We landed safely in India around 8 p.m. last night, after a short 13 hour plane ride. A driver met us at the airport and weaved swiftly through the traffic. Our eyes were wide open taking in all the sights (and smells). The road was filled with motorcyclists, buses, walkers, tricycles, and rickshaws. Everywhere you look there are people. We arrived at our guesthouse, G-5 without managing to hit anyone or anything. Our rooms are more than expected, equipped with flat screen tvs, AC, internet, king size beds and best of all glass showers. Despite being exhausted and jet lagged, we decided to help ourselves to dinner, which was light, tasty, and had a nice spice, a good introduction for our first meal. Tommy and I then parted ways and attempted to get our first nights sleep.
Our first full day in India was nothing short of eventful! We chose to rent a cab for 1,000 rupees to drive us around Delhi for the day. Our first stop was Hauz Khas, where we weaved through a tiny shopping area and browsed in the windows. We also stumbled upon the Tombs of Tughlaq Period, which contained the remains of teachers of the madrasa. The tombs are thought to be designed for students to sit and study on, but we only found teenagers gathered in circles smoking joints, and children running about through the maze of corridors. In Hauz Kaus we found a delicious Southern Indian inspired restaurant, where the menu was completely foreign to us. In fact it was so foreign when my meal arrived, the chef emerged from the kitchen to show me how to eat it. Tommy also broke the #1 rule in India and drank the tap water, trying to convince me it was safe, however I opted for bottled water despite his efforts.
Our next stop was Indian Gate, similar to the National Mall in D.C. this area has a large grassy area, fountains, and symbolic structures representing the lives of Indian soldiers lost in WWI and the British-Afghan wars. Here we had our first encounter with peddlers trying to sell us everything from henna tattoos to rubberbands. We also witnessed many children trying to beat the 114 degree heat by swimming in the water fountains, breaking the # 2 rule, no swimming in standing water. Our last stop was the Chandni Chowk Market, a bustling market full of everything you do not need. Tommy and I stuck out like a sore thumb as we walked up and down the narrow market streets, and pressured by each vendor to browse their merchandise. I got suckered by one man to follow him down an inner market path to the "wholesale saree emporium." I was overwhelmed by the amount of cloth being tossed around me and settled on an overpriced, over sized, very cheaply made outfit. The whole reason for my sense of urgency to purchase such an outfit came at the expense of making the biggest mistake of all time, being female and wearing shorts! The glares from women, the stares from men, with the occasional man trying to snap a picture of my legs with his cell phone got very old, very fast. Lesson learned, when going out in public, wear pants or capris.
While visiting the market we were able to venture over to the Red Fort, being foreigners our entry fee was 250 rupees. The Red Fort was built by the Mughal Emperor in 1648, with the fort walls built entirely of red sand stone. We toured around the grounds of the fort, taking pictures of tombs, giant bathing pools, and elegant marble structures, but the heat quickly got to us so our visit was short. This was enough of India for one day, we returned to G-5 for some R&R, and hope to visit the Taj Mahal tomorrow, where I will be sporting my brand new outfit in order to avoid the constant stares from the locals.
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