So the train ride was basically fabulous. It wasn't a sleeper train and I slept in a chair, but I was so tired from not sleeping plus I took a ZzzQuil and knocked out for almost the whole trip (6ish hours). Naturally, the train was delayed, this time making us almost 2 hours behind schedule. We got to the hotel, cleaned up, unpacked, had lunch, and hit the bus to begin our exploring.
Also, let me set the scene of this city. It's the first place that has had a city feel. Amristar had big houses, but New Delhi was an actual city, with sky rises and a city structure, decent traffic flow (I've told you about the horrible lack of traffic laws here right?), and basically just more like how I'm used to living.
The hotel had no wifi available for us, so this is my second (third?) city without it, so I apologize for the lack of communication and updates.
Anyway, back to our day. We drove around the city, seeing the different things in both New Delhi (where we were) and old Delhi (where everything there is to see is located basically). We passed the Red Fort, which is super famous, but we couldn't even think about breathing on the premises because tomorrow is Indian Independence Day and the prime minister will be speaking there tomorrow and everything is being set up, guarded by all branches of the military, the works. I wish we could go hear him speak tomorrow but I don't think that's in the cards. We then headed to Akshardam Temple, which may literally be the most beautiful site I've ever seen, and I've been to the Sistine Chapel. Absolutely no electronics were allowed, they have one of our girls issues about her wrist watch! So I took no pictures. But the main temple (not religiously specific per say but the statues are of the Hindu gods). Everything was gold and marble, the infrastructure of the outside was as detailed if not more so than La Sagrada Familia. I just really can't even describe it, just google it hopefully there are pictures that do it justice. There was a professional photographer there that could take your picture, the only pictures allowed. Me and one of the Netherlands girls took one so I have a hard copy to show to anyone interested. On the way to the photographer we passed a prayer house of sorts. Eline didn't want to go in, but I did. Since I was obviously not local, a monk pulled me aside, explained the purpose of the structure. The idol "grants wishes" (your wish is granted?) if you pour water over his head. We were short on time so I did not do this (I don't remember the boy's name - that's bad I probably should), but the monk explained why the statue is of him as a boy and not as a man, and then we got talking about how he's from the U.S. But came here to be a part of this temple because there are very few of this religion(?) in the world.
We were supposed to stay to watch a water and light show with the fabulous fountains they have there, but naturally people complained we were there too long (I could have spent 12 hours in this place and not taken everything in) so we left. And, people's wishes were finally granted -- we were going shopping in an open air market/bazaar, finally!!!! **cue the sarcastic Carla voice and eye roll** I enjoyed it don't get me wrong. But leaving something awesome for shopping? Ugh whatever. It was nice though because it was our first time kind of on our own walking around enjoying things on our own terms. Me, Melissa (Canada) and Arto (Finland) stuck together wandering around. We checked out a silk shop, leather, shoes, sarees, you name it we visit it. Arto ran into McDonalds to use the bathroom and we kinda sorta lost him because we didn't stay at the meeting place like we were supposed to (whoops) but we found him no problem.
We had to take the metro to get back to the hotel, which was nice to see public transportation since we've always been on a bus. It cost a whopping 8 rupees to ride.
It was one of the German girl's birthdays, and basically all of us are sick of Indian food, so we decided to celebrate the bday with Dominos pizza. It was conveniently right outside our metro station, so we stopped on the way back. They don't accept international credit cards and my rupee stash is super low, so my options were limited, but I got to enjoy it nonetheless. It was nothing like home (ok kind of like home) but still satisfying. Upon arrival back at the hotel, the RC informs us they've tried the DJ thing one more time for our last night (our last night?! OMG where has the time gone?). No one seemed super keen on it because everyone's exhausted, but me and Melissa decided we were going to make the party happen because it was really important to the RC. Some Canadians discovered wine available in the hotel restaurant, so everyone grabbed themselves a (small) bottle and we hit the dance floor. Everyone was singing and dancing - almost everyone ended up coming down. By the end of the night, it really sunk in that this adventure is over, and these strangers we've grown so close to are now our friends and we're all parting ways and it's pretty sad. Almost everyone is ready to leave India, but no one's really ready to leave our WC family. We still have sight seeing tomorrow and then a nice 27 hour train ride together, but as for our nights and adventures together they've basically all come to a close.
The party wound down about 12:30, which is good because we have to be downstairs by 7:30 tomorrow morning. The bitter sweet is starting to just turn bitter with the sadness of leaving, but we will all stay in touch with each other no doubt. We do still have a day and a half together, so we have to make the most of it!