Weather:27-34°C hazy, brief shower in the afternoon bringing cool sweet air
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Cultural insight #1: I have filled out 2 forms today since coming out of airport immigration - sim card and hostel. Both required my passport, and my father/husband's name :-).
Cultural insight #2: Notwithstanding the warnings about cultural attitudes to women we've read in guidebooks, everyone we met has on first impression been unfailingly courteous.
*I'm keeping a record of my cultural impressions with I hope a degree of sensitivity. Nevertheless,I understand this kind of exercise will invariably betray my ignorance as a tourist at some point. So dear reader, please bear with me while I stumble around in the dark for the light switch.
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Delhi international airport is modern, clean and efficient.
Changed some money at a forex bureau. Indian rupees are not meant to be taken out of the country beyond a certain amount, and so my local post office did not have any.
Got a prepaid sim card at the Airtel booth outside the arrival hall for Rs500. One customer helpfully explained the process to me as the 2 swamped staff dealt with enquiries. Pleased that it's working for calls, texts, internet with my Android phone.
Got a metered Meru taxi at Pillar 16 outside the exit. Again, a simple, efficient exercise. The cab did stall but the driver gave it some water and we were off again in 10 minutes. The cab was not the newest but it seemed relatively clean, had AC, and had clear instructions in English about the fare.
We drove through embassy land with large embassies, manicured shrubbery and lots of flowers. The bougainvillaeas especially reminded me of KL.
10 minutes later, we went through minor traffic and I don't think I can drive here until I figure out the method from the madness. Green and yellow tuks tuks weaved their way expertly through the traffic. I saw one carrying a family of 5.
There are several YMCA and YWCA buildings on Jai Singh Road and it took us several attempts to find the YMCA tourist hostel further down the road, clearly marked. The reception took a day's payment from my prepaid card, which is good because I haven't yet found an ATM the card works in.
Our room on the 4th floor overlooked the swimming pool which can be used Apr-Oct at certain times of the day with a lifeguard. The room was pretty basic but clean and the porter blasted on the fan and AC.
Today was a take-it-easy day while waiting for my friend Karin to arrive.
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