Jai ho! It's off to work we go!

We're in Delhi, safe and sound, and after a whole 24 hours, we can proudly claim our bowels are still healthy!

We arrived about 11pm last night and had to get a late night taxi from the airport. We just about managed to fit in one of the old battered cabs (though decorated beautifully inside with incense, flowers and small flashing statuettes of Vishnu). Sadly the cabby spoke very little Enlgish and took us to a scary slum neighbourhood with rabid dogs and random bonfires in the street. Though we managed to explain that our hotel wasn't actually the half demolished, broken down building he had taken us to and we set off again. I enjoyed the little excursion to see some real India but Soph thought she was gonna die in that cab/neighbourhood. It turned out our hotel was in a nearby neighbourhood, slightly less run down :)

Then we had fun times setting up our mossie nets and trying to get some shuteye since it was about 3am local time. This morning we rose bright and early about 9am and slathered ourselves in suncream and mossie repellent and moisturisers and sanitizers and antibacterial gels and about half an hour later we were ready to get our first taste of India. We just popped round the block for a quick walk but we had to beat the touts and beggars away the whole way. Bit of a culture shock. We were gonna get some breakfast but couldn't really face food so just got some questioable juice. We gave up drinking it about halfway and decided to have a little siesta back at the hotel.

We woke up later about 3pm and made a plan of action. We needed an ATM because Sophie and Shags still had no money, then a supermarket to get some reliable water, then maybe see some sights. We got a taxi (through the hotel) and he took us to the ATM. Then drove us around some sights, parking and giving us about 30 minutes to look round each place. We saw the temple of Hanuman, the main Gurdwara, the India gate and many of the government and presidential buildings, it was fantastic! Though we were really craving water. We didn't wanna buy from street vendors because they sell dirty death water in resealed bottles and the driver didn't understand when we asked for safe water...Well we managed to blag some complimentary mineral water in a shop which we drank whilst we edged towards the door and made a great escape.

When we got back, we realised we hadn't eaten in 24 hours so we went for some dinner at "spicy". Sophie and Becca were a tad shocked to find their curries quite spicy...
We had a banquet for the equivalent of about 3 quid. bargain. Then we bought a box of 12 huge bottles of water and went back to the room for the evening.

We've had plenty of lentils and onion so are expecting a turbulent night. Ironically, the toilet in mine and Shaggie's room had a seal over it which said "sanitized for your benefit" but inside the toilet was a big old poo. Which will not flush away. Super irony. So we use Soph and Becca's toilet because I swear the poo in our one is watching us :(

Tomorrow evening we meet our tour people and the day after we'll be setting of to Jaisalmer and the Thar desert. Can't wait :D