#2 - "FIRST ASSIGNMENT" Suzanne Willey
January 2, 2009
This time of year, Delhi is enveloped with fog. It hangs in the air all day, and at night enters into the hotel lobby. Like Chicago, it's winter, but it's not a Chicago winter. The evenings are cool, not bitterly cold, and the four of us wear jackets.
I only arrived yesterday, New Year’s Day. Glen, Claudia, and Joe had begun the trip much earlier. Glen left for China. Claudia and Joe traveled to Kathmandu and Tibet. We all met up in Delhi and plan to stay here for a few more days.
Today, Joe and I received an assignment and we set out for Old Delhi. It was created before the British invaded and has remained untouched, growing organically through the centuries. Our destination within Old Delhi was an area called Chandi Chok.
"WINDING OUR WAY THROUGH OLD DELHI"
Old Delhi is the antithesis of everything Western, a jungle of narrow streets and piles of buildings. If you squint to narrow and blur your vision, it could be Venice on a cloudy evening; but it’s not. Our attempts to get directions were thwarted by a lack of language and street signs. My first day on the job and we were lost.
"LOST"
This time of year, Delhi is enveloped with fog. It hangs in the air all day, and at night enters into the hotel lobby. Like Chicago, it's winter, but it's not a Chicago winter. The evenings are cool, not bitterly cold, and the four of us wear jackets.
I only arrived yesterday, New Year’s Day. Glen, Claudia, and Joe had begun the trip much earlier. Glen left for China. Claudia and Joe traveled to Kathmandu and Tibet. We all met up in Delhi and plan to stay here for a few more days.
Today, Joe and I received an assignment and we set out for Old Delhi. It was created before the British invaded and has remained untouched, growing organically through the centuries. Our destination within Old Delhi was an area called Chandi Chok.
Old Delhi is the antithesis of everything Western, a jungle of narrow streets and piles of buildings. If you squint to narrow and blur your vision, it could be Venice on a cloudy evening; but it’s not. Our attempts to get directions were thwarted by a lack of language and street signs. My first day on the job and we were lost.
"LOST"
Delhi is a place you either love or hate and it really depends on your frame of mind before you go. It is very very busy and if you are a westerner you will probably be harassed into doing or buying things you don’t want but it is worth it to just to see this incredible city.
Once you have got used to the chaos it can become quite enjoyable and is, after all, just a gateway to other locations in India which could not be more different. When you are chilling out on the beach in Goa the hustle and bustle of Delhi will be just a distant memory.
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Your experience is great and learning from other people.
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