Day 7: Acclimatising in Shimla

After breakfast, we went out to look for another hotel. We changed our hotel to Hotel White at Lakkar Bazaar. This was recommended by the Delhi YMCA receptionist when he heard we were going to Shimla. The rooms were very clean, the bed was comfortable, there was an attached bathroom, a balcony with a view, and an electric heater at no extra charge. It costs Rs2000 per room per night compared to Rs650 at YMCA and well worth every rupee. It was the best place we've stayed at in India.

View from our room's balcony in Hotel White

Lunch Dosa at Ashiana

Shimla's landmark, Christ Church. Not opened for visitors when we were there,

Gandhi statue, town square

Shops in town

Post office and local residents

We met up with Beka in the afternoon and strolled around town with the other tourists who were having pink candy floss and ice cream cones - holiday food. It felt like a Disney toy town. We wandered up to the Kali Bari temple after the brief afternoon shower. Apparently it had been raining almost every day unusually over the last month.

Kali Bari temple

 

Skies threatening rain

We stopped at the Indian Coffee House, a Shimla old boys' institution. They don't serve tea and there is a definite colonial-era vibe. We spoke to a very nice older Shimla gentleman who told us he had been going there every day for the last 30-40 years. He seemed to have a contented life, he's retired but still works as a hotel caretaker to keep active. His wife is still working and his mum who's not very well is living with them. Both his daughter and son have good professional jobs away from Shimla and have produced grandchildren. He had a bunch of friends he used to go to the coffee house with but they had moved on to other places. He seemed accepting of that and contented of life. Most of the men who went there are dressed very smartly. Beka got a Sikh gentleman with a white turban and white moustaches to pose for a great portrait shot.

Somewhat claustrophic interior of chummy Indian Coffee House

The state museum was closed on Monday but there was a miniature painting exhibition in town. Lovely, colourful, intricate paintings of romantic love scenes. We may have bought some if this was our last stop and we have a way of carrying it home safely and conveniently.
After an early dinner of noodles at Ashiana, Beka-spicy, mine-medium, Karin-no spice, we wandered down to the Middle Bazaar. This was a piece of 'real India' in Shimla,though not as in-your-face. The girls tried on various things and Beka bought a blue top with gold trim, perfect for an Indian-themed party. Karin got a toy auto rickshaw and it did make the real auto rickshaws seem like toy vehicles. It's a wonder we didn't see any accidents in Delhi with the auto rickshaws, touch wood.
Back in our hotel, it was warm with our electric heater and we no longer feel like we were camping. We fell asleep watching Will Smith's kid and Jacky Chan in the new Karate Kid. Bliss!