Starting this so-called blog is perhaps the hardest thing. Getting the ball rolling and getting my experiences down on here is tricky, but hopefully worthwhile, and maybe you might like to see what it is Malene and I are up to nearly 5000 miles away. I suppose the best way to start…is at the beginning…
After arriving into Delhi International Airport, we had no idea as to what was waiting around the corner for us. Walking through air-conditioned hallways paved with carpet and decorated with elaborate paintings of various Gods, we eventually got to the arrivals desk and were pleasantly greeted by a very well dressed man behind the desk, who spoke English perfectly. We wondered to ourselves if this was a taste for things to come…the answer soon came.
As we collected our bags, we made our way into the unknown, both anxious, nervous, but excited. At first, the heat hit us with what felt like a quick, sharp blow to the stomach. Not only the intensity of the heat (high 30’s) but the feeling of it too. Its hard to explain exactly what it’s like, but try imagining someone removing the oxygen from the air – I assured Malene that we would get used to it…truth is, I had no idea!
The metro from the airport would have gotten us to the centre of Delhi in 10 minutes. However, the guard with the AK-47 assured us that the metro was closed and I wasn’t about to argue with him: the bus it was. After fumbling around with our bags (which seemed a lot heavier in this heat) we managed to track-down the right bus, paid around 50p each and sat down for what was about to be a half an hour trip through the outskirts of Delhi. I don’t think Malene and I said a word to each other for the next 30 minutes. With mouths wide open in amazement, we passed scenes that we will never forget.
‘An Assault on the Senses.’ To be precise, an assault on all the senses! Everyone uses their horns whilst driving what-ever it may be that they’re driving – cars, buses, lorry, tuk-tuks, bicycles, mopeds. 3 lane roads are jammed packed by 5 vehicles lined up side-by-side. All the time, anything imaginable on either 2 or 3 wheels is weaving between everyone, trying to get their clients to their destination regardless of safety along the way. The chaos seems seems random, unplanned and archaic. It’s only when you look a little closer that it becomes clear that either (a) Indians are very lucky at avoiding each other, or (b) this system actually works…somehow.
Our first night in Delhi was at a rather plush hotel. Although not plush at the time, after wandering around Delhi in the forthcoming days, we decided that we got lucky with our choice (or rather the choice of the tuk-tuk driver – as his family owned the hotel). Our room was on the ground floor and the only room on the ground floor. There were no windows, but it had A/C, a bed and a real toilet (seat and fully working flush!) – much to our delight!
Delhi for us was a bit of a crazy experience. The pace at which life is lived at is truly amazing. Everyone stares at us like we have arrived from a different planet…in fact, they will stare as they walk past you until either we’re completely out of sight, or they’ve walked into something. We have been told by countless people, that everyone is simply curious of us and that most in fact feel humbled or honored that we are visiting their country.
After a good evening with a new friend – Nikhil, Malene and I decided to visit Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. We were very lucky to find a very good tour guide – Mr Imran Khan who gave us the most detailed and elaborate tour ever, lasting about 2 hours. Every piece of history was beautifully described as we walked around and through the beautiful palace. He took hundreds of photos of us too which is never easy when on your own! The atmosphere was certainly more relaxed here in comparison to Delhi – some 300km away. Malene and I felt more at ease and getting more excited at the prospect of traveling on to our next destination – Bilga – hopefully our home for the next 3 months.
Getting to Bilga was definitely an adventure in itself. We were to take a night train from Delhi to Ludhiana, sleep in a sleeper carriage for what we initially thought would be around 10 hours. After making yet more friends at the station platform, our train rolled in a mere hour and a half late – apparently fairly normal by Indian standards. Malene and I quickly found our beds – the top and middle bunks of 3 in the smallest, hottest quarters I’ve ever seen! Each ‘section’ had 6 beds, 3 bunks opposite each other within touching distance from each other. We decided to try and get some sleep and proceeded to do so under the faint drone of the 3 fans that spun inches from my face. Luckily, one of our neighbours, who we had been talking with at the start of our journey, woke me up after around 7 hours. He assured us that our stop was imminent – we of course had no idea, but got ready all the same. You see, there is no information being conveyed through speakers, no helpful LED signs letting you know what the next station is, plus, in the middle of the night, you cant even look outside to gain some sort of bearing. Our neighbour saved us in this occasion…and we’ll go on to learn that we’ll be saved in many more times to come!
Of course, this is only the beginning of our story. Much, much more has happened, but I will continue next weekend. Hope it hasn’t been to boring for you – it’s certainly not been boring for us! Love to you all…
Our travels through Asia 