Wow, a whirlwind day of Delhi. The morning was spent working (as that’s when Australia is online). i did go for a brief walk outside Neil's building, and the locals weren't shy in just staring at the big white guy – quite confronting. Some shots from Neil's balcony give some limited sense of the bizarre high rise region of Gurgaon.
Traffic to Airtel was my first real exposure to serious traffic (i dont think 4:00 am counts). Pictures don't do it justice and yes you hears its chaos, but it is ridiculous. Here are some highlights…very few traffic lights, people merge by just pulling out, you let people know you are there by tooting your horn, lanes are irrelevant, there are lots of motorbikes (not as many helmets), lots of women sit side saddle, tuk tuks (not called that but cant remember what they are called), lots of push bikes some loaded up beyond belief, trucks (all sizes) and busses, people walking, animals (dogs cows, camels, and horses) i wont go on, but i could – here are some picks…
It was great to meet Akhil again and he very kindly arranged meetings for me with Airtel staff. The Airtel Q and A was pretty intense and i have some homework to do. But great to meet them and i think Airtel is going to do some work in Australia.
Curiously Neil mentioned that he had met a few Airtel lawyers and they were very good and i would agree with that.
Akhil took me to the Oberoi Trident in Gurgaon for lunch – courtyard shot below…
Just beautiful food.
The schedule for the day blew out completely, but late in the day a guide took me round Delhi for about 2 hours. I managed to et out of the car briefly a few times but mostly it was just spent in the back seat of the car gob smacked. I ended up doing some shopping in Connaught Place markets (lots of bracelets Annabel!! and a few things for your sisters too). Just about impossible to get pictures that convey the chaos especially from the back of a car.
The abject poverty and slums are of course real and just beyond belief. these are people with families hopes desires and aspirations like we all do, living under a piece of cardboard alongside a busy road. The kids cross the busy street to stand at your window and shamelessly beg for money, it is truly heartbreaking.
Old Delhi too is indescribable, but dirtier and denser, but in a way more alive. Words fail me but there was no doubt that things changed.
Dinner at Bakhara in ITC Sheraton was again stunning food. In fact its fair to say that time has not really allowed a lot of real tourism, but i do have to eat and the food has been stunning. Of course i have had one (pretty crappy) coffee. But i didnt come with any expectations i would see any.
More from Bangaore. A few shots below from the car trip
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