Delhi - Days 2 and 3

Delhi is unlike any other city I have been to. Yesterday Angela and I woke up and than went to meet Jared, a couch surfer from Delhi. We went to Chandi Chowk...a crazy market area with narrow streets. We took a bicycle Rickshaw there and it was unreal. He peddled us through the narrowest of alleyways, bumping into other rickshaws, cars, and people, as Angela and I had our cameras out clicking away at all of the shops, people, food stalls, etc. It was madness. Jared told us before we entered Chandi Chowk that the last time he went there with a French girl and she cried telling him to take her outta there! It was amazing. Afterwards we went to India's biggest mosque and climbed to the top of the minaret. From there we saw amazing views of the city. The mosque was quite beautiful and it was really interesting to watch the people in their prayer. From there we went to Humayun's Tomb. This tomb looks like the Taj Mahal, but its smaller and is made of sandstone. It was built by the father of the man who built the Taj Mahal. His tomb was there along with his multiple wives and children. From there we went to a shopping area to buy some shoes and than Jared dropped us off in his car at a really good Indian restaurant. We both had Mango Lassi's, butter chicken, and garlic Naan bread. It was delicious. Afterwards we took the Metro back to Karol Bagh where we are staying. Delhi has an extensive metro system thats very clean and efficient. There is even a women only section which is nice to escape the crowds of men. We walked around our area looking at all the different shops etc. Its difficult to describe the city... the crowds of people, the traffic, atmosphere, smells, sights in general, but it is so different. Crossing the street is always an adventure. Angela commented today why she had spent $500 on Skydiving in the summer. Crossing a street in Delhi provides an even greater adrenaline rush! Yesterday night we met up with Jared and went to his friends house with another traveler from Australia. Angela and I ended up going with them to a private invite only party (we used fake names that were on the list) filled with Delhi's hip and elite. All of the girls were dressed to the 9's, so we had to dig through our backpacks to find something suitable that wasnt smelly backpacker clothes. The party was amazing, there was an open bar so we didn't pay for one drink! We sure felt the headache today... Today we felt a bit under the weather naturally so we just walked around the city for a bit and met up with a friend of my friend Ronny. Sid, Ronny's friend, was really nice...he didn't have a lot of time to spend with us but he treated Angela and I to lunch. Indian people are really warm and hospitable. Besides the annoying touts at the stations, and some of the stares by men on the street we have really experienced nothing but genuine kindness. We are picking up Alex today from the airport and will begin our journey to Rajasthan tomorrow.


Lots of love to everyone at home, and all of my friends abroad

Krista

Lodi Gardens

Chandi Chowk Rickshaw

Mosque

View from the Minaret

Humayuns Tomb

Bangles Galore!

Our Party Crew

Our new friend Jared and I

Dancing Queens