Delhi - final stop
Well, not quite an airborne ride as the last time in a sleeper compartment on a bus but there were other problems. At some point in the night, the bus picked up what appeared to be an entire village. When I peered out of the compartment, the entire aisle and every seat and every compartment was occupied with someone in a blanket. At least 30 people. 3 were stretched out in the aisle fast asleep. I woke to a silent bus with a bursting bladder (me, not the bus). After a fair degree of deliberation I got down from the eyrie and trod on a variety of humans to get to the front of the bus.
There, an entire rugby team was wedged in the manner of the photos of extermination camps one sees - stretched out, vacant eyes, open mouths, an apocalyptic tableau. Having barged and shoved past I realized that the reaon we were stationary was that there was a traffic jam. I started to relieve myself on the dirt at the side of the road only to be hooted at by a lorry and verbally shouted at by the driver as the piece of dirt apparently constituted a highway. I would have responded in kind but was not inclined to engage in such confrontational activity with part of my anatomy in full view of the bus and assembled vehicles.
Got to Delhi about 9am - late - and argued with the local rickshaw wallahs and tuktuks about how to get from wherever we were - no idea - to the hotel we used last time but eventually got there.
Yesterday was a trip to the Red Fort - waste of R100 - and Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Very fascinating - you could spend weeks in the alleys. Jettisoning time again today - towel and polonecks etc. Taxi is ordered to the airport - R80, a bit much and a final pack and weigh and we’re ready. The hotel wouldn’t let us check out after lunch but I haven’t finished with them yet. Sonali is definitely unwell for what may be a variety of reasons so is in bed. Still nothing opens here until 11am. Apparently it takes ages to get through IGI airport so although the flight is at 21.30, the taxi is at 15.30.
Tonight, will be in Paharangarj Road - backpacker central and where you can buy anything from Indsa without travelling there, a good meal and agood sleep so this will be the lasgt ‘on the road’ post. I will re-edit and complete the pages and add visuals as soon after we get back as I can. I have a huge mailbox of problems to get rid of first.