Around the World. India
The first thing I saw once I got to my hotel in Delhi was the headline of a newspaper that proclaimed that the airline I flew from Dubai, Kingfisher, was deemed a safety risk and ordered to shutdown. Awesome.
After much needed sleep, I set about exploring Delhi. The New Delhi area, where I stayed, was very unlike most Indian cities. It featured tree-lined boulevards, orderly public squares, and (gasp) actual traffic lights. I was so energized by the orderliness of the place, that I walked all the way to Humayun's tomb, a sort of a poor man's Taj Mahal. I finished the day by hanging out with my good friend Abi, who took me to a revolving restaurant that would have had an amazing view if not for the thick smog/fog covering the city.
The next day, encouraged by my previous day's exploits, I decided to go to Red Fort, located in Old Delhi. The modern and efficient metro system surely meant that getting to the Red Fort would be a breeze. I consulted my map, and rode to the appropriate stop, which deposited me in the middle of a heaving, teeming mass of people moving through a narrow maze of streets, smelling of incense, curry and pollution. In other words, I was back in real India. I made a feeble attempt to walk for a few blocks, but quickly realized I had no idea where I was going. The map was useless, as there were no street signs anywhere. But I refused to give up. I went back to the metro and rode another stop. Then, after a few more false starts, I managed to walk to my destination, Through Old Delhi. On my own. Oh, how I looked down on the other tourists who had arrived in their cars and with their guides.
Then, it was off to Kota for Inna and Shuchin's wedding, which was fun, crazy and beautiful - everything an Indian wedding should be.
After much needed sleep, I set about exploring Delhi. The New Delhi area, where I stayed, was very unlike most Indian cities. It featured tree-lined boulevards, orderly public squares, and (gasp) actual traffic lights. I was so energized by the orderliness of the place, that I walked all the way to Humayun's tomb, a sort of a poor man's Taj Mahal. I finished the day by hanging out with my good friend Abi, who took me to a revolving restaurant that would have had an amazing view if not for the thick smog/fog covering the city.
The next day, encouraged by my previous day's exploits, I decided to go to Red Fort, located in Old Delhi. The modern and efficient metro system surely meant that getting to the Red Fort would be a breeze. I consulted my map, and rode to the appropriate stop, which deposited me in the middle of a heaving, teeming mass of people moving through a narrow maze of streets, smelling of incense, curry and pollution. In other words, I was back in real India. I made a feeble attempt to walk for a few blocks, but quickly realized I had no idea where I was going. The map was useless, as there were no street signs anywhere. But I refused to give up. I went back to the metro and rode another stop. Then, after a few more false starts, I managed to walk to my destination, Through Old Delhi. On my own. Oh, how I looked down on the other tourists who had arrived in their cars and with their guides.
Then, it was off to Kota for Inna and Shuchin's wedding, which was fun, crazy and beautiful - everything an Indian wedding should be.