Lisa in India (2)

Thanks for everyones greetings. We are being very careful. No, I will not likely be able to send pics even though I have a digitial camera. Have yet to find Internet that is very fast.

The next time I tell anyone that I don't like staying in hotels, shoot me. This is one trip I am grateful to have the hotel at the end of the day....if nothing more than for some place to calm down and reestablish some serenity for sanity sake. Walking around Delhi is exhausting - emotionally speaking. We are grateful to have a comfortable place at the end of the day.

We are being constantly harassed and bothered by people trying to sell us things, get us into their auto rickshaw, take us to an emporium to shop. It is CONSTANT - we are never alone for a second. This is the problem with a blonde from Aus and a red head from Canada. We stick out like sore thumb! s. It is day # 3 and I have developed the tough skin - barter and haggle for everything, walk with a determined forward stare, don't meet the eyes of anyone on the street or engage in conversation because it all leads to being directed to someones emplorium or market....It is against my nature to be impolite but it does drive one insane so eventually you develop that thick skin.

I am so glad I did my research and read about India and these little nuances as it has helped us both adjust. On an intellectual level, I understood why people say, "I love India, but I also hate India". I am developing a much better appreciation of this statement now. I don't know if you will understand from my words as I share this with you.

We have seen those negative images - the deformed and limbless beggars on the street, maimed and disabled children begging for money, &nb! sp;the stench of urine and feces on the streets, men pissing against the walls, women and men working on the street with a pick axe breaking up stone or digging a hole and with no shoes on their feet, dogs everywhere feeding on the garbage in the street, children tugging on your arms and clothes for money...balances against the beautiful women in their colourful sarees, the sweet old woman on the Metro who kept speaking to us in Hindi wishing us to have a good time in India (translated by another woman), the politeness of eveyone, the smiles....It is wonderful but it is draining as well. I think I am too old to have truely 'backpacked' this country. I am just not that intrepid anymore, I am afraid.

We took the (new) Metro into Old Delhi and then hired a rickshaw to take us to the silk market, spice market and through the labyrinth of skinny streets. My throat and nose were actually on fire from the chiles in the air. Our guide took us to this ancient temple. I cannot believe how many people live in this place. And it is kaos.

We join up with our group tonight. Tomorrow we have a 'formal' tour of Delhi, or the 'sights' of usual interest. I doubt anything could be more fascinating than Old Delhi. We take an overnight train to Bikaner and then hook up with our 3 day camel trek. There are only 5 in our group, we are told. Nice small group.

Regards for now,

Lisa xo