The Rajdhani Express and a wedding in Chennai

 RAJDHANI EXPRESS

Back in Delhi we spent the night at the Ambassador Hotel. Kahn Market is a block away. Street dogs are everywhere in India and these boys are lucky to live in a more affluent part of Delhi, I guess.

After a shopping morning it was time for our journey on The Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Chennai. We paid a guide to escort us through the station and wait with us on the correct platform until the train arrived. Then it was all pushing and shoving onto the train and a rush to find the correct cabin. It's a 28 hour journey. We had our own first class air-conditioned sleeper cabin. All our meals were served on trays in the cabin. The train has a kitchen for serving but cooked food is picked up at stations along the way and served to passengers fresh and hot. It's such a relaxing way to travel in India.

CHENNAI

We were in Chennai for almost a week for the wedding of Arvi and Verna, son and daughter of our friends and colleagues from New Jersey days.

We decided to leave our wedding attire shopping until we got to Chennai. On our first morning a driver picked us up at the hotel and our first stop was Pothys Boutique. We were there for 4 hours! Sari buying was such fun! We each got 2 full outfits; jewellery and the lot! We did make it to a few more shops and a mall too. 

All in all we attended 4 different 'parties' - all for the wedding. We loved it all, met some great people, learned a lot about Hindu culture and had a wonderful time with our friends. Thanks Ram and Ranji for inviting us and thanks Arvi and Verna for including us in your celebrations.

The Leela Palace is a gorgeous hotel. Six- plus star! We did venture out of aircon heaven to wander in the markets or visit temple complexes along the coast, but the Leela is a luxury you can really get used to!