I wake up early because Ive to meet the tourist bus in Ramakrishna metro station. It's still a bit far and it will take me 30 minutes or more to get there. Unfortunately I can't find the station on the map but according to their directions I should go to the center. I get out at New Delhi station but I don't see any bus. The time is running and I have to rush. I call Cyril and ask him to contact them. He then tells me that it is better to take a Rickshaw to Ramakrishna station (in a older post I refered Rickshaw as being a three wheeler automobile taxi, well in fact that name is for a three wheeler bike. Im still learning) and that is what I do. This time I don't bargain with the driver. Needless to say, Delhi streets in early morning are not very pleasant to see or smell but whatever! I need to get used. I finally get there and there's someone already waiting for me. We go to the bus. I couldn't belive in what I was seeing. The bus is really dirty and smells bad. I now understand why 200 ruppees for the whole trip. The guides?! Wow! I think it's better not comment...
The first stop is a hindu temple that I unfortunately don't remember the name. I have to remove my shoes and leave camera and phone in a safe. We only have 20 minutes to visit. The temple is beautifull and full of gods. As I enter Im approached by one of the guys that work there. He starts explaining which statue is which and seems wanting to guide me. Well... I think I will have to give him a tip later but I left my wallet in the safe. He's very kind and takes me to see the temple. Of course at the end he does a small pause as waiting for the tip but I apologize because I left my wallet outside. I felt it was not good but Iven't asked him for anything. I leave the place and run to the bus.
In the following, Im not sure of the correct order of events. We have visited so many places! I think we went to the presidential area where we could see the parliament and also the Indian Gate. Look at the pictures
Just for curiosity, you can see that I have something in my forehead. That's because I was blessed in the temple by a priest. As you can see there's a dense fog. If you add the polution it becomes really unconfortable. You can feel it, it's really unpleasant. My partners are super nice. They want to know everything about me and take photos. Again, I feel like a star. They help me with the indie and guide me.
The next stop is the house of Indira Ghandi. She was prime-minister long time ago and became famous for her strong personality and for the sense of unity she inspired. Some people loved her others hated her. She ended being assassinated after an etnic polemic about hindus and sikhs.
Im getting tired of walking, get into/out of bus and walking again. It's cold and the air is so polluted.
It's time for lunch. But before that we pass in by a big store where we can buy souvenirs, clothes, gold, and many other things. Of course I seem to be the main attraction. Sellers try to sell me anything they have and sometimes they are very annoying. Tired, I decide to wait outside. Finally I have sometime to rest and meet the other guys.
Now we move towards the restaurant. The bus takes us to a place that I would hardly describe as a restaurant. There are cows outside, it is crowded and cleanliness can be discussed. I look backwards in time and I start wishing never come here. I think my stomach won't survive this day. Im mentally devastated and I need guts. At the same time I know that is my mind that is causing this. Im in panic but Im aware of that and I start calming down. In fact it was not so bad... I only had to eat with my hands because I didn't trust in the forks I had in front of me. I just wanted to finish my lunch as quick as possible.
I have to say that's a difficult job we have to do to disrupt our minds from the ilusory perfection we see in rich countries. I can't imagine when I will be back to Paris. I won't stop laughing!!
In the afternoon we went to the Lotus temple, to the Mahatma Ghandi "grave" and some other places. I put quotation marks because his body was cremated, of course.
I leave you with a photo of Delhi. It's almost evening. I just wanted you to see how polluted the air is.
The way back home is a big punch in everything we think about humanity. I saw things that left me very sad, truly. Im still trying to get used to this new reality but I see different things each day. One thing is sure, I didn't know what was poverty.
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