Until today, I though New Delhi (where I live and work) was crazy and hectic. That all changed this evening, when I ventured to Old Delhi for the first time with Louise, Elodie, and Marlies. We negotiated prices for bicycle rickshaws, jumped on and headed down Chandni Chowk. The ride was unlike anything I've ever seen. The main street is a sort of crowded bazaar where small shops and vendors packed the sidewalks and people, bikes, cars and animals filled the streets. Dogs, cats, cows, even monkeys mingled with the people. Our cyclist maneuvered through narrow roads and alleyways and delivered us to the Spice Market. I can't imagine riding a bike through these streets, let alone a bike with a cart and two people on it! And all of this for a mere 30 rupees (not even 70 cents)!
We hopped off the rickshaws and wandered around for awhile. Together, we were quite a sight. Four ladies from South Africa, France, Austria and America, respectively, making our way through the crowds and buying fruit, nuts and Diwali boxes along the way. Eventually, we made our way to Jama Masjid and walked through the market there.
Naturally, we attracted a lot of stares and gawks, but we managed to ignore the seedy characters and beggars that were constantly pulling at our shirts. Next stop was Karim's, an Indian restaurant that is listed in every guide book and gets rave reviews. It lived up to our expectations and an hour later we emerged stuffed and rehydrated. Our walk back to the car was rather chaotic, so it was quite a relief to return to the relative calm of New Delhi.
1 comment:
I Miss You. Or maybe I miss your pretty voice. Kisses. Laura
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