Saturday, January 14, 2006
Delhiicious
We landed a couple nights ago and went straight to bed. Waking at 6:00 a.m. to the hustle bustle on the main bazaar: pigeons mating on our window sill, spiritual chants marketing the nearby mosque, honks from bicycles, rickshaws, taxis, and the periodic wild cow, we glanced at each other, smiled that our earplugs were functioning to our content, and went back to sleep. Finally getting going, we figurd we'd ad-lib our first day in India. Sure enough, within a minute of walking on the bizaar, a friendly local Titu, sparked up a conversation and ended up guiding us around for a little bit. First, his favorite restaurant for Thali (smorgasboard of Indian delicacies to dip your naan into) then to the government travel agents and finally a clothing store.
After he left us, we continued to wander and wander enough where I had to resort to the direction of the sun to get us home. Not what you want to do your first day in Delhi as the town is constructed with no geographical rational but rather a plethora of hub and spoke like centers.
We then met up with John Sims (Managing Director of Himalayan Ski Village) for a drink at the Taj Majal Hotel (5 star quality even by Western standard). Pretty classic as Em & I walk into this place with our best garb (middle to high quality) for a backpacker while John and his colleague Bill are sporting elite scarves and blazers. We had a great discussion, mainly about the progress of their proposal and the idiosynchracies of making it happen in India. They were very generous to meet and also gave us a couple great connections for when we get to Manali. We were even offered to stay in one of their cabins and help with mapping and snow data for the proposal. I don't think that could work any better for my short term desires. Much more to come on this as it evolves.
Only a couple pictures of the crowded main bazaar in the Pahar Ganj neighborhood we're staying but this internet place is not reading my card reader. Picture this: many peds with bicycles, motorbikes, pedal rickshaws, autorickshaws, taxis and the occasional cow fighting for ~15 feet of travel space between stalls/shops. Looking up at various minarets; sounds and smells in abundance.
Well, we plan to meet up with a couple more acquaintances today, one our Kyrgyzstan-bound friend, Beau Gordinier. Looking forward to heading up to Manali either tomorrow afternoon or early Monday morning.
After he left us, we continued to wander and wander enough where I had to resort to the direction of the sun to get us home. Not what you want to do your first day in Delhi as the town is constructed with no geographical rational but rather a plethora of hub and spoke like centers.
We then met up with John Sims (Managing Director of Himalayan Ski Village) for a drink at the Taj Majal Hotel (5 star quality even by Western standard). Pretty classic as Em & I walk into this place with our best garb (middle to high quality) for a backpacker while John and his colleague Bill are sporting elite scarves and blazers. We had a great discussion, mainly about the progress of their proposal and the idiosynchracies of making it happen in India. They were very generous to meet and also gave us a couple great connections for when we get to Manali. We were even offered to stay in one of their cabins and help with mapping and snow data for the proposal. I don't think that could work any better for my short term desires. Much more to come on this as it evolves.
Only a couple pictures of the crowded main bazaar in the Pahar Ganj neighborhood we're staying but this internet place is not reading my card reader. Picture this: many peds with bicycles, motorbikes, pedal rickshaws, autorickshaws, taxis and the occasional cow fighting for ~15 feet of travel space between stalls/shops. Looking up at various minarets; sounds and smells in abundance.
Well, we plan to meet up with a couple more acquaintances today, one our Kyrgyzstan-bound friend, Beau Gordinier. Looking forward to heading up to Manali either tomorrow afternoon or early Monday morning.
Labels: Delhi, India, Pahar Ganj
