From Vizag, we flew into Delhi. [More on the relaxation and the people that we met in Vizag and learnings in Cheepurupalli, in a few days]. Traveling from the airport to the Inter-state Bus Terminal (ISBT), we got a chance to experience the traffic and smog in the capital city. Driving along Sardar Patel Marg and other wide avenues in New Delhi is always a source of wonder. We didn’t know that there was such a thing as the “President’s Estate” (we knew of course, about the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the official residence of the President). [While in Hyderabad, we saw instances where riders of scooters and motorcycles would hang their helmets off the rearview mirrors and only put the helmet on when they spotted a traffic police officer]. Interestingly, in Delhi, both the riders and the passengers of two-wheeled vehicles were wearing a helmet. Yay for safety!
We boarded a Volvo bus at the ISBT, a comfortable ride from the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). These air-conditioned buses run seven times each day in each direction. The first bus of the day leaves Delhi at 6 PM and every 45 minutes thereafter. [On return, the first bus leaves Manali at 2:15 PM]. The journey took us 15 hours. The bus stopped at three service centers and / or dhabas with decent restrooms and to Lakshmiji’s pleasant surprise: extra hot, light tea! [There were no restrooms onboard the bus]. The seats reclined to 135º so it was way more comfortable than any recent plane ride.
We’ve arrived! We’re now living on the top floor of a house in an apple 🍎 orchard in Himachal Pradesh. Lakshmiji can reach out from our balcony and pluck a fresh juicy Apple. Thank you, Tree!
