Finally, back to the trip.  So far we've covered the mosque and the rickshaw drive, as well as our first little walk and the orientation meeting.

As we dismounted our little bike chariots we re-boarded our bus and experienced our first Bus Bazaar.  Karni, our guide, had suggested that rather than stopping to haggle with various street vendors all along our way we could assemble a short bus bazaar after each stop.  The fact is the vendors know where the buses with tourists will be so as soon as the doors open the vendors descend and the hawking commences.  When you first step off the bus the prices are at their highest, as you walk along looking at whatever you are there to see the vendors will stay right at your elbow showing the same shiney something over and over, cajoling you to buy pretty lady - good price, good quality, better than all the rest, and on and on.  As you finish your tour and begin to walk back toward the bus the prices suddenly drop - and as you have entered the bus to leave at last the prices are approaching reasonable.  Karni would then chose several vendors with different items and allow them to barter with him.  Once he was satisfied that he had a price that was fair both to the vendor and to us he would take a few samples to show us (as we sat safely on our bus) and let us tell him yes or no.  This bus bazaar was a blessing.  We were still chased, and sometimes even purchased items before remounting the stairs to the bus - but many of the items I dub happy trash (post cards, necklaces and bangles, bindi, wooden toys - any number of small items) we were able to purchase in the relative comfort of our bus's air-conditioning.

Following our first purchasing frenzy we headed off to the Raj Gaht which is the site of the cremation of Gandhi.

This black marble slab commemorates the site.  It is meticulously maintained and there were many there paying their respects to the great soul.  It is held as a particularly sacred spot and once again we were to remove our shoes and wear our "temple socks"

We encountered our first Indian squirrels

This gentleman actually called the squirrels to him to be fed.  As you can see they had the markings of chipmunks but had long tails - not as bushy as our grey squirrels and their bodies were a bit smaller than our squirrels as well.

Saw this guy too.

From there we boarded the bus for one last sight seeing stop - Vijay Chawk to see the governmental buildings of New Delhi.  By this point I was exhausted and governmental buildings hold no real interest for me so I gave my camera to the boy and stayed on the bus to close my eyes for a bit.  The pictures from here are taken either by the boy or the hub.



The boy took both of those for me :) can you tell?




All the governmental buildings were built of pink sandstone. Very large and very grand,they certainly were designed with a certain exotic flare, even for governmental buildings.

The India gate - surrounded by people enjoying their Sunday of freedom - many many games of cricket (it is India's second religion) going on all around.  The boy spent every evening in our room winding down for sleep by watching cricket on TV.  He was determined to figure out the rules by the end of our trip.  For the most part he did just that.

Then it was time for dinner which included several different dishes.  All good - but I was so exhausted and befuddled by this point I didn't record many details and now I can't remember which meal this was.  Just that it was good and we left full.  That was to be the theme when it came to eating - full...

And thus, finally, ended our first full day.  Pictures get better after this first day.


As ever - clicking on the pictures will enlarge for a better look see.