Well I finally arrived but my luggage didn't...

• Shaggers's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from New Delhi

Trip Start Apr 12, 2005 Previous
Entry Trip End ??? ??, 2006 Next
Entry

  New Delhi, India
Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Yep, my luggage is currently flying in from London and I'm not the least bit surprised! I heard so many tales of missing luggage that I would have been surprised to see it coming round the carousel. At least I had a change of clothes and all my toiletries with me so I don't stink TOO much. Actually it's not as hot as I expected which is a huge relief, very dusty on the roads and trails of liquid everywhere that may be wee and may not so I'm jumping over them just in case. At the mo I'm sitting in a tinternet cafe just below one of the main roads in Karol Bagh, west of the centre and with more shops than Meadowhall and cars, bikes and rickshaws tooting and beeping and fighting to get through. I made my first purchase of a traditional 'salwar kameez' the tunic/trouser/scarf combo for less than a fiver - yes not only did it not take me long to shop but it's also in my favourite colours of pink and purple, with gold embroidery! It looks a bit pristine at the mo so I may pass it to one of the dhobi wallahs, the washerwoman who soak the clothes in soapy water by the river then give it a good thrashing to get the muck out

Greetings at the arport

. It may crop up in pictures before too long, possibly the pseudo-Lady Di pose at the Taj Mahal - not sure I could look so demure though...

The hotel is a bit manky considering what I'm paying, the pool is non-existent and the 'restaurant' a few tables and chairs on the roof - I think for dinner I'll ask for a recommendation from the tinternet cafe owners, can't be any worse than the hotel anyway. I have booked into the Anoop Hotel for tomorrow night, it's in Pahar Ganj which is more central and backpackery so I may get to meet some folk - funnily enough I found the recommendation in a review where a guy was slagging off the Rahul Palace so I have every faith in his judgement! I'm hoping to get on a tour to go up north, if not I'll make my own way there, which could be fun...

Before I go I'd like to say a massive thanks to everyone that helped me get here - STA Travel for getting me here literally; Caz for moving out which gave me the impetus to start making plans, and also for fostering some of my stuff; Rachel for being the first person that I voiced my idea to, the first to miss me and make me cry, and for being my first link back in the UK; Joe for the loan of the garage which saved me having to put stuff into storage; Sarah for helping me to get it there and for wearing my clothes with such panache; Ann & John for offering so much help and kindness before they even met me and for the loan of their loft; Lisa for the iPod which will help me retain my sanity and ward off any manky people I don't want to talk to (by putting my earphones in to ignore them not by whacking them with it, I hasten to add); Karen S for the book and for storing my precious pictures; Ken, Kay, Karen, Alison, Lucy, Richard, Simon and Paul for my farewell lunch; Mandy for the beautiful book that she made to store my memories in;Roger for looking after some of my stuff even though the attic floor is due to collapse under the weight of all his vinyl; Kirsty for helping in the moments of madness in the final week and inadvertently coming to the airport to see me off; and finally, as you always remember the last entrant the most, Karen H for services too numerous to mention, but including constant sanity and calmness when faced with my snapping, crying, hissy fits, panic and an asthma attack whilst helping me to empty my entire life out of the house; helping me to pack, having great parents, adopting so many of my things that she has taken over my life a la 'Single White Female', and for basically being the kind of friend that everyone needs but most aren't lucky enough to have - I salute you!

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you.

Well, that will probably be the longest entry I make all year, if you're still with me thanks, I'll try to make the next one shorter. I will also get some pictures on as soon as I have my camera connection which, funnily enough, is in my lost luggage, which takes us back to where we started....

Slideshow Print this entry Share

Previous Entry Next Entry