Delhi

by Berit

Streets of Old Delhi

Cows are also part of the traffic

Rickshaws, our new way of transport

Seller in the street

A garage in India

Textile shop

Gandhi Smriti, the memorial place where Gandhi was killed 

Humayun's Tomb

Delhi was the first stop on our travel. We got there on the morning on the 15th of February, and found our hotel in the busy neighborhood of Old Delhi, Pahar Ganj. Three days in Delhi have left us with so many impressions it's hard to know what to tell. We were both a bit overwhelmed at first, by the smells, the noise, and the chaos of the streets shared by people, cars, rickshaws (Indian tuk-tuk, see picture), cows and dogs. There are no pavements, and although one by law drive on the left side this rule doesn't seem to be followed very carefully. This made crossing a big street one of the first challenges we faced (no green man tells you when to walk here). But we made the first crossing, and by practice we have gotten quite good at it.

We have seen big contrasts in this city, from the wide avenues and impressive monuments and gardens of New Delhi, to the crowded and poor streets of Old Delhi. Nicest was maybe the Gandi Smriti (where Gandhi spent the last months of his life and was then killed) and the impressive Humayun's Tomb. Most exciting (except from the crossing of the streets) was wandering around the bazars, where small shops or stands sell everything from food and textiles to pieces of cars, bricks, wedding cards (big buissness!)... Maybe it's easier to list what is not being sold there.

It has also been a lot of fun getting to know the people in India. It is a lot of very helpful people who are willing to guide us on our way to the hotel, the tourist office or the restaurant we are looking for. The only problem is that we rarely end up where we had planned. Instead we end up at the hotel/tourist office/restaurant of their friend/brother/cousin. This has given us some detours in the city, but sooner or later we have always gotten where we wanted. And on the way we get a lot of smiles! People are at least as interested in looking at us as we are in looking at them. And they come up to us to say hello and shake hands. We have never shaken so many hands in three days before. Or been in so many pictures. Whole families come up to us to stand next to us and take pictures. So we smile to the camera. It's a new experience, and we try to feel a bit like stars, but always end up feeling more like strange aliens having landed in Delhi.

Except this we are eating curry, rice and naan at least one time per day. Yum yum! We are wondering how long it takes before we start missing our "magret du canard" and "kjøttkaker". But for now: yum yum!!

Three good days spent in Delhi. But the noise and pollution makes us look forward to getting out of the big city. Next stop: Taj Mahal avec the Bedrune parents!