Text Rebecca Lo

Hong Kong girl Helen Mahtani Dhianchand worked as an editor on Hong Kong-based design and hospitality trade magazines before marrying and moving to India in 2005. After living at her husband’s family resort in the Himalayas for a year, she relocated to New Delhi. She now works for a non-profit organisation, fighting for the rights of disabled people in her adopted country.

“Traditionally, when an Indian woman gets married, she moves to where her husband is based. After living in Hong Kong for 28 years, I was both ready and excited to experience a new country and culture.

Of all the cities in India, New Delhi is considered to be one of the most difficult. It is really the survival of the fittest here. I appreciate all of the challenges I have experienced so far – they have forced me to stretch myself in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I have grown as a human being as a result of living here.

One of the things I love about New Delhi is how easy it is to contribute to society – to really make a difference. India is still a developing country. Daily life for the middle class, which makes up the majority of the population in New Delhi, is definitely not on par with the developed

world. There are literally hundreds of thousands of non-profit organisations here, chipping away at issues ranging from poverty to health to education to women’s rights to climate change and to animal rights. That is why I have chosen to work as an activist. My upbringing in Hong Kong allows me to contribute so much more to my work, and it is extremely fulfilling.

Growing up in Hong Kong, I crave Chinese food and really miss it here. One of my favourite restaurants is The China Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency New Delhi. No other place comes as close to the authenticity of its Chinese food – believe me, I have looked everywhere! I always order the kung pao chicken and broccoli with ginger, garlic and chilli. For Indian cuisine, a good bet is the Curry Leaf at Moets. The dishes are prepared in the traditional Mughlai ways and are absolutely scrumptious. I go for the dal makhani and butter chicken with roomali roti. Roomali roti is like naan bread, but thinner and folded like a handkerchief. In Hindi, roomali actually means handkerchief. Another place I go to for Indian is Karim’s. It’s a hole in the wall in an alley in the heart of old Delhi, a bustling market dominated by Muslims. Everything is delicious at Karim’s. I like to stroll around the market afterwards to work off the meal. It kind of reminds me of the night markets in Hong Kong, but much bigger and with more people.

I’m not a big party girl, but I like to go to Urban Pind. It has a lounge and restaurant, with an eclectic crowd of both expats and locals. The music isn’t bad either, and the DJs always mix a varied selection for the lounge. To chill and relax, I head to Shalom; it’s on three floors, with the top one a bar. The cuisine is Arabic and Mediterranean, with a fantastic ambience.

For coffee, I go to one of the two branches of Café Turtle. It’s a bookstore on the lower floors and a café on the upper one, with good books to browse as I’m waiting for my order. The atmosphere is cosy and holistic, with an organic vegetarian menu; my weakness is its hummus sandwich. I usually lose all concept of time while I’m there, and leave totally refreshed.

Most women go to Chandni Chowk to shop. It is a huge, busy market where you can get materials to make your own clothes and jewellery. Janpath at Connaught Place is also good; most tourists go there since it’s got lots of souvenirs to choose from, along with Indo-western clothing and shoes. It’s a little like Stanley Market in Hong Kong.

For sightseeing, head for Akshardham temple and its beautiful architecture. Jama Masjid is one of Asia’s largest mosques, built by emperor Shah Jahan in 1656. Daily prayers are still conducted there by devout Muslims.

And for some indulgence, I head to F Spa. The internationally trained staff really spoil me, and I like the full menu of massages, facials and hair treatments. Each treatment room has its own Jacuzzi, and despite being in a busy market area, you feel like you’re in a peaceful oasis of your own.”

Homesick for Hong Kong

What I miss the most about Hong Kong:  
• being able to walk almost anywhere; we need cars to get around this huge city  
• enjoying the fresh air in the green parks  
• Chinese restaurants with dim sum, lemon chicken, ma pao tofu and chow mein  
• efficiency – everything is easily done in Hong Kong; here, you have to wait and wait

Contacts

Curry Leaf
Moets, Ground Floor, 50 Defence Colony Market +91 11 4155 0571

F Spa
E-22 South Extension Part 2 +91 11 2460 29703/04

Karim’s
Jama Majid, Gali Kababian +91 11 2326 4981

Shalom
N-18, N Block Market, Greater Kailash I +91 11 4163 2280

Urban Pind
N-4, N Block Market, Greater Kailash I +91 11 3951 5656 www.urbanpind.com

The China Kitchen
Hyatt Regency New Delhi, Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road +91 11 2679 1234

Café Turtle
N-8, Greater Kailash I +91 11 2924 5641 23 Khan Market +91 11 2465 5641