Samstag, 13. Dezember 2008

For our English-speaking friends - Namaste, Welcome to India

On Dec 8th a brandnew Jet Airways plane takes us to New Delhi, India. Before we bought three bottles of Whisky - for daily desinfection - at the duty free. The arrival lounge of the airport doesn't have any facilities - what a pity at 5 am - and in case you worry about the security of the passengers after the Mumbai blasts: there's an old soldier sleeping in a corner...Welcome to India!

The first two days we spent at the Cargo Terminal collecting stemps and signatures. It is unbelievable how things work here. Europeen companies have programmes written in India to simplify work processes and the customs department of New Delhi Airport doesn't even have computers! All in all the transport of the bikes costs us seven working days and as much as 1428.- Euros per bike. Traffic is not as bad as expected - at least when you have survived Iran!

We stay at a small place in Paharganj, the low-budget-quarter of Delhi. Small lanes, vehicles of all kinds, rubbish, cows, dogs and people selling all sorts of things and then the smell...

During the next days we visit places like the "Red Fort", "Jama Masjid Mosque", Mahatma Ghandis tomb, the Akshardham Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Lotus temple, the railway museum and walk from India Gate to Rashtrapati palace.

We are surprised how run down even the countries most important sights are. But on the other hand: How can you spend millions in restauration when people are starving right there in front of you on the road? Annette is at the same time touched, disgusted and fascinated. But even if you'd start to give money to everyone asking for it, you would not change a thing. What we do is, not to negotiate prices more down than reasonable. It doesn't hurt us and helps the ones we are dealing with.

After nearly a whole week in Delhi we are ready to go on and exited about what there will be next!

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