Our host turned out to be super-resourceful. At the drop of a hat, he was able to book tours of the places we wanted to visit and got a driver arranged. The car was there by 1:30PM, so off we went.
We got the same driver who picked us up from the airport and began to get around the town. Food was the first order of business, so he dropped us off at the Friends Colony Community Center for lunch. It was an open-air mall of shops, packed with convenience stores, fast food restaurants, shops and more. As we walked along, we noticed many stores had security guards at the doors. They would open the door for you as you approached and great you with a smile or say "nameste" as you enter. The stores with guards seemed to be the cleanest and most likely to cater to westerners. As you can guess, the cost of labor is lower in India than in the US - a guard is a much cheaper way to cut down on theft and keep beggers out.
We stopped at a McDonald's for some fries - it tasted like home! After nearly a week of spicy, exotic Indian foods, my stomach was in dire need of something a little simpler. Since it was next door, we went to Pizza Hut to grab a bit of pizza as well. After connecting with our driver, we were on our way again.
Our first stop - Humayun's tomb. This was built in 1572AD, well before the Taj Mahal, as a mausoleum for Emporer Humayun. The site shares many similarities with the construction we would see at the Taj Mahal the next day. As we wandered about, we met the first of many westerners touring India - Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, a professor at the University of Kansas. Whacky how us academicians seem to find each out, halfway around the world, eh? He gave us several tips on getting to see a few more of the sites around town. It was nice to converse a bit as walked around the grounds.
Next up, we headed to the Indian Crafts Museum, near the Delhi Expo Center. The open-air museum hosted stalls of vendors, displaying artwork and handmake crafts. We wandered around a bit, taking in the various work. Of course, it was hard to leave without a few souvenirs, so Ramona negotiated some great bargains!
After the Crafts Museum, we were on our way again. We drove past the Rajghat, the site of Ghandi's cremation, now a national landmark. Our next stop was the Jami Masjid, one of the largest mosques in all of India. Unforunately, we arrived at sundown, so only parishioners could enter (guests can visit before sundown). Even from the entrance, you could see the beautiful domes and spires. It wasn't until Ramona showed me the description in our tour book that I could even appreciate the scale.
Right next to the mosque was Chandni Chowk, a bustling market, once known as the 'silvery moonlit square'. Two upcoming Bollywood movies feature this area prominently, so we were fortunate to see it while we were here. Our driver hailed a bike rickshaw driver to drive us through the market. The skinny lad spoke the right English words, so we were off on our way. We worked our way through the Kinari Bazaar, with its many stalls brimming with beads and garlands. Many of the wedding adornments we saw the bridal party wearing in Ahmedabad. After a turn, we passed perhaps hundreds of stalls on 'Sari Street' with wholesalers selling every type of cloth you can imagine. I'll bet that a skilled planner could get all of the necessary decorations for wedding here. We also passed the spice market, with its array of spicy goods. Not exactly what my stomach was craving! At the end of the bazaar, we passed the Digambar Jain, the oldest Jain temple in Delhi.
The rickshaw driver dropped us off at the Red Fort, constructed by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 AD. At one time, thousands of army soldiers lived within the walls. For us, it was another piece of well-preserved history. In the pavilion, the Red Fort hosts a sound-and-light show, highlighting key elements in the Indian fight from independence of British colonial rule.
After a busy day of sightseeing, we were happy to get back to rest. Our host greeted us at the door. He informed us we needed to be ready to go by 5:15AM. We needed to meet our driver promptly, to make our way to the Delhi train station. Why so early? To catch our 6:30AM train to Agra, site of the Taj Mahal! We were eager to see one of the wonders of the ancient world, so after a quick shower, it was time for bed.
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