Category: India

Today was our last day of sight seeing in New Delhi. We slowly, as the week has gone by, have become more confident with finding our way around, catching the Metro, Autos and Rickshaws and interacting with people. We have slowly gotten used to people staring at us and appreciate any local advice which come without a catch. We also have also obliged some less dodgy looking people with photographs with us, though for every person that asks there are numerous people that are taking photo of us without asking. We are quite a spectacle.

Today we headed out early to the Red Fort, back to Old Delhi with the very in your face poverty, strong smells of human waste and chaotic commerce all around. The Red Fort lived up to expectations, baring signs of its history as both a palace and a military barrak.

We then headed afterward to South Delhi, beyond where we are staying to Qutb Minar. Which look beautiful in the softer light of the late afternoon.

Tomorrow we join our Intrepid Tour and we begin our trip overland to Kathmandu.

As military calvary, camels, three huge tanks, over a thousand red hat army personal, brass bands (one even on camels) and military aircraft make their way down to the magnificent Indian Gate, it is hard to believe we were looking down the same road only yesterday!! Watching the Republic Day celebrations on television, the seats which were empty, are now filled with thousands upon thousands of people stretching from the beautiful Presidents Palace and Government buildings decorated with a million lightbulbs all the way to the Indian Gate near Rajpath!!

Yesterday was an amazing adventure of discovery as we ventured on the yellow metro line to the Indian Gate which holds a very similar role in Indian society as our own Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne!!! However upon arrival the sand bag bunkers and yellow barricades labelled Delhi Police gave us an overall feeling of anxiety as we began thinking the Presidents Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan) was closed!!! But thankfully it was OPEN!!! Yeah!!! We walked up the slight hill which was undergoing hectic preparation for Republic Day, with gardeners putting extra flowers into plant pots and speakers being set up alongside the road. From each ministry building there was a military box which coordinated all the white ancient Ambassadors (an english ar) containing Ministry leaders down Raisini Hill. Monkeys balanced on the edge of buildings scurrying around, as fountains sprouted from the clean cut grass gardens. When we arrived at the elephant fence, our eyes jumped with awe at the majestic palace up ahead and red dust drive way adding to the beauty of the front garden entrance which held elephant shaped hedges!!

Heading back onto the yellow metro we jumped onto the violet metro line to stride amongst the wonder and excitement of the Humayun’s Tomb an Emperor of India over a couple of hundred years ago!!! Jumping upon an automatic yellow and green toot-toot we braved the crowded roads, honking the horn to indicate we were overtaking or pushing past another truck or car!!! LUCKILY we SURVIVED!!! After paying our 250 Rupee we wondered down the spectacular path of gardens to the marble and red sandstone tomb, a precursor for the Taj Mahal it’s roof was the same tear drop shape and inside held over 100 tombs!!! The grand magnificence of the structure was enhanced with a surrounding float and fountains all encompassed within the oasis of gardens with little squirrel like creatures scuttling up and the trees!!! Ahhh…so peaceful!!!

With grumbling tummy’s we walked past a chaotic mix of taxi’s picking up school children and parents dropping their children in their yellow and green uniforms to a luxurious Italian restaurant!!! From the oven baked pizza to the handmade gnocchi……mmmm…balisimo!!

Back on the violet train us girls trying out the women’s carriage we screamed onto the Lotus Temple of the Bahai Faith!!! From afar the white roof petals could be seen, Up close they resembled the beautiful white tiles of the Sydney Opera House!!! Walking peacefully down the garden we took off our runners and felt the cool stone beneath our feet!! Underneath the petals were light blue pools of tranquility, we walked up the stairs to be briefed before entering the place of prayer!! Inside the wooden and marble chairs welcomed us to sit and pray in the silence!!!

Now as the celebrations for Republic Day are closing with traditional floats and dances (plus men standing up and balancing on bikes) it’s time to relax and enjoy the festivities!!!

Following our wonderful and over indulgent breakfast (which I am thoroughly looking forward to again, in about 20 minutes) we set off down the road… passing some high street shops that looked well our of place along the dirty, dusty and noisy road and boarded the Delhi Metro.

The Delhi Metro was not as expected – it was clean, efficient and the passengers even queued to board the train. Nothing like the Melbourne Metro.

Upon reaching our destination at Chandin Chowk in Old Delhi – the site of the famous Red Fort. Again, we weaved through the dirty, dusty and noisy roads to reach our destination only to discover it was closed. Well, that’s what the toute said anyway. We all didn’t believe him (that was toute trick number one in the Lonely Planet guide). So we went for a walk to the next entrance, where we were promptly told that the Red Fort was closed and would we like a rickshaw ride elsewhere. Again, we didn’t believe him – so we continued walking, until we reached a third entrance, looking a lot more promising given the tourist busses and cars in the parking lot. Unfortunately the Ricky Ponting fan/security guard (not a toute) advised us that the Red Fort is indeed closed due to the Republic Day preparations where the president will be delivering his speech from the Red Fort on the 26th of January. Damn – 3KM later down a dirty road, the first toute was right.

We decided that since we had made it over half way around  the closed Red Fort we may as well continue and do the full circumference…. gotta run, I’m late for breakfast – will finish the rest later… [preview] picture Tippi Hendron screaming and shoeing birds away….