Namaste,
Smelly, dirty, chaotic, Delhi is covered in smog that smells of tandoori ovens and incense, Visibility is down to about 200m, Which is frightening when we landed at 1am, lorries driving without lights,3 lanes become an unofficial 5, Cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road, the roads are the most terrifying anywhere, (They drive that close you can check the next drivers nasal hair)
We took to the metro on our first day, Which was an experience in over crowding, ( the buses are worst, only just) and visited the local markets, your hassled by hawkers and beggars everywhere.
We arranged a guide to take us around the Delhi sights ($16US) on Saturday, which took over 8 hours due to "crazy traffic" his words, Still we visited the Red fort in Old Delhi, our driver (I can't pronounce his name, so spelling it is out the window) was very jittery in this area, Because of so many "nasty people" ( us relaxed ?, No), The rest of the day was much better, Gandhi's monument ( no one mentioned the likeness), Mrs Indri Gandhi's house where they show her sari she was gunned down in, India gate, The Lotus temple ( a bit like Sidney opera house, a free love church of sorts) where all religions become one and several other temples and mausoleums, People watching between sights from the safety of the car is a sad fact, Young children fighting over bananas, poverty is rife and this is in the smart part of town, Its very grubby.
08/11/09 with our Crazy traffic driver, we set off for Agra at 6am for the Taj Mahal, If Delhi driving was bad, once your out in the sticks its hand carts, horse and cart, ox and cart, camel and cart, Tuk tuk's with 13 people on, Buses and lorries with people squat on the roofs, Cows wander out into dual carriageways, pigs and monkeys just roam loose at the side of the road and everyone just carries on.
Agra is a pollution free zone ? To keep Taj Mahal clean, The sun shone through. Our driver had arranged a guide, who thankfully was oblivious to the fact everyone else were queuing and he knew where to get the right photo angles, We had a great but long day having spent 10hrs in the Taxi ( $75US including guide).
Would we come back to Delhi, Probably not. We wouldn't have missed it though, Its full on experience, colourful and Manic, "Incredible India" as crazy traffic driver says
No scrabble scores yet.
The Chaffers