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Published: March 2nd 2012
Well day 2 in Delhi started early after a good nights sleep well almost a good nights sleep, as the dogs in the street woke me as they were having a scrap on the way back from the club. I walked down the main bazaar the beat time early in the morn less hassle from ricky drivers and anyone else for that matter. Over the footbridge at NDLS Delhi main railway station and then pick up a rickshaw from there (the ones on the main bazaar like to stay that side sometimes) to the Red Fort. 20 Rupees for an Indian and 300 for me, they like to make money out of their historic sites. The Red Fort is a big site and as I found out later more impressive from the outside then in. The inside is ok but quite a few places ringed off with wire and soldiers everywhere not the cleanest fort in the world but see the photos and make up your mind. I did not take pictures of the litter, kids shoes and a dead cat.
Out of the fort and into the chaos of Chandi Chowk and the various bazaars that surround it. I
stop and have some street biscuits, I make sure to have the ones freshly made and hot off the plate a little further down the road I stop and have some chai and have five minutes rest.
Onward and into the Jama Masjid Asia's largest mosque room for 25.000 thousand worshippers and even more coach parties. I am not allowed in shorts so a kind man wraps me in the oversize tea towel, I think I look silly until I see the coach tour section overshoes (you have to barefoot, I carry my sandals) masks and women in what look like surgical gowns.
The mosque is impressive and I linger quite a while, I go to the top of the mineret for a great view of a hazy Delhi. To get to the top you have to make your way up a spiral of 135 steps and big ones at that. At the top is a small ledge only big enough for your feet and you hang on to the grill that surrounds the top. We shimmie round each other or step over the hole that i the stairs we came. Nobody here counting who goes up and
who comes down.
The man at the bottom is only interested in looking after the footwear for 20 Rups.
The Indians are an understanding lot - I stand and watch as various nationality of tourist use the prayer altar (were people are praying) as a photo backdrop. I don't think we would allow tourists that close to St Pauls altar.
I now move to the markets that surround the mosque some interesting shots of the goat slaughterer and a mobile bee hive not seen that one before. I have some kebab type meat (goat I should think) and take a ricky ride back towards the station and home.
Thursday 01 March
I take the metro 1 stop to Ravij Chowk (Connaught Place) and have a quick look aroung before i take the 181 bus to towards Hunmayuns Tomb. The bus ride was more rollercoaster thats why the conductor stayed in his seat and you go to him to get a ticket. The bus is packed with people going to work and me in my shorts. A few hours round the Tomb with its gardens and a walk down the road to Lodi Gardens for a
sit down and what pass for an ice cream.
After that a visit to Safdarjangs Tomb and then make my way back to Connaught Place and then back to Paharganj via the metro to get ready for my 16.25 Assam Express to Bikaner in the Thar Desert which if on time will put me there at 05.45 the next morning
I can mow explain if you fimd spelling mistakes as most internet shops the keyboards are at bst faded or the key is missing this on has no H N M E tht should have been an F
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Kate
non-member comment
Your looking good!!