but are definitely ready for a good sleep tonight. Here are a few more of the things we saw today.

Tomorrow we will spend the day touring both New and Old Delhi.