Day 16 & 17 - Mathura & Noida

Day 16, Saturday, March 12th, saw us drive 300 kms from Orchha in Madhya Pradesh to Mathura in UP. An uneventful drive, happy and enjoyable! As we drove into Mathura, yesterday, at 2 pm in the afternoon, we had a lunch invitation from a wonderful young man called Shirin Bansal, a resident of Mathura. Shirin and our elder son, George, were classmates at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Shirin owns a Hotel on the highway, as you enter Mathura - Hotel Spiti and the Loft restaurant. So very graciously, he insisted that we have lunch at his restaurant. Though he had to take his Dad, urgently, to Delhi, for some medical consultation, his Staff looked after us very well! We had a fantastic lunch - Pan fried Schezwan Momos, Creamy Mushroom Pasta, Garlic bread and Belgian Waffle Chocolate! Loft is a Vegetarian restaurant, and their Pastas, North Indian food, Mocktails, Milkshakes are really high quality, top class! God bless you, Shirin, for your spontaneous warmth and hospitality. May your Dad get well soon! 

At Mathura, we visited the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple. Thousands of devotees at the birthplace of Lord Krishna! A magnificent structure, and a fitting tribute to the importance of this Holy site. 

This morning, we had a short 140 km drive from Mathura to Noida. We are enjoying the hospitality of a very good friend of ours, Thomas, who's been here for several years. A very fine Single Malt, accompanied by delicious Fish cutlets and Kababs, all made by Thomas himself. Dinner was rice, mutton curry, and, 'prawn peera' (a very traditional Kerala dish) - again, all of it, Thomas's efforts 👋. Thankyou Tomchi! After 17 days on the road, it was great to have home food again! 

Tomorrow morning, we cross borders and enter State # 10, the mighty Punjab! We are in Chandigarh & Amritsar for the next 3 days. 

Last night, a very good friend of ours messaged Rajni...."Dear Rajni, thankyou for all the photos and videos. We are, actually, visiting and praying at all these 'Puniasthals' through your lens." 

What a profound, feel-good message!🙏

Until tomorrow, that's it guys.... goodnight, and, 

Stay with us 🚘😀