The "back door" is all about getting close to the ground, less rushed and more authentic. It's about trying to really understand and feel how the locals live. It's about staying at the 2 star B&B even when you can afford better, eating in a place full of locals that doesn't have a "Tourista Menu" (or any English on the menu), going through the museum in reverse order to avoid the big crowd. Most Importantly it is about taking advantage of any opportunity to hang out with locals. We consciously and deliberately collect friends from across the world with the hope that we might someday share a backdoor experience with them.
So when Manish told me that we were going to have Sunday lunch in Delhi with an old friend and his family I was pretty sure I was in for something special.
Ever the concerned, caring friend he asked, "Are you sure this is OK? If you want to do something else that's fine."
"No way!", I replied and proceeded to explain the back door philosophy.
I was not disappointed.
Sanjeev was a close childhood friend of Manish but they had lost touch for almost 30 years. Through the power of social networking, they recently reconnected and our visit to India provided the first opportunity to meet in person after all those years. Sanjeev's mother was important in Manish's early life and a close friend of his mother as well. So it was an extra bonus when he learned that she would be there as well.
We drove to a residential area of Delhi and joined Sanjeev, his wife, two children and his parents for a wonderful home cooked meal. It was the kind of backdoor experience I crave and it was, in a word, fantastic.
The pictures best tell the tale.
Manish & Sanjeev catch up on old times. "Remember how we used to play in the garden after school and eat fresh pears from the tree?"
The table is set. The food was all home made and really GOOD!
Grandfather takes a short break from watching the big cricket match (India vs. England!) to join us.
Old friends reunited.
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