Delhi Frenzy

From Webster’s:

frenzy (noun, fren-zee): Delhi

Delhi is nutso!!! I took the early morning flight out of Leh through Delhi and, since Shoaib was in Delhi for business, took the $15 option to push my flight back a day and see major sites again, walk the city, and hang with Shoaib.

Firstly, I am very impressed with the Delhi metro system. It seems to be somewhat new and is very clean by Indian standards, efficient, and fun to ride. Delhi was humid and hot as usual and after I checked in at Shoaib’s hotel (a fun boutique hotel in the suburbs called “Shanti Home”), I took down a quick lunch and hopped on the subway to tour Old Delhi.

The metro system is rather similar to NYC – trains run above ground until they come near downtown and then go under. From last time I knew, the city really needed something like this because the traffic was atrocious.

It took about 30 minutes to get to Old Delhi where I took a stroll down Chandni Chawk, a main bazaar/road in Old Delhi. Lonely Planet coins it as a street with smells of frying food, flowers, exhaust, urine, etc. It was all that and more. And what a sensory overload! People everywhere, yelling, screaming; putting the New York minute to shame.

Chandhi Chowk.

Got to the famous Red Fort (Lal Qila) and decided to take a walk around it instead of heading inside. I was very impressed with the manicured lawns and government protection of a sacred site. After that I hung out on the steps of the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in Asia (or India?, I forget) that can hold up to 25,000 people. I couldn’t go inside because I had shorts on but was content with hanging out on the steps, taking snaps, plotting my next move.

Indian Flag over Lal Qila. A dream come true...

Hangin' on the steps of Jama Masjid.

Red Fort (Lal Qila) from steps of Jama Masjid.

I figured the Gandhi Memorial was close by – they’ve evidently made a nice memorial where he was assassinated and close by is the Raj Ghat where he was cremated. Figuring all I needed was a map, I set off on my journey. As many of you can attest (Vans), I’m not very good with directions. I got lost…

…But ended up walking around what I believe was the Muslim quarter of Delhi – which was incredible. It was really the first time in India I’ve seen butcher shops, mosques at every corner, bearded and non-bearded men, women with all skin covered and women with only faces showing, the whole shebang, all in one place. I must of stuck out like a sore thumb with my orange Tigers hat, sunglasses, and backpack, as I did not see one other tourist in the area. It was really quite awesome – as much as I would have loved to see Gandhi’s memorial this was quite a unique experience.

When I came out of the Muslim quarter I ran into a few Euros who were lost, we ended up banding together and finding the nearest subway station and spent the rest of the afternoon talking about Leh as they were heading up there and I had just come out. It’s really cool how friendly backpackers and tourists are in terms of making friends and swapping stories, etc.

It was hot and I was tired, so I headed back on the subway, reading essays from Cliff Asness that Rishi had sent me regarding health care in America. Really great reads, discusses methodically the notion of spiraling health care costs, difference between “universal” health care in European countries vs. that in the US. Definitely look it up if interested.

Indians in a uniform line?! Only in Delhi Metro...

Got back to the hotel, and now I realize why it’s called “Shanti Home”, it was so nice to get out of the Delhi frenzy and into a peaceful abode! Got ready, and Shoaib showed up after his long day of meetings and such. We got to catch up properly on the past 2 weeks, me being up in the mountains and him plowing forward with Admob’s plans in India. We tried to make the best of the night, although I’ve come to find out that I think the truest city in India to go out is Mumbai. We tried to hit a couple of spots but things were dying down, maybe it was because we weren’t in central Delhi but the suburbs. Regardless, it was a fun time and I’m glad I got to step out and see Delhi again.