First week in Delhi

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First we got to Delhi and it is FILTHY, its the most disgusting place I have ever been. We stayed in the Main Bazaar which is by far the most "seedy place with shady characters and a reputation for drugs" quote Lonely Planet! Every day we walked out it would be such a hassle, people shouting and hanging out of you...it really does get wearing. And cows are roaming the streets so obviously the smell of their shit hangs in the air which competes with the smell of the Indian's piss as they have no problem just pissing against walls. The streets stalls contain some of the most horrific looking food i have ever seen, they use this fat called "gee" and it stinks and everything looks vile. The dirt really does take some getting used to - they spit all the time, i mean there are signs up in restraints "No spitting in here" that's how bad it is and they litter constantly, they have never heard of bins. Its just such a different mentality and culture.
The drivers over here are just as mad as you hear - when they want to cross the road they just mill into oncoming traffic and kinda negotiate their way across! However, the one thing is they don't tend to actually drive that fast. The Tuk Tuk is the greatest form of transport though - there is always one just going by...they are just the funniest looking contraptions...I don't know how they manage to carry passengers at all!

We also went on a tour of Delhi which was really good cause we did all the sights in a day, they have a fab place called Jantar Mantar which is this huge observatory place for telling the time from the sun but its these HUGE buildings built for the purpose of telling time and working out zodiac signs!! The Lotus Temple is really cool, the meditation room inside is fab, well its a Temple more than a room but its just so peaceful and tranquil! The tour guide tho had to sit beside me (it's assigned seating over here and they are completely anal about it) cause I was in the front seat beside the microphone and there he is staring at me for ages then "What are these?" "Freckles?" "Yes, they are quite beautiful", I mean thanks but OK....?
Then more staring....kinda pinches my skin - "soft!" No shit man, I am a person! It was mad. Needless to say Irene found all this hilarious as she wasn't subjected to him!

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Photos

Jantar Mantar
Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or "Jantar Mantars" as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. Jantar Mantar translates to Magical Device

Lotus Temple
As an evocative symbol of beauty and purity, representative of divinity, the lotus flower remains unsurpassed in Indian iconography. Rising up pure and unsullied from stagnant water, the lotus represents the manifestation of God.

Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar was built in 1199 by Qutub-ud-Din. The sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish, completed it. The purpose of building this beautiful monument is not very clear as some believe that it was built as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India, while others say it served as a minaret to the adjoining mosque and was used by the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer.

Rajghat
Mahatma Gandhi's last rites was performed here. The memorial stone of Gandhi is square in shape made of black stone. His last ward- 'Hey Ram' is inscribed on it.

Red Fort (7th Delhi), Delhi
Entrance to the fort is through the imposing Lahore Gate, which takes its name from the fact that it faces Lahore, now in Pakistan. This gate has a special significance for India since the first war of independence and important speeches have been made here by freedom fighters and national leaders of India. It is from here that the prime minister of India addresses the people on the Independence Day, which is August 15th.

India Gate
India Gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. It bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died in the campaigns of WW1, the North-West Frontiers operations and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. Below the arch is the memorial to the unknown soldier. India Gate is surrounded by green grass lawns and trees.

Jantar Mantar

India Gate
India Gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. It bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died in the campaigns of WW1, the North-West Frontiers operations and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. Below the arch is the memorial to the unknown soldier. India Gate is surrounded by green grass lawns and trees.