Hello everyone! So contrary to our original plan we are 'blogging' from Chandigarh, having had a disasterous first day in delhi. Flight was fine but the first auto-rickshaw we took to the hotel didn't take us there and took us instead to 'toursit information' where they rang our hotel and told us it was fully booked, and repeated this with several others. However the trusty lonely planet forwarned us of this and after about an hour of faffing they finally took us to our hotel! In the end that was actually over booked, but the 'tourist information' has been ringing other hotels on a fake line and encourgaing us to stay in expensive hotels instead. We then found ourselves at the Hotel Anoop pretty quickly.
Problem number two was the bed bugs!! We had to switch rooms, this one was also not as great as it appeared cause we couldn't sleep the whole night due to the intense heat and no breeze!
Problem three, having decided that we'd had more than enough we hot footed it to the train station to but tickets out of delhi and were accosted by a very angry man claiming to be the ticket collecter and take us to a fake booking office, we got out of that one though and found the real tourist office and booked tickets to Chandigarh.
Perhaps we will go back to delhi at the end but from what we saw it was a little too much to cope with, there are cows and associated smelly piles everywhere! Rats, roaches, scabies dogs! You name it.
So after a four hour trip on a nice AC train (leaving at 5:40AM!) we arrived in Chandigarh, which is apparently india cleanest and greenest city. It certainly is green and cleaner respectively than delhi! Plus points are far less hassle althouh we keep getting a bit ripped off by over paying cycle-ricksaws! However nice room (bit expensive but no bed bugs and a reasonable temp) professional hotel, not out to rip us off which is good!
We're going to explore more tomorrow, as we're fairly tired today. On the agenda is some shopping, a fantasy art gallery garden type thing and pedello's on the lake! After that we'll probs head to shilma on the toy train if we can get a reservation cause it's high season!
The weather is hot but less oppresive than delhi, we have been advised to visit rajasthan (our intial plan) later in the summer as the weather improves. So the back up plan is to head into Himachel Pradesh and absorb the ambience!! With a little mountain sports along the way!
Missing Everyone lots,
Love Lauren and Matt
P.S. Mum/Dad (Kenilwoth and Bournemouth!) We are safe don't worry.
Grandy - Culture shock, are you kidding me?! you did not prepare me for this!!!! However i do like the female attire, very pretty and colourful, although i get stared at SO much, glad matt is here they back off when they notice him.
To All - appreciate the lack of cow poop in the UK! ;)
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2 comments:
Cause of political correctness was unable to give you graphic description - but know what you are talking about. This is the hottest time of the year and it will start to get slightly cooler Oct/Nov. Only thing to do is bathe or shower and above all make sure your feet and toes are dry. Fungus between toes is commonplace and painful.
Have found Chandighar on map & see it is not too far from Dharamsala (in the hills)which is the home of the Dalai Lama (spiritual head of the Bhudists) and very many exiled Tibetans. You might even see him if you are lucky. Consult your Guide.
Whatever, best plan is to head for the hill stations which was why the British created them - to get away from the heat. 4 main hill stations - Simla, Musoorie, Nani Tal which has a lake in the middle and of course Darjeeling. Consult your Guide as to how to get there but Darjeeling is the only station with the toy train which runs between Siliguri and Darjeeling and is the furthest East. The others are not toooo far from Delhi.
Am afraid all big cities in India will be similar to Delhi - some worse. When you have been there a few weeks you will probably get used to the sights, sounds and smells of India. Don't get too put off - it is amazing what one can get used to. If you can, remember my advice re. animals, food and water. Cover yourself as much as poss to avoid touching and staring and make sure Matt is always with you. Will write later when I know where you are.
xxx Grandy
Glad to hear you are both up and about - increasing the power and strength of your calve muscles!!!
Mist/cloud/rain all normal for this time of year - makes your hair curly. Hope you continue to enjoy. - Grandy
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