A new day came and we were off and running. We sang rag bhairav, drank tea and had breakfast (scrambled eggs for me and curried potatoes with whole wheat fry bread for Emily). Comfortable with all of our packed belongings in hand, our minds are free to pursue the next adventure.
First we have a ten o’clock meeting with the head of Pathfinder International in India (P.I. is a non-profit organization focused on family planning and women’s health in developing countries). After a very informative and inspiring talk we are ready to continue with our day. (Thank you Pathfinder International Delhi office staff!!!)
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| Emily and Chris with the top staff at Pathfinder International India, Delhi office |
We returned to the hotel and had lunch down the street next to a well-known sweet shop in Delhi called “Nathus Sweets.” It is customary to present sweets and other gifts to friends, family, gurus, etc. in India so while there, I purchased a box of Kaju Barfi (a cashew nut based sweet) for our visit to my Guruji’s home. I had also assembled a photo album of pictures from our time together many years ago (including the ones posted earlier) as a gift to him and his family. (Oh, and he told Nasir that I should bring him some whiskey as well – just my luck, I had purchased a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label at the duty-free store in Munich and had yet to get into it… perfect!)
We got a taxi and Nasir spoke to the driver over my cell phone to give him directions to their apartment. (Travel note-->) Most addresses in Delhi require several things: first, a general area to start heading towards; second, when you get to that area, there has to be be folks milling about for your driver to begin his inquiries with; third, (and a few blocks down) a few more folks sitting here and standing there (that the previous group referred you to) for your driver to continue his questioning; and finally, fourth, (just after the next round-about) a long, skinny alley (with bikes and a broken-down riksha, mud and rocks and an open man-hole or two and a dog with three legs), and, after attempting to manuever the taxi through, you all decide it best that he let you out there to walk the rest of the way (just a block or so more usually).
Those conditions having been met, we made it to my Guruji’s apartment where there were old friends and family with smiles and freshly prepared, home-cooked Indian dishes. I had not seen my Guruji in ten years and often feared that the next time I tried to contact him, it would be too late and he would not be alive anymore. As you can see from the picture on the right, he is quite alive and kicking. (Ten years ago, he is pretending to ride a Harley, today he sports a dashing black fedora)
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| Before (2001) |
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| After (2010) |
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| Emily sits with Guruji's family. |
After dinner we were treated to sitar, tabla and singing. Nasir is in red (on sitar) and Omar (his 14 year old nephew) – Omar is an incredible prodigy, one of a handful of young musicians in India that play as well as those that have studied more than three times the number of years that he has been alive! I embedded some live video below that I took of him – a must see, absolutely amazing!!!!
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| Nasir Solo |
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| What a frickin' show, these two (Nasir's hand is so fast, you can't see it!!) |
We stayed late and talked for hours before heading home (back through the alley-way, of course, to meet the taxi), and slept soundly. |
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