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India

Goldenmaggot
2005-09-08 18:32:20

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After a long flight we land at Delhi Airport. Ralph then has to go through the rigmarole of getting a customs note for his video camera - and we get our first taste of the Indian paranoia about video cameras. They don't ask if you are carrying a gun, drugs or a bomb. Oh no. But "Have you got a video camera?" If the answer is yes, they want to see it, check its number, then write all the details down in the back of your passport. Then write it all down again on a form in duplicate.
Getting through passport control and customs was quite something! Having already filled in a form on the plane with passport details, reason for visit, where from, by what flight, how long you intend to stay, and where, and so on and on ...... well, all those details are checked against your passport, written down, and studiously pondered upon. By the time they had checked the whole plane, it seemed to have taken hours. (worse then getting into China or Israel).

We reckon it was all planned; to delay you with bureaucracy, so that when you go to retrieve your luggage - which isn't there, you won't realise how long it has taken to arrive. We think they are unloading the cases two at a time, on a sack barrow!!

We were welcomed by the rep from Pettitt's, the company we had booked with. "Welcome to India", he said and put garlands of flowers round our necks.

The drive to the hotel was 'interesting'. The driver went through every red light we came to. Some were flashing, some weren't, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

We booked into the Oberoi Maidens Hotel in Old Delhi.

We cashed some money. The exchange rate in 1990 was 28.45 rupees to the pound. In April 2000 the exchange rate is 69.25 rupees to the pound.

We went on a shopping trip into New Delhi. What a hairy trip that was!! It makes driving ...