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September 2001 - July 2002
India, part I
Brett Voegele2005-11-16 18:14:20
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Delhi
So, what does one do after a good night on the town? Goes for a curry, so I headed off to India! The flight seemed to make a concerted effort to loop below Afghanistan and Pakistan...no complaints from me. I arrived in Delhi after midnight, and got a cab. Even though I told the cab driver roughly where I wanted to go, he still drove me to his 'tourist office' so I could book a hotel. Lonely Planet says it's a scam and you end up talking to somebody in the next room, not the hotel, but are still told there are no rooms available. You are then advised of an alternative - much more expensive room...one where the con artists will get a cut. I didn't bite (and wouldn't have even without the LP advice) and so we drove off. He next told me that where I wanted to be dropped off wasn't safe at this time - now about 1:45 AM. He finally agreed to drop me off on a particular street and I wandered about. There were people trying to get me into an auto or bicycle rickshaw, some wanted to sell me food, others wanted me to follow them to a hotel. There were people sleeping on the edge of the streets, and there were rats scurrying about. I finally found a guesthouse on my own terms around 2:00 AM. No dramas, and a good introduction to India. Basically what I expected.
The next day I was confronted with India right outside my window - horns blaring, dirt, cars, auto rickshaws, bicycle rickshaws, motorcycles, pedestrians, cows, and venders carts all trying to negotiate the narrow street. Touts everywhere were trying to separate one from their money, so you're constantly uttering the words "no", "no thank you", "not interested", "I don't need it", or "get the hell away from me you little brat!" OK, so it doesn't get to that extreme, but you sometimes feel like it. India can definitely test the patience I've learned through previous travels. All you can do is smile and roll
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See photographs from:
India Gallery
