There is such a thing as a free ride!

Well, I'd never get to write my last post from Canada. Even if my mother were bugging me quite a bit about it. The post about our three days in Toronto, couchsurfing at Naomi and her son Stefan. They were the most hospitable hosts ever. They had even moved out of one of the bed rooms and slept on the couch, while we got the room. About visiting Niagara Falls, the gaypride and the Thai/Hungarian restaurant. Not even a post about reaching back home. My three months in Denmark, spent on visiting friends and family, enjoying the light Danish summer nights and finally realizing that I am a migratory bird. Im not travelling because I want to settle somewhere else than Denmark. I just prefer sun, warmth and lots of daylight. 

And as autumn reached Denmark it was time for me to depart to my second home country - India!

The first time, I landed in Delhi, was January 2003, the beginning of a till now 10 years love affair. I love India and I love being in India. Not least being in the mountains (Himalaya), where I spend most of my time with friends in and around Aquaterra Adventures.

As I will this time, where their newly opened activotel Atali, Ganga will be my home for the next six months. And where I'll be their first longterm hindi student.

So, again I landed in Delhi. Was picked up by a pre booked taxi (no need to take any risks using the ones in the airport at night) and taken to Vaibhav's place. Vaibhav is the owner of Aquaterra and a very dear friend for - well - almost 10 years.

I spent the first couple of days catching up with favourite spots and friends, drinking lots of coctails and basically just settling.

I believe that India loves me as much as I love her, which is why she already on my very first day there gave me another three reasons to love her.

1. That I, two minutes after stepping in to a random grocery shop, was laughing with the entire staff because sadarji (old sikh) at 78 was tickling the employees: "Sadarji is old, but he likes it when people smiles."

2. The car, which had chosen to stop in the middle of a rather hectic cross light with a sign in the back shield saying "I don't care".

3. My free auto ride from Lodhi Garden to Khan Market because the driver was going in the same direction anyways and nodded backwords - hop in - it's free. There is such a thing as a free ride.

Imran - my shawl wallah
Of course, I must mention my Sunday visit at my shawl wallah at Dilli Haat (craft marked). I've known Imran for almost eight years. He has been my very reliable and fair supplier of shawls, but over the years our relationship has also grown into a fine friendship.

If Im ever to become superstitious, it must be on my friendship with Imran. Since I met him first, we have always ended our talks with "see you" and him replying "Inshallah" - if Allah wants it. Apparently, Allah does, because everytime I enter Dilli Haat, Im meeting Imran within a couple of minutes. Inspite the fact that he never knows Im coming and that he once in a while goes to back to Kashmir for a couple of months. The only exception to this was last year in December, where I didn't meet him right away. I even asked some of the other shawl wallahs, who told me that Imran actually didn't have a stand at Dilli Haat then, but gave me his adress. I would have gone there hadn't it been for the fact that half a minute before leaving, Imran entered Dilli Haat for the first time in a month.

Sunday was no exception. One minute after entering, I met Imran - big hug, smile and 2-3 hours of catching up, having lunch and even getting a beautiful silk shawl.

It's good to be back!