Poppadom: New Delhi

Hello everyone!

Arrived in Delhi yesterday morning after a long flight/stopover. Sleeping at Bangkok airport in 28 degree heat was not too fun! Thought we'd be too exhausted to do anything yesterday but after our crazy drive into the city we were far too excited. The roads here are mental, our driver preferred to stay in the middle of his lane to optimise maximum flexibility depending on which lane was going faster, and was at all times only a foot or less away from the driver in front. Initially I feared for my life, but then realised that everyone was doing the same thing and no one crashing. Honking constantly is mandatory, some cars even displaying signs saying "Please Honk".

We first walked out the 'back way' of our hotel - as advised by Mr Reed, however this plan ended us on a road called Main Bazzar in the Paraganj district (where we're staying) that was full of hardware stores, rubbish EVERYWHERE and urinals on the street where urine flowed down onto the pavement... I was definitely questioning why on earth we had come here at that point! But then we hailed down a cycle rickshaw and headed towards Connaught Place - the city centre. Here they have heaps of western shops, and Mc Donalds etc as well as a ton of 'toughts' as the lonely planet puts it - every block we walked we would get a new guy requesting for us to come to his 'government' tourist office where he could book the rest of our trip for us. Alex was the big sucker here, one guy came up to him and said "Your beard makes you look like a movie star" to which he replied "Oh thanks haha" and a long tourism discussion followed.

We then had an amazing lunch/dinner of Dosa's at a restaurant and south indian coffee afterwards - delicious! Kind of caramelly taste. Which gave us an extra boost of energy to head off to the markets on Janpath Rd. We purchased a few items, probably got a bit ripped off because we're still practising our bargaining skills! But it's all a learning process...

Then jumped in a motor rickshaw and headed back to Paraganj where I bought my first Indian outfit (top, scarf and pants) for NZD $3! It's bright orange and I'm wearing it now.

Our hotel is basic but nice, so noisy at night time! Fireworks were going off all through the night and for a few seconds I thought they were gunshots!

We're off to Old Delhi today to see the Red Fort and do some more shopping. I am worried for myself, I want to buy SO much stuff here - you should see the amount of cool harem pants they have. Unbelievable. I actually considered opening an import business. The Third Eye on K'rd must be making a killing if the prices at these markets are anything to go by!

Right best be off, and have to warn future posts probably won't be as detailed as this.

HOPE YOU'RE ALL HAVING FANTASTIC TUESDAY'S! It's 9.06 am here just incase anyone was curious of the time difference

xxxxxxxxxx

P.S. There are millions of dogs on the streets! Haha but they seem pretty harmless

PPS There are millions of birds Char, EVERYWHERE!