Last year, a business trip, in this unfriendly neighbors spent about half a month, right where the customs regarded as something about it.
From Hong Kong to Delhi, the aircraft is 10 pm and more. Take Eastern Airlines flight arrived in Hong Kong until about 8:00. Handling of the luggage transfer, and then bored in the massive new airport, slipped to Liuqu. Finally found one still operating starbuck, happily limp in. The service auspicious comprehensive but firmly told me that - so there is no running water and coffee. Apart from frustration, only take refuge in the boarding gate of the bench look Murakami's "Wuwu Wu", although is the third time, but still soon to go into the circumstances.
Welcome boarding finally sounded the alert tone, from the book, pick up the thoughts, it was found had been wearing a sari and long Bushan Indy dark complexion surrounded by air is also filled with a strange body odor -- obviously not incense.
Were significantly higher than Dragonair, Cathay Pacific flight is better than the domestic airlines, the service quality is not naturally a horizontal plane. Stewardess gracious and generous.
Machine Exalted few secretly Qiexi can a person sit in a window seat, open heart, not long after an Indian stewardess wearing a sari lead to a bare my belly is about twice the waist of India old Mrs attached to the plane of my windows. Mercy flight attendants looked at me and comforted me in English, one would give me find another seat. Closed door, about half of the seats are empty, and finally to leave the old lady who had become unassailable change to the tail of the window, outside is a beautiful night view of Victoria Harbor. Although it is not like this city, but still had to sigh at the splendor of this small peninsula.
Through the strength of a glass of red wine, and finally spaced sleep. Of noise in the cabin of a loud noise to wake up, in front of LCD TV display aircraft has dropped to 5,000 feet, landing gear is necessary to open the. Flight attendants began to discourage those people will queue outside the toilet seat themselves. Stuck his head from the blankets in the cabin outside a dark ground, there is little light, can not help some confusion, do not know what this country looks like.
Gangchu cabin, a surge of oncoming heat wave. Delhi Airport Arrival Hall moves some worn-out. Customs officials face expressionless took my passport, in front of that channel 386 on the query a bit, gave me a perfunctory one, do not ignore me smile, heavily stamped in the passport stamps. After finishing out the customs procedures, passing for 500 dollars in rupees. From about 20-year-old girls and a dark complexion in the hands of Indy to take over the old bank notes from a thick Yida, unknowingly there stunned. Through the beige uniforms of soldiers and pick up the crowd, one of about 50-year-old middle-aged man of medium build and a beard lips came at me with a heavy accent of English to welcome me, but it was our suppliers in India, Zaveri . Asked him how he was surprised to recognize me, he said with a smile, the whole plane as I am a Chinese passengers. I heard that he had waited for two hours, is somewhat disturbed mind.
Outside the airport, some dilapidated cottage, really do not see the capital's weather. Found in the parking lot of the taxi Zavari package, much like 80 years common in the domestic passenger car in Shanghai, or the Soviet Union, "Rada." Drove unpleasant - or, he drove unhappy, I spent about an hour before going to town. They all have a number of hand-held long wooden sticks, carrying a gun fire police, pull up a roadblock, reportedly searched the Kashmir extremists. Zaveri seriousness of the right I guarantee Delhi safe. On the road through the Shangri-La Hotel, magnificent I have seen in India, the best buildings.
To reach the hotel is 2 am o'clock. Hotels in Delhi railway station next to the outside looks a bit like a small mosque. The lobby is small, a bit like a country guest house, a sony 34 "rear projection color TV conspicuously placed in a conspicuous place. And Zavari appointment 8 am to eat breakfast together, respectively, to their own room.
Looking dark barefoot onto the service to picked up my luggage, take the elevator up to the 3rd floor, through the narrow corridor came to my room before. He used an old key to open the huge door, a surge of hot air blowing from a mixture of musty. While already have heart preparation, but entered the room, or can not help but disappointed. Room small and dirty, white sheets already have years of stains, brush the walls with lime stains mold mark. Window hidden under the corner at a sharp window-type air-conditioning, most of the control buttons have disappeared. waiter my luggage on the bed of a table, and walked a corner in a huge black box on the exploration of a will, a dark fluorescent Hu, air-conditioning rumbling began blowing wind. Done this, he went to the door, but not to leave. I was stunned, are unable to react. Spent a long while and saw the door he was still looked at me, suddenly wake up, and quickly dug out 20 rupees to him. Zai Zai and makes all the doors will be inserted on the door are stuck, sitting in the bed made for a stay, only to find no hot water and toilet. Had to take a bath with cold water, wrapped in T-shirt lying on the bed, take a look at the table, has about 3 o'clock. When the plane landed before the transfer of the time difference, and now Shanghai has almost spent some days. Over and over again, and finally sleep drowsily the past, middle of the night was cold woke up several times, but never dared to be in bed, blanket wrap the body. Black Box before the finish in that I know the names of all the grain cereals, but also failed to find the legendary switch. Italy trapped waves hit, had to huddle up into a ball Hunhun sleep.
Has finally been re-frozen Peter can not hold on, look at Da Kaideng watches, has more than 7 points, and pull curtains, light is not very strong, the windows were painted with red paint, much like the previous transformation of their own home darkroom . Do not go to sleep, turn on the TV, almost every Taiwan Ming-li uproar in India are singing and dancing. Search for a long time, actually found southeast of Taiwan, Fujian, satellite TV, in the 80s stood Jackie Chan movie, think about China is probably to give them that impression, can not help a bit discouraged.
8:00 5 hours, the room came the sound ring ring Mother away, in my luggage was found the following with a vintage cream-colored dial of the phone. Take up is Zavari invited me to eat breakfast, do not know what kind of breakfast here on the point of grilled toast and fried eggs - should not commit a taboo in India strike. To be honest, breakfast is doing OK, put like a silver plate, tomato paste packed in Aladdin's lamp-shaped containers - although feeling a little dirty utensils, but the night was cold and I still struggle to breakfast wiped out. Zavari told me that he had booked a 14:00 of the first-class train tickets to his factory, so we have a morning time to rest. I am not interested in rest, it encouraged him to accompany me out to see. Come out along the narrow stairs, lower 50% of the brightness along the way (though India's main race is white) people are very curious about Indy looked at me - obviously, very few Chinese people here. Bustling street - this is birth control in this country is not the result of dusty most of the people are more ragged dress. There is no particularly good on the street cars, most of them are known locally as "TooToo" motorized tricycle, last night, sat in a taxi is also rarely seen. Occasional passing a colorful bus, car door wide open, many people hanging at the door, roaring past. Interestingly, these buses are the 'TATA' licenses, and 80 years to see the Indian film "Caravan" on exactly the same. Most women in the street yarn hooded head, dressed in bright colors or black, or the sari. Children Heishou dirty, playing in the trash.
Approaching noon, Zavari called a tootoo, lead me to a very national character looks very good restaurant. The restaurant's windows and doors on both carefully drawn forward to the national conditions and customs of the frescoes on the roof wrapped in plastic vines, Yan Li Shali a woman wearing a white shirt and wearing men's door whispered conversation. Zavari tell me, where Indian food is pretty good. He helped me a point of not very spicy chicken nuggets, pizza and several I do not now clear vegetable sauce. Dessert is the homemade ice cream - a strong taste of goat's milk. After dinner there is a very special pastry is mixed with rock sugar, fennel Tsai and placed in mouth slowly chewing, a kind of very special fragrance. Make a living for about seven or eight hundred rupees, equivalent to RMB more than 100 pieces, or pretty cheap.
Came to the railway station 10 minutes ahead of schedule, I am a bit worried about wrong car, Zavari with confidence to tell me where the train will be late, it is difficult quasi-point start. Railway Station, poor environment, from tootoo-down to a group of people surrounded the up, speaking I do not know Hindi. With tension, flawless looking at Zavari. He waved to disperse these people tell me they just wanted to come to earn some small fees helped his luggage. Station not like home, there is no waiting area into different zones, only an old hall, the floor disorder in a lot of ragged face Heishou lying emaciated people. So I am more surprised is that there are a lot of people with disabilities have lost limbs, estimated by continuous consequences of local wars, but dared not to Zavari confirmation of this sensitive issue.
As expected, the train turned out not to, Zavari side of my site received a room, which has fans and benches and relatively clean, the environment better than the station hall, a lot and not many people, it seems there is also "VIP room. " About 15 minutes later, Zavari suddenly told me that their cars - and is estimated to listen to broadcasts in Hindi. Went out and saw a train slowly over tan, windows are not glass, welding of the small finger thickness of the steel bars. Crouching on the ground stirred the crowd, rushed toward the door in the past, a bit like the domestic scene when the Spring Festival. Zavari led me, step to the front direction, a few people in the car in front suddenly stopped, took out a piece of paper and attached to the door controls on the printing paper a moment to catch my eye is that here any more. Car should have been more ancient, is actually air-conditioned carriages, cars than the domestic to wide, looks a lot like the old Soviet Union is a model. Seat is a hooded green PVC plastic single-seat, not very clean. Each row seat has a fan, that is, before the kind of internal hard-seat car. To sit down later, Zavari told me that this ticket was that he spent a higher price, and each about 500 rupees - about 100 yuan. I am curious to want to come to ticket, only to play in ordinary white paper's name.
Already Zavari got to know each time, he is a good old man to get along, because of our large orders, for I am very polite. He told me that his company inherited his father's, headquartered in Mumbai. Mumbai, India's position is basically the equivalent of Shanghai, Delhi, equivalent to Beijing. The Delhi is divided into New Delhi and Old Delhi. This is no significant between the boundaries of New Delhi only in Delhi, built a new city next to the Old City. We're going to a place about 300 kilometers north of Delhi is the seat of the town named Samboo. Muslim enclaves where the local people for generations to carpentry industry, is in India, hand-crafted wood products known. Listening to his narrative, through the yellow glass windows looking out under the sun gives the landscape of the ancient false sense of suddenly dream.
Five hours later to Samboo, small town and Deli, as crowded disorderly. Are mostly dome arched door of the Islamic-style buildings, at first glance, such as came to Xinjiang, but the city of Xinjiang more than relatively clean. To reservation Taj Hotel, from the outside of the hotel to see and Deli is almost the same, anyway, already have psychological endurance, and not Guannameduo. Taj is the "Taj", like the Great Wall of China, as even a hostel, it will take a 'taj' at the beginning of the name. Like is a huge key, it stains the sheets, no hot water in toilet and sharp window air-conditioning. The only difference is that the Islamic-style room has a balcony, open the balcony's glass doors, a surge of heat rushing toward us, here's bustling streets. Interestingly, the next day on the balcony to see a local wedding. The bride wears sari dress sitting in a brilliant golden-walled carriage on the front and rear drum sing, really very busy. On the same day also met another couple at this hotel, singing, dancing, bride burning brazier on a cross from the past - and China's customs are much alike, it seems really sources of mountains and rivers interlinked ah.
In this city for a week spent a full day to inspect factories produce progress, accustomed to overwhelming flies, Montreal, and the suffocating stench of garbage, to get used to my stomach. The various wide-Indian food taste later, found himself barely meet the Borscht, Indian-style pizza and a little bit of curry chicken. Zavari have learned that these three are my unchanging menu, a la carte I do not have openings will tell waiter double Borscht plus pizza. Local menu in general, there will be "china fried rice", that is, Chinese fried rice, eat once, never afraid to try. As for the Indian-style Borscht and pizza (also known as the Indian flying cake), it is my livelihood for food in India. Borscht, there are very thick cheese, very tasty; pizza is thin and crispy. By the way, eating Indian food is eaten with the right hand upon her - but as far as I know, Indians are generally not wash their hands before meals. Left it, it is to do one thing - it goes without saying that we should have understood. There is a joke to say, the Indians go to the toilet, they will carrying his cup of water into the ....:)。 Sorry, a little digression. China is implementing many hotels have been available in India fly pie dishes, but also tasted a few, to be honest, and the 'china fried rice', as has already improved a lot according to Chinese tastes啦. As for the Borscht, home health, round crown bought soup packets, but how also can not make the familiar flavor.
A week later back to Deli, intends to take the next evening flight back to Hong Kong Cathay Pacific's classmate. Wash a week of cold water bath, declined Zavari paid a small hotel, self-advocates to find ways to do set up a high-level hotel, called the 'Malisha' in the Deli's 'moon area'. The room is very good, roughly equivalent to the domestic four-star standard, but prices are sky-high price. 3500 rupees also plus 30% of the 'luxury tax' and 10% of the 'tariff', enough to live in the country the best five-star Hotel. Hearts washed a hot bath, wrapped in white sheets inside the United States and the United States of slept, woke up already 19:00 and more noisy stomach Zhi Jiao. Considered a moment, or do not intend to go downstairs to the restaurant to eat Indian food. Comes into mind, bellboy gave me a map of the Hotel with Deli, open, they discover that this hotel is located at the center of New Delhi. Took out a thick stack of rupees will be found to put luggage, with only a passport, camera and a few dollars and rupees in cash, locked the door out.
Front is a great eye mm, wearing a pale yellow sari with a nose ornament, no beauty, but do not have style. Will be key to her, and they asked the general store closing time. To the bellboy at me smiling nod Dali, out the door to go. The sky is already dark, the air is still dry and hot, the road next to the lighting much, but enough to illuminate the environment, think should not be dangerous. Identifying direction, toward the center of the brightest lights went regions. Most shops have closed, the joy of discovery of levis and the addidas store, such as the old society, little civilization. Walked about 20 minutes, as I wish, finally found a place of business in the McDonald's. There are few people auditorium facade as other places, just beside the cash register written in English, the eye-catching 'We don't offer any beef product!' (We do not provide any beef products), apparently 90 years of people protest in Indy Results.
Point of the chicken back to the hotel in Hamburg packages. Prices and domestic almost, seem to be more cheaper. To buy food, and I feel even better, go back and observe the way a bit and found a small shop selling perfume, there are Kenzo, Versus, and CD, but apparently smuggled goods, prices are much more expensive than in Hong Kong.
Chicken sandwiches and domestic obviously not the same taste, but very satisfied. At eight o'clock, my wife should not sleep, make a phone call in the past, and indeed in watching television. More than a week not see, it is some miss, telling her to Shanghai flights and time, the time just pick her up from work. Think of tomorrow, we must return, and some excitement. Murakami read out a long time before they fall asleep.
Wake up already 10 o'clock, in the restaurant and enjoy a hearty breakfast, a good day contemplating how to spend a rare idle. Back to the room pick up a bit and give the boss a call reporting a bit of travel and factories, starting a specialty store to a nearby street. Down and called a tootoo, the driver was a Sikh turban set with Indians - and Zavari together a lot of time this week, I've generally learned how to identify a few people in India. Sikh people would beards and long hair, and life will not haircut. The old chap is not up to much in English, gesturing for a long time still do not understand, had to pull out maps that showed him the results, or do not understand, had to resort to the hotel bellboy, This departure. It is worth mentioning that the English and Hindi are the official languages of India, but most Indians will not be lower in English.
In the specialty store Street (shame, to forget the name of the) stroll for a long time, did not see anything special, mostly those working rough Buddha statues and bracelet. My wife bought a silver bracelet a few days, but also for children to wear a fancy gown, going to buy for small nephew. Have more special is that Indy-style fragrance, taste rich and bought a dozen small bottles, and give as gifts to come back good. It seems few people in East Asia Deli, the shop owner asked me come from city, I heard that after the Chinese people are very surprised. Lunch hours, go there again at McDonald's, bought a package sitting on the window slowly and enjoy. I suddenly saw a pair of East Asians came in, very happy, I saw the two of them are also watching for a long time. Wait for them to sit down, climbing over the last few words, that was real fellow - they are the people of Taiwan, in the Deli has not seen the Chinese. In fact, later on the way to go to India several times, the Chinese had never met before.
Unconsciously days, dark flight 13:00, insurance purposes, booked a taxi 11 pm. To the airport, the time still early, but the way the police increased significantly, and did not know what happened. chek in after sitting in terminal when he suddenly found that the walls are Konka TV, and not help some triumphantly. A cup of coffee to nestle sipping slowly, think of another 8 hours, you can return to familiar Shanghai, can not be happy themselves. :)
Postscript: Two weeks after the second visit to Delhi, during the dry season is over. The Indian Ocean's warm and humid air will be expelled from the subtropical high pressure from far off in South Asia, Delhi has become warm and humid. Left Shanghai before booking a "malisha" hotel room, because it is re-admitted to convince me to play the Jiuzhe hotel.
To escape the intolerable heat, psychological state together. One person alone to go out to watch the rain Delhi. Delhi eyeful green during the rainy season, rain from the tall, dense lime leaves Lili Lala's through. Simply close the umbrella, so that rain poured on the body. In contrast with the last change of the path, through the subway under construction site came to a little middle of the street garden. Bought a cup of cola, softened umbrellas, rain pounding on the ground sitting on the bench watch.
I do not know how long before the rain not the slightest smaller mean. Do not feel hungry, so to change the plan, called a tootoo to Gandhi Park. Distance is not near, walk through three-wheeled motorcycle in the rain for about 30 minutes, and reappeared a green lawn, a statue of Mahatma deep eyes, guarding his country.
Author: thomaslee
