C - C - Cold was all I could feel as we made our way out of the Delhi Airport. Our tour guide was waiting for us. Despite being a very cold night people were crowded outside the airport (quite new to me as I came from a small tropic country which has an average temperature between 24 to 31 degrees and movement of people was very limited especially at night). The air around was quite foggy; because of the cold or pollution; well it was hard to distinguish.

We were taken to the hotel where participants of other countries had already arrived. The hotel was just amazing with a 12 story hallow building. It had glass elevators which had an amazing view of the mall located right in the center. I had a roommate form Guyana but the introduction had to wait as she was fast asleep when I entered the room at around 3am. I quietly stepped in and had my shower after a 16 hours flight and slipped in the bed.

Next day I wake up when my next door neighbors (my roomie's friends) came to fetch us for breakfast. We got dressed and rushed down for our breakfast and a quick briefing. It was a quick introduction of everyone and we were provided with the schedule of the 25 days tour. We were to visit few of the historic sites in Delhi, Agra, attend a convention in Vanarasi, part take in the 2019 Kumbh Mela and visit the state of Tripura. Without wasting much time we were escorted to the bus and set on the journey.

There were a total of 40 participants and we had 2 tour guides. Most of the participants did not speak hindi but it was a blend of 7 countries and cultures from Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Myanmar, Suriname and Mauritius. We all were decedents of the indentured laborers who were taken from India to these countries over a century ago. Some were taken by the British and some by French. It was really nice getting to meet and exchange our experiences as despite being in different country's, we all had our roots from India.