So this weekend we went to Dehli, and Agra City. We started our journey at 3 am Friday morning. And after a small flight of about two hours we arrived in Dehli. We got in a very nice chartered bus (with AC I might add) and drove around new Dehli. The tour was beautiful. The picture above is the capital building. We went and saw the american embassy which was cool. I was amazed at how clean New Dehli was and the nice buildings. I was under the impression that was how all of dehli. But I was mistaken for sure. The tour guide announced that we were now headed into Old Dehli. It was a night and day difference to the above. So much poverty and people everywhere. It was dirty and the traffic was at it's peak of craziness.
This picture I feel doesn't even start to describe the mass of people there. They just build one on top of the other. I couldn't believe that this amount of people could all reside in such a small area, And people would stare at us constantly. It was really uncomfortable. But a good learning experience. When I was in the slums of brazil I saw wires being plugged into the poles just so that people could have electricity. This city was the same but times 20. There were wires hanging to low I was worried we would hit them. While we were there we did go and visit a spice market and I got some spices which I'm very excited to go home and try out. The man I bought them from gave me his email and said that he would email me some recipes so if it turns out good family you better plan on an amazing indian meal.
So to tour Old Delhi we took some bicycle rickshaws. It was so intense to be out in all that traffic exposed with nothing protecting me from all those crazy drivers. Our tour guide says that it's reallyeasy to drive in India because there are no rules and you can just make up your own. All I can say is next time I get pulled over I think I'm going to thank that police officer for keeping order and making people abide by the rules. Yet another thing that India has taught me. Now this next story actually happened I'm not making this up. While on this bicycle ride we were turning around on a narrow street. And our bicycle driver bumped into a cart passing the other direction. While they were speaking in some very heated Hindi, Steve and I couldn't have anticipated what was about to happen next. All the sudden our driver jumped off the bike and started fighting the cart drivers. We were surprised but that was just the beginning. All the sudden there is a swarm of people in front of us fighting each other! And us right in the middle of it. Steve got out to try and move the cart but I told him it was probably best to stay put. We just watched in a state of shock. The unfortunate thing was that we didn't even think to get our cameras out and film this. A sadly missed opportunity. When the driver returned he acted like absolutely nothing had happened. Just another day in India.
After our near death experience we got on our very safe and secure bus and drove to lunch. This food topped all the food I've had this far. I couldn't believe the rich flavor. And the Nan bread was divine. And such good curry. It was called butter chicken and chicken tikka masala both were extraordinary. All I'm sayin is that if this restaraunt comes to the united states I'll eat there every day. We also ate at pizza hut and KFC which was fun. Indian version of pizza hut I dare say was probably better then the original. It's just so funny that they don't eat meat so it was all spicy chicken pizza's. But all I cared about was that it was a little piece of home and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Justin Beiber and Kesha while eating.
Next was a long seven hour bus ride to Agra city! We got settled in our cozy five star hotel and it was so nice to take a real shower! I soaked in there for at least an hour. And to sit on a seat while using the bathroom. I thought I might have died and gone to heaven. Indian squatters are not exactly comfort based more like essential based. But we woke up early to see the sun rise on the TAJ MAHAL! Words can't express the Taj. It's the 1st of the seven man made wonders of the world. And I think that it is much deserved. The detail that was put into that building is extraordinary. It's hard to explain just how beautiful it is. And it's all for a tomb to place a queen in. What a quest of love. So while at the Taj I got my first taste of stardom. I'm getting used to people staring at our large group of white people but they usually do not approach us. Well while everyone was taking pics I was just sitting down taking it all in. And a group of about five or so men came and asked if they could take a picture with me. It was quite funny but I consented. They were all so excited. And that's about how the day went. People would either ask us to be in a picture or they would just sneak pictures of us like we were part of the scenery. HA guess I now know how it feels to be the huge minority.
WE RODE AN ELEPHANT!!!!!!! It was amazing to be so close to such a large and magnificent creature. It was way fun to be on top and feel it sway as it stepped. I didn't realize just how tall he was until we got up there. He was very gently. I never realized that elephants have hair on the hides. It's very prickly to touch. Kind of reminded me of unshaved legs. Steve stayed his distance back so I finally persuaded him to take a picture near the elephant. He consented and the elephant hit him in the head with his ears. It was hilarious to steve's expression. Something new that I learned about my husband is that he doesn't trust unfamiliar animals. I guess that's why he's the smarter one in our relationship. There was also a camel and some monkeys there but I'm so used to both of those two animals now I think I see them on a daily occurance. It's not uncommon to see a speeding car pass a camel carrying a cart. Or a herd of cows being lead down the road with people zooming in and out to pass them. Such a crazy mix of modern and ancient worlds.
No comments:
Post a Comment