Delhi: July 11 – 13
Samson here, describing our time in India! Delhi was one of my favorite stops because of the history, culture and amazing personal connections we made in the city. We arrived in Delhi late at night on the 11th and immediately headed to our hotel. We stayed in Safdarjung Enclave, a charming and quiet neighborhood with narrow alleys and lots to see and do. The next morning, I explored the area and got some much-needed coffee with Elio and Hannah. Then, it was off to our first performance in India: an evening gig at the Piano Man Jazz Club. I can honestly say the Piano Man was my favorite venue so far. A four-story building, it combined a classic New York-style jazz club ambience with a world-class restaurant and bar. The owner, Arjun, treated us to dinner before the concert—and I enjoyed a phenomenal Southeast Asian coconut curry dish. The concert itself was an amazing event because the audience was overwhelmingly jazz aficionados. After our gig, a few Dins decided to do some impromptu soloing, with Arjun on the keyboard. I, for one, helped myself to a mango lassi from the bar and merely watched. A great first day in Delhi!
The next day most of the Dins took a trip to the Taj Mahal, about three hours away. Noah and I decided to hang around Delhi, exploring the city beyond our neighborhood. On Arjun’s recommendation, we began at a phenomenal hole-in-the-wall North Indian restaurant, proceeded to the famous Humayun’s Tomb, and concluded our expedition at a bazaar. In the evening, we reunited with the rest of the Dins and visited Arjun’s house for dinner. His family prepared for us an amazing meal, which we enjoyed over discussion of music, politics and travel.
Mumbai: July 14 – 15
Our next Indian stop was Mumbai, where we performed at the U.S. consulate. It was a real blast to meet the State Department staff, and we were treated to a buffet of American and Indian cuisine alike. Our second and final day in Mumbai was packed: I enjoyed Mumbai street food with Elio and Noah, we had an amazing dinner with a Harvard alum, and then headed to the airport to catch our 9:00 pm flight to Kolkata.
When you’re traveling, it’s important to be flexible. Sam and I learned this the hard way! We missed the final boarding call, finding ourselves stranded at the Mumbai airport. We ended up rebooking on a flight at 7:00 the next morning, and suddenly had 10 hours to kill at the airport. The good news: Mumbai has a fantastic airport! It’s a modern and large facility, with plenty to see and do. Sam and I camped out at a bar; explored a Barnes & Noble; and treated ourselves to a midnight snack of kebab and lassi. The hours passed quickly, and I remember the all-nighter as a true bonding experience.
Kolkata: July 16 – 17
Sam and I arrived in the morning—just in time for the breakfast service at our Kolkata hotel! After a well-deserved breakfast, we tucked into bed for a well-deserved daytime nap. The day was mostly free, with only an evening performance on our schedule. I spent the afternoon exploring Kolkata’s charming downtown. The Victoria Museum is an impressive British-era civic building that was converted into a national museum after independence. Inside, I enjoyed an exhibit on the Indian independence movement and the life of Gandhi and Nehru. As a history nerd, it was fascinating to learn about Indian history from this perspective. In the evening, we had a fun gig at Shisha Bar Stock Exchange, a happening club downtown. Then, it was off to Malaysia!
