Delhi

Whilst on the train from Goa I was told that Delhi would be unrecognisable from my previous visit seven years ago. So naturally I was excited as I arrived to see the change. What cock and bull! Delhi is just as broken as it ever was! Yes it has a brand new metro, which makes getting around a thousand times easier. But even that looks as if it falling apart. However I did enjoy my day there. I saw a few of the sites, and drank far too much coffee at Connaught Place, a place I guess one could describe as Delhi's equivalent to London's West End. Plenty of cinemas and fashionable shops, the aptly named Piccadelhi London bar. Also a place where I received a wonderful proposition. As I stood outside one of the cinemas a rather tall middle aged Sikh gentleman walked up to me and said "You have big Cock". I ignored him, he then repeated "you have big cock" and added "8 to 10 inches". My pace quickened.

After my brush with romance I went to see the Parliament, India Gate and to Chandi Chowk, the heart of Old Delhi, and a place so utterly chaotic it is impossible to describe. Beggars, traders, citizens, dust, noise, fumes, excrement, rubbish, cows, dogs, cyclo rickshaws, auto rickshaws, traffic, all fighting over every square centimeter as if it is their last breath. Which in the choking environment it may well be, and for one elderly beggar I noticed laying on the pavement I think it was. "India" exclaimed and perhaps explained a passing man. I moved on. Not a lot one can do really.

After a failed attempt to find the Jama Masjid (big mosque built by Shah Jahan I visited last time, it is very beautiful), which involved a scary but fun walk through very narrow and ultimately dark streets avoiding motor bikes going far too fast I returned to Pahar Gang (area near New Delhi trains station famous for having many cheap hotels) and my hotel to collect my things before heading to Nepal.