On our drive to Delhi we stop for lunch at what looks like a gas station. They have curios (tourist chachkas) at the front and our lunch is ok–but super expensive. Who ever said that Indian food was cheap was lying. Indian food is not cheap. Perhaps if you eat off the street…

Mosque Between Agra And Delhi

People Everywhere

Hard Work

The Usual Traffic

Delhi is a city we actually wish we were staying longer. There is ton to do in this capital city and my interest is peaked by the city that beat out Hamilton for the Commonwealth games. We are staying in a gated community for expats (read white people) and walk for an exciting dinner at Subway where there is no beef or pork on the menu.

Delhi is a city split into two sections. Old and new. We start the day by seeing some of the sites in New Delhi including more palaces, supreme court, and parliament. The architecture is grand, Anglo, and lovely.

Fence To Presidential Palace

Government Buildings

More People

Gate Of India

We head through the traffic (there is a ton of begging) to Old Delhi where we take a tour of Humayun Tomb–but don’t spend too much time there as we have just seen the Taj which is similar (but way better) and spent considerable time there.

Humayun Tomb

Paparazzi

Light

Amber Fort (We Skipped It)

We take a bike rickshaw (it is very small for the two of us) through Old Delhi (a car won’t fit) and can’t get over the power lines. The worst we have ever seen. I am not loving this rickshaw ride. I feel far too on display and of course it is the day that I decide to wear a skirt. I was fearful of being robbed and flashing my business to all of Old Delhi.

Rickshaw Through Old Delhi

Old Delhi

Old Delhi’s animal encounter? Rats. Yep. Rats crawling around the garbage that is strewn around the city.

We end the rickshaw at India’s biggest mosque. Marc thinks it is payback for the hospital pants that I (being a female) is forced to put on a long dress. Moo moo is a better name for it. It is huge and used 5x a day for prayer where it is packed. Shoulder to shoulder. We were all walking around bare footed.

World's Largest Mosque Outside Of Mecca

Cover-up

This Square Fills Up With 20,000 People

Market Close To Mosque

We both agree that since it is our last day in India, we should only eat Indian food. We won’t be having it for a loooong time. We have one of our best Indian meals–sitting beside a horrible American woman who we dislike on site.

After we leave (we are thrilled that the resto is packed) we see a snake charmer and a cobra. Marc says here is your chance. I have been talking about my missed snake opportunity for a week now. I decide to go for it. It is now or never. Be brave. Like Nike says–just do it.

Marc gets the camera ready. I kneel down beside the charmer. He starts playing his flute. The next thing I know he puts a snake around my neck. WTF? This was not the plan. I psyched myself up for petting a cobra–not wearing a snake around my neck like Britney at the MTV awards, before the melt down. The snake, whose body is around my neck is eye balling me. Before I had assumed my position, I was assured by our guide that the venom had been removed. Their teeth hadn’t been. Now I am convinced the snake whose body is wrapped around my neck and is eye balling me is going to bite me. I am sure that he is going to bite me right in the face and leave a huge scar. I am convinced. Just sure of it. Life is too short to have a snake bite scar on my face, all for the sake of going one to one with my German husband on animal encounters. I am still eyeball to eyeball with the snake. Move. Move your ass. That was it. Ass over tea kettle I went (you betcha I was wearing a skirt). I smashed my elbow, but thankfully I came away with no bites on my face. That snake really did want a piece of me…

Surprise...

Careful...

It Might Snap...

LOL

A Good Laugh

Recovering

No Harm, Just Dust

We went to the place 9the exact location) where Gandhi was murdered. It is now a museum and very moving with his quotes posted all over (except for my favorite–you must be the change you wish to see in the world). We also went to the Gandhi memorial where his ashes are kept and there has been a fire burning since the memorial was constructed.

Gandhi Tribute

Statue At His Last Home

Gandhi's Last Steps

Assassination Site

India Would Be Quite Different Without Him

Gandhi Memorial Site

Our guide was itching to get out of there and kept telling us that we should go back to our hotel and rest. Especially after I went ass over tea kettle because of the snake. I had to tell our guide–listen, it is our last day in India, we don’t need to rest. We want to do something. Our guide leaves us and directs our driver to take us to the lovely garden. It is full of Indian birds and people picnicking. There are a bunch of ruined temples and it is just lovely. It sort of reminds us of Westmount park in Montreal. We are happy to go for a nice walk.

Lodhi Gardens

Picnic At Lodhi Park

That evening our travel agent takes us out for dinner. Our only request is that it is Indian. It is authentic and delicious. He gives us a wedding gift. We go home, pop our last heart burn pills and call it a night.

We have a new “Would you rather” question. It may be the best so far.

Would you rather live in China or India?

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.