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Published: August 24th 2008
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Two Intrepid Travellers
Two Intrepid Travellers The beginning of our Indian journey........
Delhi
Here I am at 2145 hrs writing this (2am Darwin time) in Delhi's heart - Pahar Ganj. So far I've been awake for 38 hours, and my body is running off copious amounts of water and curry......
Little sleep has been had from the 3 plane rides, noisy, cold airports, a whole day of sightseeing with some shopping thrown in to top off the day.
Well leaving Darwin airport was a mixture of excitement, nerves & sadness. Excitement at travelling to a country I have thought about for a long time - the sights, smells and sounds. Nervous - that the same country turned out to be nothing as I imagined, and I would end up being trod on and spat out - vowing never to return. Sadness - at leaving my husband and little girls for the longest time.
It was a long journey for me .... a flight from Darwin to Singapore, 1 hour transit with the thought that my bag may not be put on the flight....as we were late. Be advised....when you get off your plane at Singapore transit, do not mill around, go directly
Qutab Minar
Qutab Minar to the transit station for your corresponding flight. If you leave within 2 hours, let them know, so they can arrange at a more urgent pace.
As I opted for the cheap budget way to fly to Delhi.......I had to fly via Chennai (with a 9 hour stopover) on Air India Express. I have to tell you.....I was the only white person on that plane, with the majority being Indian males. When the food started getting served I was so looking forward to my first Indian curry (albeit airline food) when all of a sudden I get my own special meal (soggy cheese sandwich). When I tried to explain, I wanted to have what he was having, the insistent hostess won out with her refusal to take the food back.......
It is funny to ride on a plane with Indians. The talk on there mobile from the time they get on, to the time they take off. They are never told to put it away or turn it off. They swap seats during takeoff and go to the toilet when landing. The funniest things you do see on a normal airline.
So touching down in Chennai, I
Qutab Minar
Qutab Minar pulled up the cleanest bit of floor in a dark corner and tried to nod off (my bag ended up being on the flight). Chennai airport is quite clean. You have to walk down about 50m from the international terminal to get to the domestic, but there was none of the mobbing that people talk about. I didn't get hassled, there were people there with signs, but thats about it. To get in the domestic terminal you must show a e-ticket printout for the flight you will catch. Which is good. It means no hassles in the airport. The floor is clean and security is tight. They screen everything. Then you get on a bus and get taken out to your plane. Now with 20 buses pulling in/out at the same time, this can take a while.
Hence I was late to Delhi airport. My mum was waiting there along with our driver to the hotel. Along with 100 other drivers holding up signs with names (behind a barracade). Once again, there was none of the mobbing that people talk about. The prepaid taxi stand is actually inside the airport, you don't need to walk outside to organise this
Qutab Minar - Mum in arch
Qutab Minar - Mum in arch taxi, they do it for you.
Mum found it quite a hair raising drive to the hotel, however I was to tired to notice, and really it is no worse than thailand or indo. The heat is ok. It is better than Darwin's heat at the moment. I think the humidity is only at 60% and have been told it is much cooler than last month. However people coming from cold climates would really feel it though.
We stayed at Hotel Anoop on the first night. It is right in the main bazaar of Pahar Ganj. Once again, this is a great location to stay at. The bazaar is open from about 10am to 8pm. There is lots of little restaurants, tonnes of shops, selling all the things you need for your stay in Delhi. I did not see any drugs, prostitutes, and did not get scammed. We are 2 females travelling together, and I found it quite safe really. Even at this time of year, there are a lot of tourists walking around. And it means, you can do a bit of shopping, go back to your hotel when it gets to much, then do some more
Temple
Temple - Unsure of name shopping. Also our car dropped us off down there, but I think when all the stalls open during the day, only rickshaws are allowed.
Hotel Anoop is ok. The rooms are small and old, it is quite noisy (we had a front room), however it is clean. No bed linen is supplied, so bring your own. There were other hotels that looked nicer, but I can't remember the name sorry. Breakfast & coffee on the roof was nice for about $2 each. The travel agent in there is run by a Sikh man. He has booked our tour. In hindsight, if you have done as much research as I have, then you can do it all yourself. Catch the trains, don't bother hiring a driver like I have done.
After checking in we went on a tour of Delhi. I really don't need to go into the sights as the pictures speak for themselves. It is worthwhile paying guides at the various places, as you are left guessing to what everything is. There is so much history that you really can't guess what each place is for. One thing you find in all monuments is a mixture of
India Gate
India Gate hindu and muslim and persian architecture. When muslims took over they removed all the hindu gods, when hindus took over, they removed muslim things etc. The Qutab Minar is pretty amazing, given when it was built and the thought behind the building.
Anyhow I will let pictures speak for themselves.
Off to Jaipur tomorrow with our driver.
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alipali80
alipali80
fantastic blog and piccies, keep blogging mel i am looking foward to reading them all from alison