Delhi

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Vik's version -
Said goodbye to the freezing fog and the relative calm of the UK and journeyed south to arrive in the hazy smog and utter chaos of Delhi.
I was quite sure that a previous trip here would have left me more travel savvy (do people actually use that word?!) and robust, but I don't think anything actually prepares you - even a hint of familarity - for the onslaught.
Even when you come with the knowledge that everything will be much more complicated than it should be, it's still takes you by surprise the extent to which this is true! Having booked a reasonable standard of hotel back in the UK (to ease ourselves in!) we arrived to be told that our hotel was full, and instead offloaded in the "sister" hotel down the road. Turned out to be more of a poor cousin. Having to then wait an hour for our room to be vacated and cleaned (which was a bit of a trial after a long flight, and, what, with it being 5am) we started to get a sense of what our stay here would involve. The subsequent days have been on a par in terms of incident and wrangling, but it would take me pages to relay them all! Suffice to say, it's a wildly frustrating but amazing city. Despite arguments with the hotel folk (on more than one issue), a constant stream of 'befrienders' (my best offer so far has been a smiling man with a grubby bit of cotton offering me "good ear clean"!), and even the most simple task becoming epic, there is something captivating about a place that thrives from a basis of chaos!
That said, it is definately time to move on...Steve's veneer of politeness is almost rubbed clean, and I have virtually sold my family before I work out a way to end the conversation! So tonight we head for Udaipur. The purchasing of a train ticket has so far proven to be one of the few things easy to master. Although we haven't got there yet, so when we're bedding down with chickens tonight on our way to the Afghan border I may regret this early show of confidence!!

That was Vik's bit, now Steve's...erm stuff. The street life is amazing every inch of space filled with movement, rickshaws, cars,buses people everywhere even the odd rat. Then the smells of rich spices, cooking and then the terrible odours of urine wrapped around each corner. There is also lots of humour, the befreinder who chatted for about 15mins then aked me how many children i had, and sprinted across a very busy six lane road almost getting killed!! The intrepid street seller trying to sell me a bumper pack of combs, the man who asked how he could profess his love to his waiting girlfriend, the men asleep in central reservation... the hilarity mixes with the destitute, the street children and the open sewers. Vik's tenacity (getting a free breakfast out of the hotel), and my 'bruskness' (as Vik kindly described it) at getting rid of hangers on, seems to be a foundation for a great travel partnership.

Ps Akram, they have kfc, and Becca they have pizza hut

steve and vik
NFA and unemployed

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Comments

[dylan and jack]

hello
did you sleep with the chickens what did you have to eat, we are eating fruit loaf this wont make sense because its chaos at this end. they were going to say something deep and meaningful about the children, and the poverty, but they've moved on and are currently dancing to 'along came jones, tall thin jones, slow talking jones' and evlis presley. Though they did promise to sort out their toys and pass on to children who dont have a toy mountain. Jacks got scarletina, so if youve got a sore throat thats how it manifests in adults, nothing to worry about. He says he doent mind staying off school and watching cbeebies. Because of this Dylan was late to school, as jack thought he was going to be sick and I didnt want to leave him to walk over to school. Dylans teacher said that he was late because he said the cat had pooed in the kitchen, and that he had to find the poo, and that he found it in the kitchen cupboard!!! Proving that if he has a good imagination if nothing else. On questioning why he didnt mentions jacks illness he said he forgot. and on reflection I could see that he was too busy running round the house to notice jack was lying in bed with a sick bucket!!!!! all for now lisa and the boys x

[mum and dad]

have plenty to eat sleep as much as you can and try not to sleep with the chickens dad sends this address manuel vieites 4/700 Malabar Road Maroubra 2035 sydney N.S.W. austrailia 0061418435382 oh and marcus poor thing got the picasso not the bmw. he was furious that he hadnt looked at the jaguar which was in decent condtion with a three litre engine and sold for nothing.

[Clare Morrison]

Very impressed
This is all very organised - I am most impressed. I'm not jealous so far as it seems a bit stressful. The ever growing baby bump is making me exhausted and I am struggling to have the energy to manage the hectic metropolis that is Penrith let alone Delhi. The baby is moving alot- very strange! Look forward to your further adventures. Cx

[yvonne sullivan]

dehli arrivals
glad you both arrived safely. and despite all the hiccoughs. you can still appreciate the beauty of it all. keep up with the pics. gives you a feel of the place.love mum x

[Iain]

This blog thing is excellent - I shall make sure I keep up with your progress. All the best, Iain.

[Andy]

Viks. That's nearly your essay done!
It's been a cold, wet and windy weekend here - in that order. Aiden is the new Steve. Take care.