Delhi Delhi Delhi....

Delhi. What a city.

Made my way on the metro north to Lal Quila and the Old City. There, opposite the Red Fort I mulled around a Jain temple, getting charged an arm and a leg by O2, trying to work out where my walking tour guide was.

Eventually we met up and navigated the crowded faeces-laden streets of Old (but not the oldest bit of...) Delhi. We made our way past places of worship of 4 of India's 5 main religions - Jainism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism. We got to go inside the Sikh temple which gave me the opportunity to wear a funny hat and get wet feet.

On the one hand Old Delhi is very interesting to meander. The low-hanging perilous electrical cables, the goats and cows just randomly wandering and the whole rustic feel of the place is enticing. On the other hand it is definitely one of the most beleaguring places I've ever been. Indeed whilst New Delhi is crazy, Old Delhi is so crazy it needs institutionalising.

I made my way back to the hostel, picking up a sandwich at a train station and getting some water at WH Smiths. I hadn't realised Smiths had it's own international empire! Or maybe its only in the Delhi Metro.

After recuperating in my hostel I was ready to leave for the long straight tower that is the Qubt Minar. Then I got caught in conversion by the Indian lady on the bed next to me who proceeded to tell me her and her parents life stories about abandoning careers in science and dreams of heading to America to find entry level hospitality employment. I also met Sam who was in school with a Biology coursemate.

My journey to the Qubt Minar was made more complex by my mindless wondering around Saket metro station whilst trying to finish a tasty if difficult to eat Oreo-Cadbury chocolate bar. That got me going in the wrong direction and meant I had to cross two big busy roads! Which are now a lot less scare-wee than when I first arrived.

The Qubt Minar, alike the Lotus Temple, was an oasis of green and peace in the... well actually largely actual jungle of New Delhi. But Delhi is jungle penetrating with roads and discarded plastic bottles. It's one of the 7 cities of Delhi, an ancient city from when Afghan armies first conquered the Subcontinent and as the Mongols conquered Central Asia played refuge to many Central Asian academics.

Indeed these were the buildings of the first sultan of Delhi. And now they're a place to admire the extensive shaft that is the Qutb Minar and for guards to take photoshoots of compliant tourists.

Am now famished and am also very ready to leave Delhi. Am looking forward to seeing more to India than just rusty buildings beebing horns and highways. I mean, I am going to see more of those three things just more on top of that.

Delhi isn't boring but it is a place you don't want to spend too long in. That said, I'm glad I didn't rush out of it and whilst I don't feel I'd regret not coming I'm not regretting coming either.

Alavida!