Saturday, 12/08/2006, New Delhi
Miraculously, my Air Deccan Flight had not been canceled, and I only had a 20 minute delay, due to the security crackdown at the Delhi airport (the US embassy has issued a warning to its citizens about possible attacks on India’s independence day, August 15). Steffi and Verena, two colleagues from SAP, arrived some time later on another flight, and we drove to our hotel together. After check-in, we booked a sightsseing tour for the next day and took the metro to Connaught Square.
The metro is quite a nice construction, and similar to the MRT in Singapore, except that it is mostly elevated, with only a short underground segment. Getting the tocket was more of a problem. We decided to get a tourist ticket (100 Rs), which allows us to travel for one day (there is also a three day version). In retrospect, this was not the best choice. Since we booked it in the evening, we did not have moch chance to us it. One way tickets would have cost 8 Rs each. And the guy at the counter first had to finish a lengthy phone call, and then had to get change.
At Connaught Square, we had a little snack at McDonald’s, and then looked around there. CS is one of the big shopping areas in Delhi. There are many people which send you to the State Emporium, the big government-run shopping center for handicraft. Usually, everything containing Emporium or Corporation in its name is government-run. As I said, usually.
Sunday, 13/08/2006, New Delhi
On Sunday, we had our sightseeing tour of Delhi. We started at a big temple. I can tell you, marble under the sun will get very hot. Quite uncomfortable, because you have to take off your shoes at the temples, of course.
The next stop was a big tower and some ruins around it. Then we went to the India Gate, built to commemorate India’s soldiers of the First World War, and drove by the government bildings and the parliament hall.
We had lunch at a restaurant where the guests were mainly tourists, and we had the strong suspicion that the drivers get a commission there. The food was good, but the Fresh Lime Soda (sweet) was by far not the usual standard. We finished our tour with the Red Fort (which was closed,unfortunately) and a big mosque.
After the driver had dropped us at the hotel, we did some shopping in the area. The ladies purchased a saree and some Indian shirts, and we had dinner at the Sri Balaji Restaurant.