Out of India
Trip Start
Mar 04, 2009
1
12
30
Trip End
Jun 28, 2009
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Delhi, India
Thursday, April 9, 2009
We collected our senses in Rishikesh before taking the Shadibati express back to the morass and chaos of Delhi. Arrived in Delhi train station at midnight and were immediately swarmed by touts and taxi drivers. I played herdmaster to my family but was truthfully overwhealmed by the energy of survival we were witnessing. We just wanted to survive ourselves and we weren't too sure it was likely as we piled into the taxi admist much distrust. After several false starts, where I was certain our bags would disappear, we finally escaped the train station to the dirty dingy back streets of the central downtown. We arrived at our hotel to be told that there weren't any rooms available. Even though I had just spoken to them 1 hour earlier enroute by train. Fortunately we were directed across the street to a very acceptable clean, safe hotel, The Cottage Yes Please. For those of you less adventurous souls, the Ashook village resort may by less intimidating. Awoke to a glorious day and set about seeing Delhi by Tuktuk. Spent the morning at the Red Fort where everyone is greeted by a phalynx of machine guns. Don't know whether to feel secrure or concerned. Had a great guide to summarize the Moghul period of India and our last fort. Zoomed off to see the impressive memorials to both M. Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. It strikes me how sad it is that this world strikes down those who do so much for the human spirit and these are 2 examples of our losses. Ended wandering the streets nearby our now less than intimidating neighborhood. At about 8pm a sudden downpour sent everyone scampering for cover. In a now familiar way we watched everyone scatter to protection. In an amazingly nonchalant way, the Indians welcomed also the sacred cows into their shops to excape the downpour. Jackson Jon and I just touched the forehead of the creature as we let it squeeze past us and into the shop. I think we are starting to get it here in India.
All ready thinking about a return.
Comments
Return to India
Jack and family,
We are definitely going to India in the near future-a country we have hardly visited. Would you all come as our guides? .You should write a book for travelers who are afraid to visit there
Mom and Dad