I arrived two days ago into Delhi's airport. WOW, what a culture shock. Many things have happened all at once, overwhelming my senses so I will do my best to describe them:
Initially, I left the airport and when I wanted to go back in to exchange money and see about some tourist information, I was not allowed, blocked by a man with an automatic weapon claiming that for me to go back inside would be a security threat. So, a nice Indian man explained the situation to him, and a kind Australian watched my big bag as I entered and did as I needed. He nodded his head back and forth, as I was told means either "yes, no, or go f**** yourself"...only time will tell if I will be able to discern the difference as it is all based on the situation.
Nobody happened to mention to me that there was a festival going on in Delhi and that the prices for hotel rooms would be sky high! I found that out on my own! Some nice drivers took me around in cars and tuk-tuks (small vehicles with no doors, used for driving small distances) looking for accommodations but it had appeared that even the cheap street of hostels/hotels was blocked off by the police, most likely due to the festivals going on - an F1 Racing one, Divali and several others all combined into one...so much for my luck...
I visited a tourist agency which said that the best option would be to get out of Delhi for the moment and go up to Srinagar in the Northernmost region of India, called Kashmir. After thinking about it and wandering into an old office, where I was told I could sleep (in Delhi) - the same staff from the initial tourist office came back and told me I had to leave! The man who initially told me that I could stay was the gentleman who served tea. So at the end of the day I could NOT stay, and then began my excursion looking for a cheap place to stay, which ended at about 3am when I decided to go back to the tourist office and book the 7-day home stay in Srinagar...a far better deal than paying around $100 USD a night...NOT quite as inexpensive as I had been told India was...
So I spent my first night in a decent accommodation (and I have a feeling I will upgrade from the word decent to INCREDIBLE via India standards by the end of my time here), in the morning was served some oily (yet tasty), fried bread to dip in some curry and have some onions, along with Marsala Tea. Marsala Tea is sweet and DELICIOUS Easily a favorite here in India - I am glad they drink their tea sweet, unlike the Chinese.
After breakfast, a driver weaved in and out of the crazy streets of Delhi to get me to the bus station, where I met a gentleman who spoke to me about life, and how life is more about family and friends, relationships, etc. than material things. I concurred. When we discussed the bus being late, he told me that there is a saying in India, "On God's time", or "Only God knows"...meaning let's see what happens, if the bus is meant to come, it will come....interesting and slightly worrying (though a few minutes later it arrived!)
The bus itself was quite dirty, but not much worse than the ones found in China, and actually the dirtiest part was the sleeping quarters where I laid my head to rest, above the seats. These people kept peeking out of the curtains covering the beds, and a man kept peeking in on a woman he appeared to be with. I would later go on to learn that this was his daughter and find his "buscapades" slightly less creepy. The people on the bus were quite friendly and most people in this country with whom I have conversed speak English. Their English fluctuates in and out of understandability to me. I will be understanding everything one moment, and then lost it all the next, sometimes just missing a word or two due to the accent. My overall initial opinion of the people after having been here just a few days is that these people really APPRECIATE life, because most of them have less. While many of us in the US are worrying about the size o the next television we will buy, many homeless people (Of which I saw a number) in Delhi are worrying about where they will sleep and if they will survive another night...
The guy was waiting in Srinagar to transport me to my houseboat (as promised by the program). I arrived to Has family and they cooked myself and another Japanese boy a meal. I have breakfast, lunch and dinner included every day for my stay here! It was a decent price for US standards, but rather costly for Indian ones, the agency claiming it is a government-subsidized program...oh, and I have an ENTIRE houseboat to myself how crazy! There seems to be somewhat of a "servant" or helper here who helps with issues and helps bring food and helped bring my things to the houseboat! I have seen Ahmeed's wife and three daughters, but not his son because he works in Delhi. Also around the residence are the two guys who were in the car with me, driving me here.
The family seems very friendly and we have already discussed how the Kashmiris and in particular how the Muslim community here does arranged marriages. Ahmeed said his marriage was arranged and that he will arrange his daughters' and sons...they used to get married as early as 13 or 14 until a law here was passed!! Now the woman is usually 18 and the man 22. In some smaller villages (which I might visit) the men and women still get married at a young age!). The food we ate for lunch was rice with some pickled lotus flower stem, sliced radish and another curry-type dish. It has been easy to eat as a vegetarian so far, so I might have to stay on this track for a while. Not that I will completely avoid meat, but the concept of slaughtering animals had been something that bothered me ever since a young age..we will see what happens.
More updates to follow as the houseboat experience continues! ...and before I forget, people ride inside of AND ON TOP Of buses here.
Initially, I left the airport and when I wanted to go back in to exchange money and see about some tourist information, I was not allowed, blocked by a man with an automatic weapon claiming that for me to go back inside would be a security threat. So, a nice Indian man explained the situation to him, and a kind Australian watched my big bag as I entered and did as I needed. He nodded his head back and forth, as I was told means either "yes, no, or go f**** yourself"...only time will tell if I will be able to discern the difference as it is all based on the situation.
Nobody happened to mention to me that there was a festival going on in Delhi and that the prices for hotel rooms would be sky high! I found that out on my own! Some nice drivers took me around in cars and tuk-tuks (small vehicles with no doors, used for driving small distances) looking for accommodations but it had appeared that even the cheap street of hostels/hotels was blocked off by the police, most likely due to the festivals going on - an F1 Racing one, Divali and several others all combined into one...so much for my luck...
I visited a tourist agency which said that the best option would be to get out of Delhi for the moment and go up to Srinagar in the Northernmost region of India, called Kashmir. After thinking about it and wandering into an old office, where I was told I could sleep (in Delhi) - the same staff from the initial tourist office came back and told me I had to leave! The man who initially told me that I could stay was the gentleman who served tea. So at the end of the day I could NOT stay, and then began my excursion looking for a cheap place to stay, which ended at about 3am when I decided to go back to the tourist office and book the 7-day home stay in Srinagar...a far better deal than paying around $100 USD a night...NOT quite as inexpensive as I had been told India was...
So I spent my first night in a decent accommodation (and I have a feeling I will upgrade from the word decent to INCREDIBLE via India standards by the end of my time here), in the morning was served some oily (yet tasty), fried bread to dip in some curry and have some onions, along with Marsala Tea. Marsala Tea is sweet and DELICIOUS Easily a favorite here in India - I am glad they drink their tea sweet, unlike the Chinese.
After breakfast, a driver weaved in and out of the crazy streets of Delhi to get me to the bus station, where I met a gentleman who spoke to me about life, and how life is more about family and friends, relationships, etc. than material things. I concurred. When we discussed the bus being late, he told me that there is a saying in India, "On God's time", or "Only God knows"...meaning let's see what happens, if the bus is meant to come, it will come....interesting and slightly worrying (though a few minutes later it arrived!)
The bus itself was quite dirty, but not much worse than the ones found in China, and actually the dirtiest part was the sleeping quarters where I laid my head to rest, above the seats. These people kept peeking out of the curtains covering the beds, and a man kept peeking in on a woman he appeared to be with. I would later go on to learn that this was his daughter and find his "buscapades" slightly less creepy. The people on the bus were quite friendly and most people in this country with whom I have conversed speak English. Their English fluctuates in and out of understandability to me. I will be understanding everything one moment, and then lost it all the next, sometimes just missing a word or two due to the accent. My overall initial opinion of the people after having been here just a few days is that these people really APPRECIATE life, because most of them have less. While many of us in the US are worrying about the size o the next television we will buy, many homeless people (Of which I saw a number) in Delhi are worrying about where they will sleep and if they will survive another night...
The guy was waiting in Srinagar to transport me to my houseboat (as promised by the program). I arrived to Has family and they cooked myself and another Japanese boy a meal. I have breakfast, lunch and dinner included every day for my stay here! It was a decent price for US standards, but rather costly for Indian ones, the agency claiming it is a government-subsidized program...oh, and I have an ENTIRE houseboat to myself how crazy! There seems to be somewhat of a "servant" or helper here who helps with issues and helps bring food and helped bring my things to the houseboat! I have seen Ahmeed's wife and three daughters, but not his son because he works in Delhi. Also around the residence are the two guys who were in the car with me, driving me here.
The family seems very friendly and we have already discussed how the Kashmiris and in particular how the Muslim community here does arranged marriages. Ahmeed said his marriage was arranged and that he will arrange his daughters' and sons...they used to get married as early as 13 or 14 until a law here was passed!! Now the woman is usually 18 and the man 22. In some smaller villages (which I might visit) the men and women still get married at a young age!). The food we ate for lunch was rice with some pickled lotus flower stem, sliced radish and another curry-type dish. It has been easy to eat as a vegetarian so far, so I might have to stay on this track for a while. Not that I will completely avoid meat, but the concept of slaughtering animals had been something that bothered me ever since a young age..we will see what happens.
More updates to follow as the houseboat experience continues! ...and before I forget, people ride inside of AND ON TOP Of buses here.
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