Hectic Old Delhi

Yesterday I took you on a tour through the Red Fort in Old Delhi. This complex lies right in the heart of the old city, which I will show you today.

We walked around in this area for at the most two hours and it was utter madness! It was -again- super hot hot hot. And there were people, animals and activity everywhere. In fact we could almost not stand still anywhere to take a picture e.g., because that would cause blockage for the constant stream of traffic and people. Or we would get run over by someone or something;-).

Add the usual (for India) amount of noise and smell to that and you have an overwhelming concoction.

You, as a reader, will have to do without the sound and smell (lucky for you, I would say), but I hope that my pictures still make you feel the hectic of the old city and the couleur locale.

We were so overheated at a certain moment, that we decided to pop in a McDonalds that we saw. It was very busy inside, mainly with groups of girls. We had to fight for a seat;-). The girls looked gorgeous with their long hair and sari's.

Stuff and people were being transported in all sorts of ways: autorikshaws, bikerikshaws, cars, bullock-karts, motorbikes, bikes, handcars. Everyone went everywhere in seemingly every direction. Even through the narrowest imaginable alleys. We did not witness any accidents, but had to pay attention all the time not to be overrun.

Not seldom, the bike-rikshaw riders are tiny, skinny men, biking around heavy loads. Poor guys!

There were wires, chaotic wires, everywhere:

As you can see on many of my pictures in this post, as well as in other posts, often at least one person is looking straight at me, showing that making candid pictures is about impossible for me in India.

We accidentally landed in a loading/unloading area near the railway station. The handling of the cargo was all done by hand by laborers who carried the cargo on their heads. They walked very fast, shouting 'Out of the way! Coming through!' all the time. At least, I THINK that's what they shouted. It was like a chaotic beehive.

From there we suddenly found ourself in the idol/statue-area where larger then life statues were for sale. Oh, if only I could have these at home and in my garden!;-)

Ok, not him...

We passed some street restaurants. I asked this man to demonstrate his pouring technique for the picture, which he kindly did. His colleagues found it hilarious.

I really wanted to see the Kinari Bazaar where all the jewelry, beads, ribbons, etc are sold. For me it was like a candy store, where I would have loved to spend some time, browse and purchase some small items. 

But Frits was not happy there; it was hot, smelly, extremely crowded and lots of flies. Too bad (for me), but understandable.

Frits smiling, but anxious to leave that area.

Amazing what traffic went through this narrow and crowded alley!!!

Do you feel suffocated and overwhelmed as we did, seeing the above pictures ?!

Further we saw a few temples and mosques: 

We did not enter this Jain temple. It has a bird hospital inside as well. Since the Jain are vegetarians that respect all forms of nature, only vegetarian birds are allowed in. Non-vegetarian birds do get medical help, but as outdoor patients. How special is that policy?!

And some random pics to close this post:

Wonder what this sign says....

Exhausted and overheated we were happy that 'our' taxi was waiting to bring us back to our hotel!

Wearing the bindi that the hotel gave me.

Tomorrow I take you along on our trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal. Till then and have a nice day!