Old Delhi

I am staying in India for 1 year, it was day 2 and I felt it was time for me to cross the road alone, big step, felt like leaving the nest all over again. I had had a big breakfast of dosa so was ready for this today. After some time spent mentally preparing, and reminding myself that I had seen 6 year olds doing this, it was time. I spent a good minute waiting for a gap that didn't come. So I took a deep breath and took the plunge, walking out into speeding traffic with my hand out and teeth clenched. I was pleasantly suprised to have left this experience without a rickshaw lodged into my side. By now I have managed to get a system going for road crossing; 1. Find a group or someone else that is crossing and hover by then as cars are less likely to hit a group of people, or 2. Break it down by crossing half way then waiting for a gap to go again.

It was a saturday so our first day of being tourists so we decided to go and explore Old Delhi. Whilst I  was staring at the metro sign trying to make sure I was about to get on the right one a lovely  Indian man came over and helped me out, we chatted on the metro and I was pleasantly suprised to meet someone contradictory to what everyone at home had warned me about "watch out for those Indian men". Although I may have began my time here being too cautious of men, they all stare which I'm getting used to (although even I find myself staring at white people now, they are so rare here) but one guy on the metro gestured to me and stood up and came my way so I began preparing my karate moves, before realising he was offering me his seat, then I felt terrible for assuming he was getting up to make a run for my butt.

Welcome to old delhi

Old Delhi was even more heaving with people than New Dehli which was a shock to us all. We went through the markets and I brought some saris (100RPS, 300RPS - £1.20, £3.60) turns out I am a large size as my shoulders were too big for a  lot of them, the men kept shouting "large size", "large size" for all the market to hear as they found me saris which made me feel fabulous.

My large saris

We went into a temple where we had to wash our hands and feet before entering and put on a  cloth piece to cover our heads, the boys looked ridiculous but I'm sure I rocked the head attire well as I saw many Indians looking at me, I'm sure they were looks of envy. There were Indian men inside playing instruments and singing, everyone was sat, bowing and praying, I felt slightly out of place but it was so interesting to get an insight into their way of life. When we left we were given a porridge scoop in our  hands, then there was another lady outside who gave us a ball of brown sugary goodness.

Preparing ourselves for Delhi Belly

For  lunch we thought we’d bite the bullet and just eat street food as we were going to have to at  some point, so we went into the one place around that had seats and tables to sit at, we were  given a plate with many sections; rice, Indian bread, onions, 3 types of curry. Needless to say my eyes and nose  were dripping afterwards, it was lovely food but incredibly hot and spicy. At the end of the meal I  was certain, this is it Ellie is about to get delhi belly, but yet again I was fine, maybe the 1/4 Indian in me means I have built up a strong immune system. Once we left we were followed by a man who wanted to show us round old Delhi, he stayed with us for a good 10 minutes while we tried to shake him off until he finally got the message. We checked out the red temple but didn’t go inside as the price for Indians was 80RPS but for any other country 500RPS, a bit racist really.

Locals making road crossings look easy in old Delhi

Red Fort

When I got home I showed Raekka the clothes I had  brought and tried to explain what I did today and talk to her about her family, the language barrier made it tricky so I just showed her photos and mimed a lot, communicating with Raekka is mostly like playing sharades. I definatley need to work on my Hindi.

Noodles and veg for dinner, this was the first time ever I have had moderate success with using chopsticks. Akshay, Dilshad, Sarah and I then went to the shops to try some local Indian dessert. The  dessert, Rasgulla, was very spongy and it was soaked in sugary water, Akshay said you have to put  it straight your mouth so I did, however I failed to take into consideration the mass of water in the sponge, so when I went to bite into it the liquid oozed out so quickly that I almost spat it everywhere, a small amount dribbled onto Sarah's feet but she seemed ok with it.