Woke at around 3.30 this morning, which while very unusual for me (not so for Sherry) was not surprising given the noises outside.
Yesterday we were told that breakfast was available by ringing reception sometime after 9 so shortly after 9.00 we did so only to be told to come to the “dining room in 10-15 minutes”
You can’t make this s…t up!
The breakfast was chapatti and some yoghurt to dip the chapatti in and a cup of coffee- the coffee was returned to the kitchen for a remake and half the chapatti and all but all of the yoghurt left untouched though we did met a young Indian lad who has been living in London and is making the trip home to Hyderabad to get permission from his girlfriend’s parents to allow them to wed - we then went our own ways he with our wishes that he is successful in his quest.
We had asked last night whether there was a laundry service and told no we have to take it to a laundry ourselves a street or two away so after breakfast went back to receptionist, who was a different person than yesterday, to get directions and was told that we leave the laundry with them in the evening and it is available again the next evening- would have been great to know that yesterday as it doesn’t work for us now as it wouldn’t be returned until after we have checked out tomorrow.
You can’t make this s…t up!
To get into Delhi central is a metro trip of 3 stops taking 23 minutes at a cost per person of 54rs, say a $, so it was another tuk tuk to the metro station, purchase a metro ticket, go through the scanner like you do when flying and step onto the next arriving unit (which depart every 10 minutes) the trip being in a comfortable air conditioned carriage.
Alighting at Delhi Central station is a chaotic experience. We were immediately “accosted” by tuk tuk and taxi drivers demanding that we use their services but we wanted to walk the 1 or so kms to Connaught Place so we declined to accept but that didn’t stop the next driver waiting for a fare to make the same demand. There must have been 2-300 tuk tuks in and around the station and one needed to be careful not to become a road statistic.
Arrived at Connaught Place midday ish and sought refuge in a very nice restaurant to get out of the heat but more importantly to have the breakfast that we never had. We enjoyed a classy meal in nice surroundings before starting a walk around Connaught Place which is effectively circular.
We were quickly reminded of things we had forgotten from our last trip – men wanting to polish your shoes, stalls of Knick knacks on the pavement, kids pestering you for money etc.
I gave an old woman who looked like she needed some help a coin I had in my pocket but she immediately gave it back to me indicating it wasn’t enough!!
Body temperatures were on the increase so it was to a Starbucks for a refresh before we jumped a tuk tuk to return to the metro, back to Aerocity and another tuk tuk to the hotel.
In the evening it was tuk tuk back to Aerocity for dinner and a walk around before tuk tukking back to the hotel – it was this return trip that had the most “action”. 
Commonsense dictates that one negotiates the price of the fare before getting into the vehicle and this was done (200rs). We then were taken on a hair raising trip back to the hotel area weaving in and out of the oncoming traffic with lights blazing & horn honking and we both had very serious doubts that we would arrive safely but as Raj said as he was driving us to Rohit’s tilak ceremony to drive in India accident free you only need three things: Good horn, good brakes, good luck and we certainly had all 3 tonight.
On every other tuk tuk ride I have had the exact agreed fare but on this occasion I had to hand over a 500rs note expecting 300rs change but…I’m sure one knows the rest … he gave me 170rs, I sat there and we had a “discussion”, he gave over another 50rs and I reminded him what price we had agreed so he took what he already given me back, 220rs, and gave me 2 100rs notes. I indicated to Sherry to go into the shop we had stopped outside of and bring someone to the vehicle but I then heard Sherry yell something like “we agreed. I’m going to get the Police” which seemed to do the trick as he quickly found another 100rs note and called me a cheat. I smiled, patted him on the shoulder and replied that I had just met one tonight as well and exited the vehicle. Funny what one does to avoid being ripped off for $2 but it was the principle- we had agreed a figure and if I let him get away with it then he would not think twice about continuing to do so with other tourists.
This will be our last post on this trip as we check out of here by 11.00am tomorrow (not unhappy about leaving this highly rated hotel, yeah right) before starting the trip home with a 9.55pm departure to Singapore before a 10hr flight into NZ.
As always we have thoroughly enjoyed the experience stressful though it might have been from time to time. A traditional Hindi wedding is something we wish everyone could experience.
It’s only been 24 hrs but we are already missing the Harsanpur villagers who were the greatest of hosts and caring beyond description. If you want to experience what we have been lucky enough to have experienced I’m sure we can arrange it.
Our most intrepid holiday ever is all but over!
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