Old Delhi

We are happy to report that we have made it to our hotel in Delhi safe and sound. Here are some of the crazy things that have happened in the past 24 hours:

Cab Ride from Hell, because it really really was: Imagine a green and gold 50s style car, I believe the model was an Admiral Classic, with no functioning speedometer. Pretty sure we were going rather quickly, almost hit many people/vehicles, stopped for gas, and pulled over multiple times so the driver could spit on the road. And when I say spit, I mean copious amounts of something came out of his mouth. Not sure what it was, but there was a lot of it. All of us were gripping the seat for dear life, and finally, after 30 minutes of hairpin turns, close calls, and spit stops, we finally stop at the entrance of an extremely horrifying looking alley. Our cab driver shuffles us out, and informs us our hotel is here. Thankfully, it really was, and even better, we have AC and free breakfast! Win.

Old Delhi:

Went to the Red Fort, built in the 1630s, and where India declared independence. Lots of gorgeous architecture and museums all about Indian history. It pulled of some vague memories of fun history classes in undergrad, before we started cramming our brains full of medicine. Post-Red Fort, we wandered down a main street called Chandni Chowk, hugely busy, people selling things left and right, extremely crowded, and crossing the street means risking a limb. After making it through the street, we found the spice market. Something must have spilled, because we all were coughing/sneezing/tearing up for a stretch.

We braved our way back down Chandni Chowk for a pit stop at the hotel for a western toilet bathroom break, then made our way to a Mosque nearby. We all had to remove our shoes, and were given very, VERY colorful gowns to protect our modesty...we were very bright and voluminous.

Food!

We enjoyed some awesome free breakfast at the hotel, some street samosas, and then ate at a restaurant called Karim's, supposedly listed in Times as one of the best restaurants in Asia. We had Chicken Biryani, Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala, Daal, and (duh, we all love carbs too much), naan. It was great. Following dinner we stood mesmerized by the men making naan. So efficient, so delicious. Nummy.

Some interesting observations:

People keep trying to take photographs of us, secretly, by walking past us and then snapping their phone/camera or by just asking us. One request came from a reporter from Afghanistan. We have politely declined these requests. I have received one marriage proposal (?!?!) and we stick out like sore thumbs. It will be interesting to see how we are received when we start working in the hospital!

Tomorrow we're getting picked up at 6:30 and headed to....the TAJ MAHAL!! We are all super excited! In the meantime, going to catch up on some sleep and play some bananagrams.

Namaste!

KJ

ps....photos to come, except my computer is on its last dying breath and the upload speeds here are painfully slow...