New Delhi and the journey home

New Delhi

The next morning I woke up from a dreamless but restful sleep. I had already been to Delhi twice before, so I didn't really know what the next two days would look like, but a visit to Pharaganj - Main Bazar is definitely worth it as a start. These would be the last two days before returning to grim Germany. I decided not to plan anything, just let myself go and enjoy, both visually and gastronomically. So I left my nice accommodation in the 'Paschim Vihar' district and happily walked down the street to the nearby Metro Station. I managed to squeeze myself in just in time, but at the following 5 stations, at least 5 more people managed to get in too. India is crowded, that's for sure!

Incredible India lives and lives and lives everywhere, no matter where you go. The important thing is that it's somehow loud! There's pushing, shoving, and living every day anew. If you're looking for the madness, yes, the insanity of life, you'll find it here. There's only one thing you mustn't do, and that is to resist it. You just have to go with the flow, and then you pass this test every day.

On the next and final full day of my journey, I took the Metro again to Kashmere Gate and from there I walked to the nearby Yamuna Ghat. On the internet, you see such beautiful pictures of the boat trip on the beautiful Yamuna river, but the reality is a sewer like no other. I'm not sure when I've ever smelled such a stench, and here I had no idea how this thick mass (river water) even managed to flow. I immediately made my escape and headed towards the nearby Red Fort. I walked along the street and must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because the street kept getting bigger until I found myself in the middle of nowhere on a huge bypass road. How did I end up here again? No idea, I just wanted to get out of here quickly! And I found the saving Tuk Tuk, which took me to the Red Fort in 10 minutes. It was closed today anyway, but I've already visited it once. I walked past the Shri Digambar, the Shri Gauri Shankar, and the Jama Masjid, continuing through Chandni Chowk, with the aim of reaching Gadodia Market. A large spice market, fascinating! What was eerie, however, was the sheer mass of people everywhere, and even worse, the traffic on the streets, where sometimes a huge traffic jam formed, literally! But all in all, the best thing you notice is that everyone you meet always greets you with a smile and a nod of approval for life.

I will pack this into my thoughts and memories and keep it in mind when I meet someone at home again with some comparably trivial worries.

Thank you!

I say thank you India, thank you Thailand, thank you to all those I met again on this journey and of course thank you to all the loyal readers following me here.