Flights, Getting here and First day

Hi all

I landed in Delhi an hour early (3am), and managed to get some rupees and a pre paid taxi from the police run office, I was then ushered past all the new taxis in to an ancient Hindu ambassador (or Morris Oxford) that had been converted to run on gas, although it sounded like it was running on rubble. I told him where I wanted to stay, he told me I should stay somewhere else (usual commission scam), but I insisted. As drove away from the airport it seemed to get more rural and no other cabs on the road, just Lorries. I started to worry as I couldn’t find any of the sign posted places on the map. Eventually we hit civilization again and I was told we were near where I wanted to go at a better hotel. Again I insisted but he gave lots of excuses and eventually said he didn’t know where mine was, sigh, I showed him on the map (again) and as we got here he tried to charge me again!!! I’d already paid twice the guide price at the police booking office. Now usually I tip cabbies but this guy’s tried to rip me off twice so he didn’t get a thing.

I woke up about 11, and met an American girl over breakfast who recommended a tour of dehli from a travel shop I have booked for tomorrow. He also quoted for a tour of Rajasthan In a minibus. Just the short walk there (2mins) was a shock with the chaos that is india. From there I wandered into Connaught place, the hub of New Delhi, constantly hassled by people. Eventually I started to chatting to these two young Indians who worked in IT, who were full of good advice and after a coffee helped me get a sim card (email me if you want my Indian number) and sort out the best options for a tour of Rajasthan before they went off to the cinema.

When I got back to the hotel I had a bit of a shock when I discovered the plaster ceiling from the of my bathroom was all over the bathroom floor. Oh well, the staff here cleaned it up quickly enough.

Going off to meet some other travelers in a bar now so catch you all soon

PS its really cold here at night this time of year, I must get a coat.