"Nice Shoes"
We made it to Delhi. This place is insane. Not that I expected anything else. Actually, I didn't know what to expect so I just didn't try to guess. Driving from the airport I quickly learned there are only two rules on the road: 1, the bigger vehicle has the right of way and 2, stay to the left (unless rule 1 is in effect). This goes for "pedestrians" as well. There aren't many sidewalks, and where there are they are filled with vendors' stalls. So everyone is in the street and everyone is honking and shouting and everyone is trying to sell you something. ESPECIALLY if you're white.
I think I'm starting to get used to it. Liz says she is too. It's actually a lot of fun, once you get past all the autorickshaw drivers who want to take you to the stores where they get commissions. "Red Fort please." "Closed today. How about emporium?" This can go on for some time. And there are the teenage boys who want to show you around town. I had 4 of them come up to me in one day and say "nice shoes". Then, "where are you from?" "First time in India?" "I am from Rajasthan." All of them from Rajasthan. All "practicing english." And none of them wants any money. Sure. Now that we've figured out how to ignore them, the city is opening up to us and is totally fascinating. In a few days we head off to Shimla and from there to Dharamsala.
I think I'm starting to get used to it. Liz says she is too. It's actually a lot of fun, once you get past all the autorickshaw drivers who want to take you to the stores where they get commissions. "Red Fort please." "Closed today. How about emporium?" This can go on for some time. And there are the teenage boys who want to show you around town. I had 4 of them come up to me in one day and say "nice shoes". Then, "where are you from?" "First time in India?" "I am from Rajasthan." All of them from Rajasthan. All "practicing english." And none of them wants any money. Sure. Now that we've figured out how to ignore them, the city is opening up to us and is totally fascinating. In a few days we head off to Shimla and from there to Dharamsala.
posted by Derek at 5:06 PM
3 Comments:
DK-
Can you enable your blog's atom feed? Or is that some extra feature you have to pay for?
-Rob
PS Anne and I are engaged.
Nevermind, I figured it out.
http://lizderek.blogspot.com/atom.xml
-Rob
Hey Liz and Derek, hope you guys are still having a good time and managing to keep the local con artists at bay.
Liz: we went on the freshman overnite this week. I ended up using that purple LL Bean bag of yours that I forgot I even had! At some point last night, Dan Matz realized we had come to the campsite without matches or a lighter. Purple bag to the rescue -- I remembered finding one of your old Bic lighters in the bag and keeping it in for nostalgia's sake. I brought it down, told the tale of the bag and lighter, and we made a small toast in your honor. Thanks for save in absentia.
-Gita
Post a Comment
<< Home