Bugs, Cows and Traffic

So... We just arrived in New Delhi, India. I won't lie, it is a bit of a culture shock! The smells are new, the language is new and it is the farthest thing from home that I could have imagined. But still I think this will be a great trip. When we finally found our huge black suitcase that happened to look like every other suitcase on the carousel we walked out of the airport and found our driver waiting for us holding a big sign reading "CALEB." As we proceeded to follow him out to his car we entered a long covered tunnel. The tunnel reeked of urine and I have never been so heavily accosted by bugs in my life. We then proceeded to follow the man to his car. We had no idea where we were going or who this man was because he had yet to say a word to us except "yes" when Nick asked him "are you looking for Nick Caleb?" upon seeing his sign. Into the car we went with all of our belongings and the real adventure began. When our friend Yaju jokingly told us that we were more likely to die because of the crazy traffic that anything else we both laughed it off and though how bad could it be?

As we zipped out of the airport I realized he was probably right. We are now in the land where a bus a motor biker and a tut-tut all feel that they can simply honk their horn and gain the right away. The land where there are lines painted on the road to signify lanes but no one follows them and swerves in and out sometimes skimming the car they are next to as they zoom past. As our driver swerved in and out of traffic in a way that seemed to be the norm, my only thought was my mother would literally shit her pants if she were here right now!



Then as we pulled into the area that we are staying in for the night we came across a whole new oddity. Cows. Lots and lots of cows. In the middle of the street... on the sidewalk... in the shops... big cows... baby cows... and cows of every color. Yet our driver kept his pace. We once had to slam on our breaks to avoid hitting a mama cow and her baby that were just hanging out in the middle of the road. Finally the crazy ride came to an end. We carried our luggage down a street and into Hotel Namaskar, the place we will be staying tonight. Our driver helped us with our luggage and then waited patently for a tip while Nick took a phone call that came right in time for our arrival from Yaju. We paid him 50 rupees and off he went.

We then sat in the small entry way with a young man. He ask us to take a look at the sign and let him know what room we wanted. The choices were Medium Room, Big Room, Bigger Room, or Air Conditioned Room. Well, our first choice was Air Conditioned Room, unfortunately it was unavailable so we settled for Big Room. The front office of the Hotel Namasker was a small little room. One wall was painted sweet pea pink and the other turquoise. Once we singed for our room we headed back to see what we the room was like. It consisted of one large room and a bathroom. The paint in this room was not so decorative and it was a dirty bubblegum pink color. All that the large room had was a bed and a large dresser.




Then I looked in the bathroom and found my next surprise. There was what looked like a sink embedded in the ground with a hole at one end. This would be our toilet for our stay at Hotel Namaskar. Then after a quick shower and that brings us up to the present moment. Where we are sitting in an internet cafe relaying our adventurous day to you.


It is sideways... but you get the point! The white thing in the back was our toilet!

Anyone who wants to find us a map to Navdanya, feel free!!!! We are having trouble googling it!