By today everyone was feeling buff and super street smart; we could haggle and hail a cab and get around, so we had breakfast and then hit the town. We started off at the underground market: a massive complex with its entrances dotted aroud the city and countless shops and vendors creating an endless maze. Of course, being very obviously from overseas, we were the prime targets for salespeople. Scary salespeople. We were led to shops on the other side of the complex as people competed for a juicy chunk of tourist rupees. Everyone went their own way, but the group I went with headed to the parlaiment buildings. We set up an amazing race type situation with tuk-tuks being the method of transportation, which resulted in our group offering extra rupees to beat the other team. (We lost anyway)
After taking photos of huuuge buildings, monkeys and getting stern looks from soldiers carrying rifles of every origin, we started to head out, at which point the last team arrived. Afterwards we hit the India Gate. Absolutely fantastic, however slightly marred by the vast multitudes of cunning salespeople. It could only be described as abuse. We retreated hurriedly, and headed back to the hotel. Walking is not recommended.
Words can't describe the noises, the smells, the little kids tugging on your sleeves, the salespeople who are so grateful for that 5 rupee note (around 13 cents), seeing buildings abandoned by people who could maintain it but reoccupied by others. A lot of people have described it as post-apocolyptic, but its one of the loveliest places I know. They have something we don't, perhaps because we have the rest, but that something is the gold that the rest of us end up looking for anyway. Deeeeep, but something thats on the surface in India. Last day in Delhi today, longest day tomorrow, wish us luck!
God bless
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Wow Bernie, your descriptions are incredible - feel like we are there or at least watching from afar. Hope your longest day went better than expected.
ReplyDeleteNice writing style Bernie - very natural! Your doing a great job keeping us informed. Great to hear everyone is well. Those pesky sales people sounds just like Fiji. You can see why the indigenous Fijians get frustrated by the Fijian-Indians. Total clash of two cultures.
ReplyDeleteTell my other half to jump online sometime.
Phil
Good luck for your train travel - that will be an experience and a half :-)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting it is always so good to see and experience other cultures.
ReplyDeletePleased you are all haveing a great time.
Hi Bernie, thankyou so much for your candid and heartfelt observations. Very moving. We read them out as a family, sharing in your experiences, and reflecting on how lucky we are. The days are so diverse, and your descriptions so real. No doubt as a group you will all be becoming very close, sharing in your thoughts and experiences. Fantastic to see you had an 'amazing race' experience. Fully support a few rupees being used as bribery!!! Love to all, stay safe, and live each day to the full. Love from us all. xoxoo Megan Haggerty (Lorens mum)
ReplyDeleteLove to all, and stay safe.
Hey there Bernie, could I please grab a copy of your guys itinerary for moving about. There is a possiblity I will be in India for a bit this Jan and I would like to be able to swing by and say hello to you guys if possible
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie,
ReplyDeleteIt was fantastic to read your last blog. Any thoughts of missing our lad were replaced with incredible happiness from reading your account of the group's time in New Delhi. Can only imagine what you have all been up to since! Take care.
Best wishes, Gaeleen