The old and the new

It’s been a week now for me in Delhi. So, I am doing a vital check on myself. Let’s see, health- could be better because I might have a minor asthma attack coming on me (courtesy of Delhi’s incessant pollution), stomach...still going strong. Figure...well I think I might be rounding out a little too much with all the good Indian food I have been eating. But, meh you only live once right. So, the adventure once again begins. This time I get to see Delhi.
Well, navigating into the heart of Delhi also known as CP (Connaught Place) isn’t really all that bad. It would have been better if I didn’t have my laptop with me but what can I say. I’m a woman on a mission. I must go wifi...before I go bye bye (ha! Lame joke) so, getting to the metro stations was a fun experience. I got myself into a rickshaw and almost fell flying because he was low on air pressure. Well for thirty rupees to cover 20 km, I am not complaining. I did make it alive in one piece
The Delhi metro system actually is better than London’s tubes. Its clean (shocking I know), on time (even more shocking) and there are actually seats designated for women only. That means if you are a man in a seat, I have the right to kick you out. I love it (sorry my alpha male friends). I was glad to just be able to stand in one spot and see Delhi around me as the train took me to my destination. I didn’t realize the extent as to how large the city actually is.
Well now for the fun story. Well being the silly tourist that I am, I decided to carry my lonely planet. Well, if you want to be identified by all as being a tourist, go ahead whip out that amazing book that lists off the best places to visit in the golden triangle. It didn’t even take two seconds before I was approached. Well, let’s just say the comedy ensued.
Apparently, this guy was also working in the NGO field and he was nice enough to show me to the Delhi Tourist Center. Now, there are about I don’t know a hundred official Delhi tourist centers. So, travellers do not be fooled. Who did this guy think he was messing with? Hell, I needed a map of the city so I tagged along. He proceeded to compliment me on my Hindi and then ask me why I would need a lonely planet book. (Shaney if you are reading this- Maya, my alter ego was in full force). So, I gave him my fake name and told him I was here for work while my husband was in Goa. I love BS! This guy had no shame whatsoever. He proceeded to ask me out for coffee. Okay, it’s not the worst thing to happen to a single gal but seriously the amount of hair product or coconut oil in his hair would probably feed a family of 10 for a year. Enough said
Sunday’s are actually the best days to travel into the heart of the city. No one’s around and it was great just to be able to walk around and not pass out with the heat. What’s even more stunning is that it’s not that hard to navigate around if you know which direction you are headed in. My first stop was Jantar Mantar. It’s this cool 17th Century dial that was set up by the Rajput Kings to measure...well time and the lunar calendar. I only paid 5 rupees to get in (yay for being Indian) while the rest of the foreigners get stuck with a whopping amount of 100 rupees (which still works out to a buck fifty)


Me at Jantar Mantar

India Gate was next on the agenda and it was really neat to see this memorial dedicated to all those who died in the World War and the subsequent wars as well. The entire path from India Gate to the presidential palace is humungous. That would explain why on republic day, they are able to roll tanks into this area. I also spotted my first set of foreigners. Yay! People who aren’t Indian. Sorry guys, I don’t mean to sound...well racist against my own kind. It’s just hard being away from a multicultural society especially one like Vancouver.


At India Gate- Delhi

And then the highlight of my day: Amit called! My friends from North America have made the connection. Oh I should probably say a few words about Amit because he will be making constant reappearances through my adventures. Amit is my dear friend Abhay’s cousin. We all know each from Vancouver and well he’s getting married in November and I get to go to the wedding (yay!) So, well he’s a swell guy and we got to hang out for the afternoon.
I really felt at home after meeting up with Amit. I also got introduced to his wicked Sister (vasundra and her husband Abhneet). We met up with some more friends (two Mexicans) and proceeded to just chill over coffee and lunch north Indian style. Well it means lots of tandoori chicken and lots of heavy cream in your food. I also found that I had a lot in common with Vasundra. She’s doing her PH. D in Political Science. So common, how could we not get along? They even helped me purchase my wifi card (which incidentally, doesn’t work for 48 hours because of the Indian way of things..sigh)
Btw fellow travellers, if you ever need to buy a cell phone or say a wifi card, it’s nearly impossible without having the Indian version of a SIN number (PIN) and some proof of residence. The best thing to do is to get someone you know who lives in Delhi to do it for you. Seriously a hassle but I am so grateful that I have it. But, lets just hope it works in the next 24 hours or there will be a lot of complaining to happen in this blog....nevermind...it works! I'm free at last! Well, you know what I mean