Delhi India - Day 01

The city of Delhi lived up to my expectation. I was warned by the numerous travel forum sites on the internet that Delhi would be filthy, chaotic, noisy , revolting, grubby, grimy, corrupt, raunchy etc. And don't forget the touts!!! The touts in India make a nasty living out of foreigners like me especially the virgin tourists (first timers in india you silly!).


Before leaving my beloved hometown, i booked our train rides and hotels simply because i dreaded to be feasted on by the hungry touts of India. I was ever prepared. Most unlike with the travels i had with other Asian countries such as Bangkok , Hongkong , Vietnam etc. In India, you must prepare all your five senses. And always be on the lookout!

Upon reaching Delhi airport (IGI) , i was impressed with how huge this newly built airport can be . Considering that we came from the puny KLCCT airport in Kuala Lumpur. It was a long and tedious walk of around 20 mins from the tarmac to where the immigration is.

Since i have arranged an airport transfer from our hotel, we weren't expecting him to still have waited upon us for 1 hour at the arrival gate. I thought he would have gone and we would be forced to take a taxi to the hotel.

We stayed at Hotel Delhi City Center located at the Pahar Ganj area ( or the backpackers area). The rooms are okay, their bathrooms are huge and most important they have a restaurant ( a short walk from the hotel) situated in front of their sister hotel the Hotel Ajanta. We paid around $ 34/room/night.

Cafe Vagabond is the restaurant at the Hotel Ajanta (sister company of our hotel: Hotel Delhi City Center Pahar Ganj Area).

Pahar Ganj is a backpakers area and i only chose to station ourselves here because of its proximity to the New Delhi Rail Station (5mins ride by tuktuk). Other than that, this area is chaotic, dirty and we dared not to walk around during the night for fear that we would get lost around the maze of streets. Welcome to India hahahaha.

                     Street outside our hotel at night (this is past 1am)

Upon checking in we immediately ordered Indian food  from the hotel's restaurant. And even if it's in the wee hours of the morning the resto is still open, such a treat! Their food is nothing exceptional  but the prices ranges from 200 rupees up per dish (approx 5usd).

                                         Non - veg Thali

                   Chicken Biryani and Roti (can be shared by 2 people)

                                     Chicken Masala (very spicy)

The food was not that sensational but because we are so tired and hungry after a 6 hour flight (and 1 hour immigration) we couldn't care less. So we stuffed ourselves, hoping we would not get indigestion.

Good night Delhi , tomorrow we will be visiting Red Fort. . .