Flight to Delhi a breeze, though downsized to a Boeing 777. The haze over Delhi gave Los Angeles a run for it's money + some.
Delhi airport is big but the Terminal was almost deserted when we landed. Outside was a different matter. Decided to sort out our Indian sim when on first inspection we were unable to locate our free airport transfer. Process was a little drawn out but easier then blogs suggested. Micro sim we will leave for another day however.
Airport staff were great given that currently dependent on English. Paid for a Pre paid cab as suggested by Airport info as could not get onto the hotel. Black and yellow cab. Man this place is seriously full on. I remember Bangkok being a shock when I visited as a teenager, and Delhi has a lot of the same if not crazier.
The yellow cab we were directed to was the smallest one there even though there were also vans. Bikes went on top strapped to the roof racks. Car advertised AC but it appeared to be the window down variety.
Ganesh shrine on the front dash our driver headed off. So much stuff going on. I wouldn't title it development rather then life. Because it was not just construction but also deconstruction, people, mess, sounds..
Driver swap over just outside the airport, dodgy, including last driver swapping out of his collared shirt into singlet. But met the venerable Mr Singh. Father of three including twin girls he was totally unfazed by the whole point and shoot politics of driving in Delhi. Devotee of the Hindi god Rama and recommender of the Kathmandu casino.
Vehicles for to try and limit a description to any sort of construction, model, age, condition etc would be ultimately insufficient were everywhere and tool of trade being the horn. However unlike the stressed out road rage horn tooting variety of home it is all just part and parcel of being on the road. More like a general communication of the tribe rather then anger or built up frustration.
Monkeys cool. Our first monkeys. Not aggressive per Snr Singh and all hanging out in this park and on the sides of the road. I look forward to therefore not being harassed on the bikes by monkeys. A recurring dream.
The hunt was on for our Hotel. In the Karol Burg region of Delhi there are per Mr Singh's estimate 100 so Hotels of which he knew a good 30 but ours was not among the ones he knew. However by this stage we had already been invited to come and share dinner (as his wife put on a pretty good feed apparently) so we weren't too concerned.
No wonder he had no idea. Karol Burg is like a quasi street scene from the classic movie Blade runner having somehow mated with a regular China town. Alleys and signs and things are everywhere. So in "A" Form taxi style guys on the side of the road were questioned, initially with no idea, but the deeper that we delved into the side streets, growing comprehension to our immense satisfaction.
Hotel Kingston was thankfully legit. I was starting to seriously wonder. Room great though no windows and wireless is best yet since leaving Toronto, NSW.