India Day 9: New Delhi

We checked in to a hotel somewhere along this street named Arakashan Road, Paharganj in the morning. Having saved up as much cash as possible, we decided we'll spend it here on souvenirs. The whole road is a tourist attraction, hotels or souvenir shops. We later find out from contacts that it's also a very sketchy place, drug dealers at each alley. Exciting! If only one would approach me, this trip would be an adventure Bilbo would beg for.

We spent more time here than intended, but just surveying, not wanting to waste precious rupees on something that might be better or cheaper elsewhere. Bob is looking for some dangly earings for a colleague and sarees for his sisters. I'm looking for anything for 8 friends. Lots of fruit carts here, pomegranates like I've never seen before. India is supposed to be big on pomegranates, Persian rulers bringing them here and all. Bob is adamant. We're not buying any food from the streets. Mosquitoes or whatever could have infected the fruits. I relent. We've never had any street food while here.

It's tea time and we trek to Cannaught Place. Very Bukit Bintang. Tired of local naan, palak this, paneer that we settle on something familiar: KFC. Then coffee and a slice of cake at Starbucks. Birthdays are rough for me, but I'm glad of this one, it's been a fine year and the days leading to today have been the I best.

We spent the rest of the day wandering through marketplaces further and further away from Arakashan. Bob has got his earrings, a book on Greek mythology for a friend and I've got a nice Italian dinner and half a slice of tiramisu and blueberry jam cheesecake in my tummy. Tomorrow's going to be a scramble to see what sights possible, and tick off the souvenirs list.

Thank you, India.