My India Trip

November 5
We arrived in Delhi two hours late. But luckily my driver was there waiting for me, and he drove me to my hotel near Connaught Place. When we arrived at the hotel it was late, and I was very tired after travelling for 36 hours. I went to bed immediately. The bed was great, very comfortable. A good sleep.

November 6
In the morning I explored Connaught Place. I walked around Central Park, where they have a very big Indian flag. Then I visited the Hanuman temple. It is one of the oldest temples in Delhi. Later I met my friend Divya, she’s in Delhi to make a documentary film. We had lunch at the Masala Trail, where you can eat typical Indian food. Delicious! Tomorrow Divya and I are planning to visit Old Delhi together.

November 7

Divya met me at the hotel and we took a taxi to the Red Fort. This is the place where the emperors of India lived. We saw the big hall where the emperor met visitors. We also saw the Mumtaz Mahal, the palace where the women lived. After that we went to the spice market. It was spectacular! It’s one of the biggest spice markets in Asia. But it was very crowded so we didn’t stay very long. We took a taxi back to Connaught Place. I said goodbye to Divya, because tomorrow she is flying to Mumbai for work.

Notting Hill Carnival: London’s biggest street party

This year the Notting Hill Carnival will be on 25, 26 and 27 August. It is one of the biggest street carnivals in the world. Last year nearly two million people visited the carnival. There will be beautiful costumes, Caribbean dancing, Caribbean music – reggae, calypso, rumba and zouk. Don’t forget to visit the street restaurants where you can try delicious Caribbean food, like spicy jerk chicken, callaloo soup and goat stew.

Programme

• Saturday 25

Go to Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park on Bosworth Road to watch Britain’s biggest steel band competition. Take your family, they will love it! The competition starts at 6 p.m. and finishes around 11 p.m.

• Sunday 26

The first parade of the carnival starts early, at 6 a.m. There will be lots of music with steel bands and African drummers. The parade begins in Canal Way in Ladbroke Grove and ends in the same place at about 9 a.m. On Sunday there will also be a children’s parade with lots of colourful costumes and more music. In Powis Square you can hear calypso and soca music from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• Monday 27

Monday is the climax of the carnival when there is the big parade. There will be more than 60 bands and mobile sound systems and hundreds of dancers in colourful costumes. There will also be 38 sound systems in different places, playing a variety of music styles like reggae, dub, dancehall and rare groove. So get ready to dance!

Transport

The best way to get to the carnival is by London public transport. Most roads in the Notting Hill area will be closed. The nearest underground stations are Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill Gate.