Dusty Delhi

Delhi was definitely an unforgettable place to visit but 4 nights there was more than enough. The pollution, noise and congestion--and little nautre or places to escape all of this made us happy to be moving on in India! We spent our last couple days and nights there seeing a bollywood movie in the cinema and eating popcorn that was freshly popped in a clean environment, yet dust particles were visible all over it--- I lost my appetite but Des went back for seconds! It was a great experience being the only foreigners and wathcing a movie with all the locals with no idea of what was being said (obviously movie was in Hindi and there were no subtitiles). The singing, dancing and comedic major over-acting was brilliant and we got the jist of Gomaar 3---especially with the laughing cues of the audience!

We roamed the Bazaars (permanent market place) and the colours and fabrics amidst the rundown dusty streets was candy for the eyes! We took a time-out from the buzz to grab lunch in the middle of it all- atop a rooftop outdoors cafe-from there it was amazing just to watch and see how everything is such organzied chaos!

We had some beautiful meals--talhi (naan and little tasters of many different Indian dishes and chutneys) and dosas (thin south indian pancakes) are favourites so far.

The streets of Delhi will not be forgotten but also not missed. (Atleast not yet). Seven year olds walking around out of their mind as they huff a small bag of glue or whatever cheap chemical was getting them high. Men sleeping on very thin walls of bridges and heaps of cow dung that is deliberatly made into what look like flat hamburger patties set aside for burning. Very efficient use!

We caught the local chicken bus out of Delhi and headed North for Chandigarh. On our way we saw even more depths of poverty on the outskirts....houses made of everything and anything you can imagine. Tin walls, cloth roofs and doors, cement walls with 2 of the 4 missing, old bricks--basically anything that provides shelter. We also saw loads of basmati rice fields and the big overfilled trucks carrying hundreds of sacks filled with it. We saw houses in the country (ish) that had heaps of different brighlty died fabric in big piles left in the sun to dry. The bus took pit-stops to little roadside outdoor shops where local food was being cooked (some covered with flies) and jars of unknown food were being sold that reminded me of something out of a 1900's museum. After the break the bus had to be restarted by opening up the compartment inside that held the engine and poked with a broomstick that was stored behind the driver--obviously the only sure way to get it going! Hanging beside the driver at the front was a picture of the Sikh god with flashing lights and a clock--all in one.

After nearly 6 hours on the  bus we arrived in Chandigarh and we found immediately that smiles were easier to evoke out of locals than in Delhi. As we went out at night for our special treat (1Kingfisher beer each) we watched the locals seemingly happily cook their gourmet dinners on little stoves along the streets. On the way back these same people were neatly lined up outside on the cement in warm looking beds in the same spot with blankets under and over them.

We went on a hunt for the cheapest hostel or hotel in the area and ended up in Punjab Palace which was an absolute kip! Infested with ants and mini-cockroaches and  a mattresses that were so thin and holey we had to sleep sideways...we also used our mosquito net just to ensure nothing crawled over us at night as there was a "skylight" in the bathroom that was a big square hole with a few pipes covering it. They would not supply toilet paper (thank god we brought our own) or towels---they gave us cleaning rags instead...atleast they changed our sheets and pillowcases at our request! We laughed about it.

Here are a few photos from Delhi:

Delhi parliament buildings

Des at the gates of the Parliament building

Streets of where we stayed in Delhi

Holding snakes

Restaurant stalls made out of old auto rickshaws

Streets of Delhi



Streets of Delhi

Des infront of our beloved hotel the Chand Palace

Women in the Bazaar with their bangle bracelet stall

A beautiful Indian family that asked to take their photo with me--the novelty of a white westerner!

In line waiting to go into the Bahai Lotus Temple for meditation

The Lotus Temple

Gardens walked up to the Lotus temple

Kids playing cricket with bricks as wickets

Hindu temple in Delhi

Behind a wall in Delhi

The corner of the main Bazaar

Beautiful materials being hung to dry

Delhi at sunset

Me and Golden Ghandi at the Ghandi museum