Delhi again

Well our trip back to Delhi was interesting. The driver we had for the airport transfer was quite apprehensive, maybe even nervous. That does not work well in India - aggression and confidence are much better. We eventually arrived at the airport - what a confusing, chaotic mess. The building was like a hanger, the crowds were dense, the acoustics terrible, and the technology minimal. Fortunately, our attentive guide stayed until he was sure we had cleared security. Again confusion & crowds. The flight was delayed by 2 hours so we spent a considerable period of time surrounded by noisy, smelly people speaking a miriad of languages. Our flight was only 200 min. but when we landed it was a 25 min. taxi ride to meet a bus and then a 15 min. ride to the domestic terminal. Backage pickup went smoothly and we were greeted by our friendly Bestway Tour guide for the hotel transfer. Well, traffic in Delhi being what is meant the ride from the airport to the hotel took longer than the flight. Our guide graciously agreed to stop at a shop for beer and snacks as it was 8:00 and we were in need. Rupee went to the get the treats with the guides while C, D & N stayed with the driver. We were parked in the middle of a side street which did not please the policeman who waved a big stick at us and told us to move on. At least, it wasn't a rifle. Then R & the guide had to phone the driver to find out where we were. Interesting - we could communicate by cellphone but there are no parking meters. If you need to leave your vehicle parked you must hire someone to stand guard. Back at the Connaught we felt luxurious. After snacks it was back to TGI Fridays as we needed a break from Indian food. Great food - very confusing service from the waiters but we didn't care because we were famished. After a great sleep and nourshing breakfast we took a 3 wheeler to the Delhi Emporium which we had discovered on our last night here. We did a little shopping, took another 3 wheeler to the HSBC bank to withdraw money. The regular ATM machines in India are not very reliable. I actually tried to exchange CAN$ at the bank and they wouldn't do it - just sent me to a street vendor authorized by Thomas Cook. It is a little kiosk tucked in the wall between shops. One needs to look carefully for the sign. Both couples needed to purchase an extra suitcase as we have done considerable shopping. We were successful doing that in JanPath shopping area. This is a place we'll return to on our last day here - great shopping. Delhi today is quite different from Delhi during Diwali. It is still busy, noisy and congested but is much cleaner and there seem to be fewer beggars. None of us expected this difference. Mid-afternoon and time for a beer break. I know it seems like we're drinking a lot of beer but it is hot, the air is smoggy and selection of beverages is limited. Last visit we sat by our room's picture window and watched the antics on the street below. This visit we are on the back side of the building with a view of an excavation hole. You may think the view would not be pleasant, however, it is more than interesting. The excavation hole is of a size that would accomadate several a building of many stories - not much different from the downtown Victoria construction sites. At the moment, the foundation is being poured - by hand. There is one cement mixer, several men making the cement and a half dozen sari clad women, wearing flip flops, moving pans of cement on their heads to the foundation area. There are no trucks or heavy machinery in sight. Another part of the foundation seems to be of 24x18 concrete blocks being set into cement. The blocks are up at the street level and are moved, one at time, to the excavation hole by young men who carry each block on their heads. The young barefooted children of the workers are playing happily in the construction area. It is a WCB nightmare in the making. Oh yes, we also watched the antics of several rats on the perimeter of the site. While at our hotel we made arrangements for a car & driver while we're in Jalundhar. We leave for Rupee's birth city early tomorrow morning and travel by train. I'm sure there will be more interesting stories to post about the next mode of travel. Pictures today - the Delhi skyline with excavation hole in foreground & sari cement ladies.