We started off our journey in Bahrain - myself, Tracy, Breige, Jean, Lou and Sam made the most of the Irish Bar whilst waiting for our flight. It took around 4 hours or so to fly to Delhi. On walking out of the airport, Louise said whats all that stuff in the air - welcome to Delhi pollution! There was this haze in the air... there was some confusion with the bus that was picking us up - they had gone to domestic arrivals for some strange reason - so by the time they picked us up it was 6amish - and then there was the traffic to get through - road accidents all the way or trucks breaking down.
We were staying at the Viyasa Hotel in New Delhi - a small boutique type hotel - they were very good - had breakfast then the rooms were ready for around 8.45am so we all got a few hours kip before hitting the streets. Louise was a great tour guide and took us via the tube (it cost next to nothing!) to some markets first - this is where we also witnessed the start of the begging, street kids at the traffic lights wanting money, etc. We ended up having pizza the first night for food as we thought we would play safe with Pizza Hut!! We took the tube back - they have cars just for ladies on the tubes which was great as the men's cars were completely rammed to the rafters - it would have been a bit uncomfortable being squished up against an Indian man! We managed to find a booze shop too on the way home so got a few drinks in (the hotel didn't serve booze) so we had a few drinks before bed.
The next day, Angel, our tour guide, picked us up and we did a tour of new and old Delhi. The population of Delhi is 15 million. We visited India Gate - this was built to remember those who fought in the wars. I noticed a large presence of military everywhere - on the streets, outside hotels, etc. Also there were loads of stray dogs too - Hindus believe that these are reincarnations of people who have been bad so
basically they are left to wander around the streets. Of course, I did end up trying to feed some of them! After India Gate, we went to a temple - it was very busy. We all put the red spot on our heads too!
There were lots of swastika signs on the temple - apparently Hitler stole this sign from the Hindus - it means perfection and success.
We also saw lots of guys going to toilet at the side of the road, seemingly without a worry in the world - also there were these urinals at the side of the street with no doors on them!! The noise is mental too everywhere you go - the horn rules the roads - its constant - and the traffic is mental too - you are fighting with cows, bikes, camels, lorries and cars on the road - compared to Saudi, I didn't find it quite so frightening really as you don't get the speed over there - how there are not more accidents though I don't know - our driver was amazing at missing folk by inches!!
The rest of the day we went to see Ghamdi's grave, Parliment House (where the female Priminister lives) and also had a nice (but expensive) lunch - we did go for curry today - there are restuarants that cater for tourists but the food and the drink are very expensive - we found that everywhere and some places even have menu's for locals and one for tourists with different prices in them!
After lunch Angel asked us if we wanted to go on a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, which we agreed to. It was complete madness really - and the street kids were constantly harrassing us - especially poor Jean - they wouldn't leave her alone. The streets were really small too so we were constantly trying to avoid people and other vehicles - hats off to the rickshaw drivers! But we did find the trip quite stressful and at one point the rickshaw guys starting abusing the street kids which upset us all. We did see some amazing sights though through the streets. We also visited another mosque - Breige took some photos of us in these lovely coloured sheet things we had to wear to cover up! Ill post them soon! After the rickshaw ride, we went back to the hotel, got a quick change, then went to see the light and sound show at the Red Fort - the traffic was manic tho, as it was coming up to Hajj, so we missed half of it! After, we had dinner at this really nice restaurant in Delhi - quite old colonial style. It was weird eating in there and outside there were loads of homeless folk just asleep on the pavement...
Next morning we were up early for Agra - we stopped on the way at Akbar's tomb - he was the third ruler of India and founded the Mogul dynasty. There were deer and birds in the grounds - it was very peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle outside. We also saw a monkey - did see quite a few of them out and about too. Carried on our journey into Agra and went to check in at the hotel - The Holiday Inn - it was ok but pretty worn, but ok. Had some lunch there and then the tour escort picked us up and took us to the Taj Mahal. It took some time to get in as there was a massive queue - and they do search you very intensly before you go through the gate. Industry is banned from a large radius around the Taj (100km away) due to pollution and it is cleaned with mud every 2/3 years. Between 10-13,000 visitors go to see the Taj each day. It took 22 years to build and 20,000 workers to build it. Sarah Jahan built the Taj in remembrance of his wife who died in childbirth after her 14th (!!) child. The building is actually only marble on the outside and brick on the inside - if it were all marble, then it would be so heavy it would sink
At the back of the Taj Mahal there is a wide river and the plan was for the Shah to build a black Taj over the other side of the river, but it never happened as his son threw him in prison
It started raining at the Taj, so we had a quick trip to the Red Fort and were then taken to some shops, neither of which I found interesting and then back to the hotel We stayed in that night and just ate at the hotel as the weather was so bad - there was a really bad storm..
It was quite noisy that night in Agra due to it being wedding season - it happens for 3 months apparently from Oct - Dec so there were fireworks going off and bands playing - somehow I managed to sleep through it!
The next morning we went to Jaipur - another 4 hour trip on our bus - we stopped off at Fatehpur Sikri an old town where the Moguls lived. We found this very interesting although I think the guide gave us information overload! It took years to build and was built by Akbar (he built alot of stuff it seems!) and it took 25,0000 workers to build it.. We then carried on to Jaipur where we stayed at the Country Inn and Suites - lovely 5 star hotel and 5 star prices for drink - Louise - I am not paying that much!!! we went for a few bevvies in the outside bar then for curry up the road - managed to help out a fellow tourist - Dana - she had got lost on a tuk tuk and was a bit worried about getting back to her hostel, so she ended up coming for food with us - I gave the leftovers of the curry to the street people and a dog!
The next day we went to the Amber Fort via elephant - this is 400 years old and took 200 years to build apparently - think this was the highlight for most of us -
The picture above is the Palace of Winds in Jaipur. All of Jaipur is painted pink with Terracotta paint and now all buildings must be painted this color - it was for when Prince Albert visited some years ago apparently. The palace is just a facade and the ladies used to look out the windows at the guys down below - beats curtain twitching I guess!
We did some shopping later in various shops and then probably went out for another curry later! None of us suffered from Delhi belly either so we all did quite well! Especially me as I always seem to get ill!
Other sights were prostitutes at the side of the river on the way somewhere - they were sat on these bed things and the squallor and poverty to you - it is everywhere - and the people sifting through bags of rubbish looking for anything that they can sell and the piles of stinking rubbish around and people and pigs living in the middle of it!!
Back to Delhi then the next day which was some trip and the fan belt snapped 40k from Delhi which took 2 hours waiting for a spare part but it was entertaining at the side of the road!!
Just went out for another curry once we got back to Delhi - it took forever!
A great trip - and very memorable but not sure for the right reasons - the poverty and dirt - I cannot believe people survive like that in this day and age. It is very sad really.
Anyway, back to the madness here now - it was my birthday on Monday I just stayed in as I was tired from travelling and had some Thai food and a nice bottle of real red wine which was a gift!! Then tomorrow we are celebrating it with lunch over in Bahrain - just small scale really compared to last year! And its not long til I am home again for Christmas - just over 2 weeks.
Over and out - enjoy the blog and pics!
Jill
x
Last weekend was also busy - we had Carol's retirement party - she has been a major part of PAWS for the past few years and is a big loss - she will be missed. Also went to another leaving party (there are alot of those going on at the moment) and Thursday to Bahrain for hair do, nails and then lunch at Trader Vics. Caught up with some Bahrain mates there, then came home, got changed and went off up to Sara for the Children in Need Charity Night. Had a good time up there too - catching up with folk. Friday James came over and we just did some running about and got some tea later.