July 27, 2024

Taking a slightly different focus than my other blog posts, I wanted to share about my day-to-day in Delhi.

Home: I have now settled in quite well to my neighborhood in Vasant Vihar, an area in Southwest Delhi with many embassies, trees, and great local markets. I live in a converted “barsaati” apartment, which is Hindi for a terrace apartment on the roof. It’s a long-term Airbnb stay, and my hosts, a lovely Sikh family, are just a floor below.

Transportation: I usually get around using a combination of autos (rickshaws) (30% of the time), Uber taxis (60% of the time), or the metro (subway) (10% of the time). I don’t walk much, unfortunately, due to the heat, the rain, and the lack of walking infrastructure (ie. sidewalks) available along most routes. I have been very impressed by the metro here; it is extremely clean, safe, and on-time. One of the features I was most taken by is that the first coach of any train is women only, and that this rule is actually strongly adhered to. I’ve only once seen a man enter a women’s only coach, and even then he was promptly sent away down the train to another coach. The women’s only coach is an extremely pleasant and safe riding experience that other urban cities, especially those with concerns of female safety, could take notes from.

Food: My breakfasts are always prepared and eaten at home, but my lunch and dinners are a combination of dining out with friends (30% of the time), tiffin subscription service (50% of the time), and takeout (20% of the time). A tiffin meal is an Indian thali, which comprises of several dishes but typically includes rice, roti, salad, a curry, curd, pickles and vegetables. My tiffin comes from a friendly Jain family next door to my office, and is homecooked with love (I can taste it!) Although the tiffin is mostly North Indian style cooking, my favorite Indian food comes from the South: dosas and idlis, with some sambar and coconut chutney.

Free time: To compensate for the lack of walking, I have been extremely active otherwise, taking up boxing at my local gym, swimming at my local pool, and badminton at the Siri Fort Complex. In these activities, I have also found community — especially in badminton! I play regularly with a group of young / mid-career professionals in South Delhi whom I now call friends; a combination group of lawyers, development practitioners, and artists. I have also been meeting up with various friends and friends of friends, while simultaneously exploring Delhi’s amazing restaurant scene, museums, theater, and many many many historical sites. On the weekends, I have had the privilege of travelling a bit around India, exploring Gurgaon, Agra, Dharamshala, Amritsar, and Mumbai. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, India is incredibly diverse, and these experiences outside of Delhi have helped me acquire a richer, more vivid understanding of this beautiful country.