He arrived at the agreed time and we set off for the Temple however after 10 or so minutes of driving we were told that it was closed on Mondays and he would show us another Temple. Strange we thought as he could have told us that yesterday when we were arranging the day but can only assume that something got lost in translation.
All we are left with is a photo of the Lotus Temple uplifted off the internet
After a further period of driving he slowed on the motorway and pointed out a temple set well off the road in an area adjacent to the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games village. Despite horns blasting behind us he crawled along to allow me to take a photo of the Temple in the distance
Believe me there is one there
Checking that I had a photo we moved on, me thinking that we were going to visit this Temple but we drove on and on enquiry was told this Temple was closed as well - strange way to start the day!
In heavy mid-morning traffic we got to Connaught Place around 11 and found that the shops on the inner circle hadn’t opened as yet and wouldn’t do so until 12.30! As we stood around wondering what to do a gentleman came over and started to point out where we could go to some a Indian shops that would be open and so we followed him. When he realised that his directions were “going through to the keeper” he offered to get us a tuk tuk to go there and duly motioned to one stationary near us and discussed the price with the driver.
The conversation went something like:
How much to take these guys to the Indian Loom wait for them and bring them back here?
75 rupees
They are my friends, 50 rupees
Okay
and the deal was done and we hopped into the tuk tuk (one of 92,000+ tuk tuks on the roads around Delhi) and off we went on a 10-15 minute hair raising trip, the driver all the time chatting away to us and cracking jokes.
The Indian Loom is 3 storey building selling “Indian made” and Sherry looked at numerous dresses in different styles, colours and lengths before settling on one - now that sounded easy but if one could see the number of garments taken out of wrappers to see what was to her/our liking you would agree that it was a mission. While the shopper has their own likings the vendor is suggesting this colour or that, opening the packet, holding up the garment only to have it rejected and the garment being left unwrapped on the counter.
Next step is to try on the dress with the tailor on hand to measure and tuck before taking it away for customisation at no cost!
While waiting I decided to see if I could find a pair of trousers so off we went to another area and went through a similar process but being a male more quickly (ouch). Again measured by the tailor and taken away for adjustment.
It was suggested that while we were waiting we could have a cup of tea or continue looking around which we chose to do finding what we thought was a very nice souvenir made of marble dust.
Went to the counter to pay and viola there were the garments already adjusted waiting for us to pick up.
Outside our driver was waiting patiently so we were promptly dropped off back where we were picked up. Paid him his 50 rupees as agreed and gave him another 20 for his waiting time which he was grateful for. So for his time and the travel our man earned the princely sum of $1.40!! We understand that the drivers pay the tuk tuk owner 100 rupees to use the vehicle for the day and whatever they earn from rides they keep. Also we were told that all the tuk tuks are owned by one company.
Had lunch, found Ashok and went to the Lodi Gardens for a walk around.
The centre piece was another tomb
The gardens were nice but not spectacular though there was some animal life - squirrels, dogs and monkeys who attracted the most attention.
We are starting to come to grips with interpreting the Hindu written script - for example this sign
reads DO NOT SPIT HERE & THERE
USE FACE MASK
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE
The city has:
some interesting historical sites to visit,
traffic chaos like we have never seen before (but not chaos to the locals who make it work),
Tuk tuks everywhere you looked
Chandni Chowk which was an experience we will never forget,
dust and dirt and garbage along nearly every road,
and beggars (mainly professional I think)
Tomorrow morning we set off for Agra and will arrive around mid-afternoon so we wish Delhi goodbye.
No comments:
Post a Comment