Encountering New Delhi

My tenth day in New Delhi already -- the days went by so fast. The Air India flight from Frankfurt took only a little more than seven hours. We directly went for the airport taxi services suggested by our host, either Meru, Mega or Easycab -- they were right outside airport. We were told that it should not cost more than 500 to Delhi center, in our case, Haus Khaz. We asked Meru first and were sent to a taxi who wanted to charge us 2500! Moving to the Mega cab company, our driver put on the meter. We could hardly understand each other and we were just saying IIT. He stopped several times to ask but finally we got there with the meter only at 400. 

After freshening up a bit, we were picked by our host for lunch at Naivedyem in Haus Khas village specialized in South Indian food. Had the Mixed Thali which was so good but much more than I could finish! It had a dosai, crepe-like bread in a cone shape, some Idlis, or white oblong  rice cake(reminds me of a snack we call page in the Philippines) and liitle plates of different types of curries, chutneys, rice and one sweet dish. I had a lassi together with it.  We went around the village and driving to and from the place was our first experience of Delhi traffic. Wow, was it something.

Ayurvedic massage in Delhi

Just had an ayurvedic massage in New Delhi. It was an experience! Before the massage, I had a consultation with the doctor first. He first took my pulse or pressed several times in my pulse area, then took my blood pressure on both arms telling me i was bordering on high blood pressure at 132/70.  He asked me what problems I was having and I told him about the pain in my knee and glutes. He said I was a water type and that I had a lot of air in my blood. He said there were too many things going on in my mind and my mind was going on all directions. He prescribed that I have a mrning walk everyday as well as do pranayama everyday for 15 minutes-- first the anulom for 10 minutes where you alternately breathe through one nostril then the other. After that, I was supposed to do another breathing exercise for 5 minutes called the bramrighet pranayama where i touch my thumbs lightly on the inner lobe of each ear, put my index and middle finger lightly over my eyes, inhale deeply then make a throaty sound, i presume ujjayi breathe, when i breathe out. He gave me an oil called when antharam thailam that i should massage all over my joints and leave for an hour, before or after yoga.

Next came the massage on what looked like an ancient hardwood massage table. I was given a head massage first with oil, then a face massage with more oil and yet more oil, warmed up and poured and rubbed all over the chest, the legs, the arms, then the back side. The oil smelled nutty and warm and had the scent of curry spices. When I was all over full of oil came another surprise. I was asked to sit in a wooden steam box.  The hot steam and my oiled body for 15 minutes i presume would remove all my aches and pains. Quite heavenly unreal feeling. Then a warm shower after. A must do in Delhi.