“…the size and scope of Delhi is difficult to describe. Roundabouts leading into roundabouts leading into roundabouts seems to be the urban planning model. The driver I hired for the day, while nice and friendly, does not speak English and does not seem to have any sense of direction nor know his way around the city…”
“…my driver took me to Humayun’s tomb, a mausoleum from the 16th century in the architectural style of the Taj Mahal. He said I had 20 minutes. Thanks but on my first day in India I’ll take my sweet time. Walking through the grounds was a welcomed escape from the craziness of Delhi. I thought I would be above or immune to the culture shock but the smog, haze, millions of pedestrians, cars, bikes, motorcycles and animals were really overwhelming on 4 hours sleep in three days. The grounds of Humayun’s tomb are well manicured and well kept with grass parks and trees lining peaceful walkways leading to the mausoleum and mosque…”
“…food doesn’t usually elicit an emotional response but my first meal is so good I cry. Likely a combination of shear exhaustion and jet lag…”
“…in trying to find the train station I was departing for Jodhpur from, he had to stop three times to ask for directions and against my pleas, dropped me off at the Delhi Cantt station 4.5 hours before my train…”
“…Praveen sat down next to me and we started talking, er, he talked and I pretended to understand what he was saying. I did get that I was the 1st man he ever spoke English to. I lied repeatedly and told him his English was excellent. He would speak and I would nod and agree, I probably agreed to marry his sister or something or give him one of my kidneys for all I know. Nice guy though. He asked for my autograph and held out his palm, not wanting to offend I signed his palm and asked him to sign my book. His train is leaving now. Easily 40 cars long, packed to the brim with one car full of people hanging out the windows pounding away on drums and singing…”
“…this could be interesting. The train announcements are all garbled and likely in Hindi. I asked a train employee how I would know which train was which and he said ‘they’ll announce it.’ Great…”
“…train pulled up called the Jodhpur express, which is where I’m headed, it’s just 2 hours early. Someone said, ‘your train, your train’ and while I knew full well it wasn’t I was tired of sitting in the station and booked it. Full sprint carrying a backpacking backpack and my camera bag around my neck, sprinting for a train that was already on it’s way out of the station. The thing is, when you have a ticket in 2nd Tier AC you have a specific car you need to be on and this being my first train ride I thought it best to get onto the right car, just the wrong train. Train couldn’t have been going more than 5mph but you try that with 65lbs of bags strapped to you, while your clock radio and other crap wiggles it’s way out of a 1/2 zipped zipper. Made it on the train and put my bags down on my berth and went to the door to get some fresh air. The staff was really friendly and kept questioning me on why I didn’t have a wife and if I was here for an arranged marriage. Maybe that’s the ticket, the whole arranged marriage thing. I mean if you can get over the gross inequalities between men and women, you get a goat out of the deal…hmm goat cheese…Staff wanted photos with me, my first celebrity moment in a nation of over a billion people…”
