Delhi... Nothing could have prepared me for this.There are people everywhere!Asd soon as we cleared customs we had to fightour way through hordes of people touting forbusiness.
'Use my Taxi...'
'I'm your friend...'
Luckily our hotel had pre-arranged to meet us at the Airport. And with bikes we weren't hard to identify. One face in the croud helf his sign a little higher than the rest - and there were our names!
Luckily our hotel had pre-arranged to meet us at the Airport. And with bikes we weren't hard to identify. One face in the croud helf his sign a little higher than the rest - and there were our names!
Our transport turned out to be a very small old battered mini van taxi.
'Yes we can carry two bikes' we'd been assured via email when we made the booking.
And so they did... lying one on top of the other over an old roof rack. To complete the bike rack an old hemp tope was thrown across the top.
With every bump in the road (the road is more bumps than flat) everything on the roof groaned and creeked.
Stops being made occassionally to re-tie the rope (This guy was an expert in slip knots).
The ride in was unbelievable.There are no road rules, and the only way to describe the driving is to compare it to New Zealand Go-Karting... on a grand scale.
I have absolutely NO idea how these guys avoid hitting each other.
Horns are used as the primary means of communication between drivers. After all... that's why horns were invented isn't it?
It's polite to honk when you start your passing manouver - or for road rage. It's hard to tell the difference.
One driver used his indicators.... everyone simply ignored him. Obviously having no idea what
those pretty yellow flashing lights are for.
We passed an intersection held by traffric lights. Cars lined up 6 wide and hundreds deep, mirror to mirror, like Formula One drivers ready to go.
At one corner the traffic island in the centre of the road was adorned by 20+ brown bodies lying
asleep on the concrete!
asleep on the concrete!
Then the taxi suddenly stoped and the driver dissapeared.
Back after a couple of minutes he apologised for having to stop at this Shrine (Hindu) every time he drives past.
Our hotel is very close to the centre of Delhi, and named 'Hotel Relax'.As we bounce our way towards it dodging scooters, bicycles, cows, dogs and people this place looks anything but relaxing...
But the room is clean. Which is more than you can say for outside.Very late we head for bed.