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Delhi 13th 14th jan ok i managed to find my ...
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delhi 13th 14th jan.
Ok, I managed to find my hotel last night after leaving the internet cafe. After being used to the late opening of Cairo (pretty much a 24hr city) I left the internet after 11pm and pretty much everything was closed up for the night. The hotel and travellers area is in the middle of a big bazar so it's pretty atmospheric, busy and manky. At least there is lots going on which is great. Keep getting asked if I need 'help' and do I want to buy some stones, or more often than not some shadey guy will just shout "drugs" at you. The place is scam-central so I don't bother entertaining any offers for anything. I'd noticed that the shop opposite the alley my hotel was up had 'Campus' written on the shutters, so I started looking for that. Unfortunately I guess Campus must be the name of a roller-shutter company, and every other shop had 'Campus' emblazoned on the front. Bah. Anyway, I had also noted that there was a public urinal up the alley, so i followed my nose... and got home in one piece.
I'm in a single for a couple of nights because i wanted to sort myself out and get a hot shower and have some comforts before heading off to wherever. The room was ok, marble floors and stuff like that, a bit pokey, and a big picture of some scene from Mahabarhat on the wall. Pretty atmospheric. As was the sound of the 'nee-nee-nee' of the cockroach under the (rock hard) beddie! Anyway, crashed out easy enough after minimal snooze on the travel from Cairo. I intended to find a cheaper place in the morning, but i slept until 2pm at missed checkout time. Will sort something tomorrow.
Out into the market to find somewhere to eat and not get dead. I saw what I assumed must be a wedding procession with it's own brass band making it's way thru the market. The groom was on horseback which had a golden saddle with lots of metalwork hanging from it, and golden and jewelled headguard. Groom had similar gold and red suit on with cash pinned all over. The women (not sure where the bride was) were following, all holding each other up and laughing as they were so excited. Was quite a sight shuffling thru the busy streets.
Had nice mushroom biryiani for lunch which was cheap and tasty. I like India! Makes a great change from all the dull fare getting served up in Egypt. Wandered about for a wee while, and read my guide book to try and find out where to go in this country. I guess with only about 4 weeks to do here and Nepal I'm going to just stay in the states in the North which I guess will be chilly, but not too bad. Anyway, there are some great national parks in the surrounding states, with tigers and birds which should be interesting. Up in Rishikesh sounds nice too, and further north there are other great places with views over the Himalayas. There is a good bus run up into Ladakh and the town of Leh, but the road is only supposed to be used between June and September. Anytime outside that and the government won't come to airlift you out if you get snowed in. Ulp. I guess January isn't the best time to be up there then. Will suss out the situation when I get further North.
I suppose there is lots to do in Delhi, but after 2 weeks in Cairo I want to move on sharpish from the big city. Too much to see up North to stay in this noisey polluted place. Sitting in cafe reading guidebook there were little kids out side with drums and painted moustaches doing backflips for money. That was pretty cool.
Went back to hotel, and in the darkness of the day (windows bricked up you see!) Mr. CockyRoachy had wandered perilously far from his hideyhole under my bed. As I turned on the light, he made a dash from the bathroom door to the coat stand, but got trapped at the door mat. Disaster. A big, merciless size 10 came crashing down on him from about a foot. Squish. No prisoners. I hopped out the room with him still writhing on the sole of my boot and wiped him off on the door mat of the room across the hall. arf. Anyway, about an hour later I looked on the floor. There must have been some roach juice left from his demise, and a squad of tiny ant-like beasties were scoffing it all up. At least they keep the place clean.
I'm on my own here pretty much, though there are lots of travellers. They seem to be long-term travel types and often not particularly friendly. They pretty much blank you on the streets because i don't have a shaved head and were orange. Whatever, I'm quite happy doing my own thing now i have the confidence. The fact most officials and shop people etc speack English helps so I don't feel so stranded.
well not much happened today as i slept most of it away (which was lovely). So I'm going back to the hotel to read over the Indian Trains timetable I picked up which has every train and cost of travel all over the country. Cool.
more later.
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| 32. | Delhi 13th 14th jan ok i managed to find my ... - Delhi, India Jan 14, 2001 |
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