Delhi 2
11.2.10-13.2.10 Jo
11.2.10-15.2.10 Nikki

We decided to catch the train from Nawalgarh to Jaipur as we'd already booked the Jaipur/Delhi leg. At the station we initially waited in a queue for tickets in polite British fashion until we were urged towards the opposite side of the same small window by some of the men. This turned out to be the ladies' side so Jo bought both tickets for the 4 hour journey (second class unreserved) for the princely sum of 40 rupees; about 60p.

The single platform was busy and we were immediately befriended by a family with several children staring at us curiously and chewing on enormous radishes; what a healthy snack! They had very little English and our Hindi improves at a rate of approximately a word a week but we still managed to find out that they were also travelling to Jaipur. As a train approached and we picked up our bags the teenage son came racing forward to tell us that this was not our train. We'd wondered why many people had been crossing the tracks to stand the other side and this soon became clear. Shortly after the train had pulled in the family gathered their belongings and climbed aboard, gesturing that we should do the same. We hauled ourselves on with backpacks on our fronts as well as our backs and walked through the train, climbing down on the other side. In a few minutes our train pulled in and once we'd been shoved up the huge step, Jo was immediately offered a small space to sit by an old gentleman who perched right on the edge of the wooden bench to make room for her. Another family were keen for Nikki to take up a place on the luggage rack above their heads which was filled with their children but she declined and stood until a space became available at the next station!

The journey passed quickly and the connecting train to Delhi was on time, so we were soon back in our Karol Bagh hotel, thankful to drop into bed. The next day was spent buying train and airline tickets and doing a spot of shopping in the traveller area of Paharganj. However, on Friday we really pushed the boat out and treated ourselves to a pamper day, first grabbing a tuk tuk to the upmarket shopping area of Khan market. We had fun browsing in and trying on a range of tops at Fab India and Anokhi. Plenty was purchased!

Next we set off for The Imperial Hotel, Delhi's equivalent of Raffles in Singapore. The hotel was designed in 1933 by Lutyens and is filled with antiques and art. These beautifully furnished interiors were scented with jasmine oils and huge bowls of flowers added to the gorgeous smells. What a contrast to life outside! We'd arrived in time for high tea and settled ourselves into cane chairs ready to be waited on. Slowly we worked our way through the three layers of sandwiches, scones, cakes and patisserie and sipped our tea from granny's own floral bone china tea cups. As we reached the cake layer we were finally defeated and had to ask for the cakes to be boxed to take away.

As we left the hotel the skies darkened (a sense of déjà vu here!) and we made for the enormous Cottage Industries Emporium. Whilst trying on a huge range of pashminas, the lightning flashed and thunder crashed overhead once more. We delayed our exit until the worst was over only to find ourselves wading through inches of flood water. Trying to ignore the water that was coming up from the drains to join the floods we tottered along to the nearest metro station. Thankfully the train was emptier than we'd expected and we were whisked back almost to the door of our hotel. There was just time to scoff a few more of the somewhat battered cakes and try on the new purchases before Jo had to pack her bags for her early morning departure to Goa.

Jo's journey to the airport was a dream and there were no hitches until she tried to go through security when it became apparent that her penknife wasn't lost after all!!
Nikki checked in to her new hotel, met the group for the second tour and spent a day stocking up on the G&T supplies having already found another partner in crime at the first group dinner.

This is where the blog splits in two for a couple of weeks …we'll keep you posted as best we can.