Day 2 - Delhi

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Day 2- 10th October - Delhi

After a lazy morning catching up on some much needed sleep, we found a cafe to have a coffee, which was very nice, and on the way back to the hotel, called in at Milan Restaurant - "love at first bite" the slogan on the shirts! We ordered cheese burger and fries, and a local dish. When it arrived, the fries had an unusual coating, which was either the remnants in the fat, or a special flavouring they had used! It was only when the burger arrived, we realised we had picked a vegetarian restaurant. That siad, the burger was very nice.

We met our guide and the other 9 people on our trip in the reception of the hotel, and she proceeded to collect the local payment that we all have to make. This wouldn;t be an issue, except that you can;t take currency into the country and the ATM's onlty give out small amounts at once. The other people on the tour seem really nice, and the guide Puja gave us an updated itinery and introduced to the guide for our trip round Old Delhi.

Our first real culture shop was a trip on the Metro. We were bundled ontot the train and it was cosy to say the least. Imagine if you can the London tube, with another 100 people per carriage. When we got off at our final destination, one of our party, the Australian guy travelling on his own, made the discovery that he had been pickpocketed. Despite the guide warning us all not to keep wallets in our pockets, he had left his in his shorts, and in the shoving on the Metro had been relieved of his. In it was cash, cards and his house keys, not very pleasant, and it made us all more aware of the dangers around us.

Our first visit was to the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest Mosque. Here all Western woman were given a gown to wear and we all had to remove our shoes. Here there were several locals asking for their picture to be taken with a Westerner. When we were leaving, Russ had the opportunity to buy 2 snakes in a basket (similar to the famous Nepalese purchase) - but he resisted, for now.

Walking through the local markets, and trying to avoid being run over by a tri-shaw, we next went to a Sikh temple. Here we were aked to cover our heads and remove our shoes and wash them on the way in. At the temple, anyone of any religion may come and listen and meditate to the teachings. They also run a very large version of a "soup kitchen" where people of any class may come and eat for free. It is staffed by rich voluteers and everyone eats sitting on the floor together, even the Indian prime minister has visited. The chapati making machine was an engineering work of art.

Back to the hotel involved another journey on the Metro and it was even busier, with the local thieves trying blatently to feel inside back pockets. We left the train and followed our guide to a local restaurant where we had our first taste of Indian food and tried to get to know our fellow travellers a little better.

Tomorrow we have a 5am start!

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Photos

Sheeshganj Gurudwara
Sikh temple

Delhi traffic
not even at rush hour!

Comments

[b.edmondson]

great travel blog - we feel we are keeping up with you will tell every one else your blog is now on line. have a great time and we will follow your trip with great interest love mum and dad xx

[Claire Green]

Fireworks
Hi Kathryn, Russ Hope you are having a really good time, we will keep up to date with your travels, don't worry Kathryn since you have been away there has been no pruning's of the family trees!! which is good as you have been gone now for a whole four days!! Oh yeah the Delhi traffic looks worse than our car park first thing in the morning :) Me, Michelle and Irene were amazed at the firework name, I know small things amuse little minds!! Speak to you both soon

[Violeta]

thanks for sharing
Hi guys, Thanks for sharing the impressions of your trip. I just started reading the blog and I really enjoy it. Few months ago we (my husband and I) were in India for a week as a part of our honey moon. We were lazy enough and did not write down what we have done. Reading your entries I remember more of our own trip:) In Delhi we visited the same things:) At Jami Masud Mosque I wore exactly the same blue robe....we also visited the Sikh Temple and we even ate in the kitchen. Nobody of us got sick from the food, although I thought that we were challenging the diarrhea. My husband has posted some of our photos on our website. If you are interested, check www.robsville.com. Greetings, Violeta