Tour of Delhi

I packed my things, for safekeeping more than anything, then asked the hotel clerk if I could stay another night. It was a place to sleep, after all. He needed to check. I said I was heading out so if it wasn't possible then he should take my backpack out of my room and store it somewhere safe.

He provided a driver who was supposed to take me to Connaught Place, which I understand to be a popular tourist hangout. Instead, I found myself once again at the Tourist Information office.

I wasn't sure what was happening or why. I just wanted to get out of here. If I could get to the airport I could go on to Beijing a little early. But here I am in Delhi. And what about seeing the Taj Mahal?

I stepped out of the office to call Mohit, a friend of a friend of a friend who lives here in Delhi. He was out of town but said we could meet at 5pm. I was to sit tight.

Waiting for Mohit sounded like the safest option but would have cost me the whole day -- nearly a third of my time here in Delhi.

I went back inside and overspent on a package that included a reasonable hotel in Delhi for two nights, a taxi to Agra and back (500km round-trip), entry to the Taj Mahal, a hotel in Agra, a tour guide in Delhi, a taxi back to the airport, and some food. It was overbudget but at least means everything is taken care of for me.

I wasn't looking forward to telling Mohit that I'd booked this lot. He wouldn't approve.

My driver and tour guide, Nandlal, is the same guy who took me from the sister hotel to Tourist Information. Smacks of a conspiracy? Maybe, but I don't think it is. Nandlal works for Tourist Information, not for the hotel. The hotel called him because I'm a tourist and transport to the Tourist Information office is free.

We started the tour. At first, it seemed like one of those "stand here for 10 seconds and take three photos"-type of tours. You know the ones -- no freedom. But it improved and I was allowed to see what I wanted in a timeframe I was comfortable with...

...almost. I still felt slightly rushed. Ordinarily, I'd like to sit on the grass and relax in the warmth for a while, but that was hard knowing Nandlal was waiting for me in the car.

We covered a lot quickly: this palace, that temple, a stop at a restaurant.

I asked to go back to the hotel at 5:30pm when I was tired. The hotel is really nice yet still no hot water, but that's to be expected here. I hardly need a HOT shower after sweating gallons anyhow.

I was just about ready to sleep for the night...

...when Mohit called. We met at the hotel and went on to a restaurant where he systematically went through everything in my package: "Normally this would cost this much and that would cost that much." I hadn't grossly overpaid for what I've got, apparently, but it's too luxurious for me and leaves me feeling self-indulgent.

We arranged to meet again on Monday when I'm back from Agra.