On arrival at the starting point I was allowed to walk to the end of the street alone. The first walk time. Small wins!
Afshan and Api had arranged this tour for the family so we had the whole bus / truck to ourselves.
Prior to each stop we are informed what we will be tasting.
Stop one – Chicken Corn SoupAs the soup is being prepared for us I wander down the road (still in viewing distance…) with one of Afshan’s cousins. He seems just as excited as me being allowed “out”. We turn back when we see bowls being delivered.
I’m informed that you add different favours to the Chicken corn soup depending on your taste buds. I go with vinegar and green chili mix. Was SUPER tasty!
Stop two – was for a burger (Bun Kebab)
Before we get to the Bun Kebab restaurant / shop to eat we stand on the side of the road watching the Bun Kebab’s being made. It’s fascinating and I could spend hours standing here watching. I’m shocked when one of the cousin’s husbands goes behind the hot plate (where the staff are) to take photos – that definitely wouldn’t be allowed in the western world!
Wikipedia informs me a Bun Kebab is a sandwich native to Pakistan and India, which is eaten as a regular street food. For us it’s a vegetarian patty which consists of ground lentils, cumin seeds and omelette.
I’ve given a plate with no chutney on, that’s on my list of ‘not allowed to eat’. No surprises that the burger was tasty. At some stage tissue paper was asked for, delivered to the table was paper from a map book. Not what I had in mind when someone said tissue paper.
Stop three – Kebab’s, but not (Fried Kebabs and Nihari)
As we enter the restaurant we pass by a couple of guys sitting up on a stand cooking away.
Upstairs we go to our table. It’s packed up here so have a few minutes wait before being seated. Food just appears on the table – there are two types of bread (tandoor roti and pita); Nihari (which is a stew) with meat and some kind of dahl (I think!!) which you can add fresh ginger, red onions and lemon juice too. I’m already quite full from the previous stops but do have a small amount of most things. A Lassi drink is brought to the table, on arrival Afshan immediately informs me I’m not to drink it. Right oh, I won’t be.
I love being back onto the streets seeing all the food stalls. But boy of boy are my clothes and hair going to smell!!
Back onto the bus we go – the music and dancing continue.
Stop Four – Fried FishWe are ushered upstairs as soon as we arrive at the restaurant. Drinks orders are taken, that’s but I’ll pass. No bathroom here and don’t fancy finding one along the way…..Plates of fish and poppadum’s are brought out to the tables.
Back onto the bus we go and cruise towards our next location. Along the way we stop and are informed we can climb onto the top of the bus and continue to our next stop if we want. I’m in two minds but in the end decide to get up given we can sit up there while driving.
It’s super cool!! Waving to people on the street, some humour us and wave back, others look like we are crazy! Yes we are :)
Stop Five – Chai
Our last stop is for Chai, which they deliver to us either on the side of the street or at the top of the bus of you want.
At the end of the tour we split into two cars and are driven home. I’m with the ladies and 3/4 children. It’s a tad chaotic with no one in car seats and manic driving.
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