Adventures in Old Delhi
(Halle) Old Delhi is laced with a maze of narrow lanes, which twist and turn between the tall, leaning buildings. In the summer when temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, these multistory buildings provide shade for the locals walking on the streets. We cautiously walked tight to the side of the road to avoid getting hit by motorcycles, rickshaws, wooden carts carrying deliveries, and people walking heedlessly. Garbage and mud puddles lined the run-down street. Slanted telephone poles were jumbled with cables and wires. Our guide claimed that if a wire broke, then the locals would put a new one on top of the pile because it’s impossible to tell which wire is which! Wedding supplies, bangles, saris, and fabrics, of every color are sold in tiny tin shops. The sight of all these colors, people, activity and bedazzled clothing was overwhelming.
The spice market
Since it wasn’t safe to walk on the main road, we hopped on the back of a bicycle attached to a cart called a rickshaw. Cars and motorcycles continually honked their horns, trying to maneuver around us. Water buffalos pulled loads of deliveries to shops as wild monkeys played around on the roofs, occasionally stealing a piece of fruit from a vendor. The largest spice market in Asia is right here in Old Delhi. Dozens of people sold all different spices for as far as the eye could see. The smell of cumin and coriander made my nose tingle. A typical shop would display countless boxes piled high with spices. Locals frequently come to the spice market to purchase spices for ingredients to cook curry which makes it extremely spicy. The rickshaw took us back down the narrow roads and continued through the shoe, eyeglass and stationery markets. Since we took up half of the road, our bicycle had trouble getting anywhere in the slow moving traffic, giving us time to attempt to take it all in. This is what an emerging country looks like!
Halle, Loved your last sentence “This is what an emerging country looks like!” This sentence along with your pictures sums up all the contrasts and contradictions about India right now. Nicely done. I think Mr. DiMatteo would go crazy if he visited a place like this, all he would see were the building code violations..
Xo Mrs. Mellen
P.S. miss you
Hi Halle,
Love to follow all your posts as well as those of your sisters! What a crowded city New Delhi is. I love the picture from the Spice Market. I love seeing markets like this in other countries I have visited. All the different foods, spices, and goods sold are interesting to see.
All those hanging and crisscrossed wires are amazing……what a tangled web!!
Love to all you guys,
Auntie Susan (Uncle John, Matt, Dan, and Laura – who is officially 12 yo today!)
Hi Halle,
Loved your blog. Here you see how people make a living in a country with limited infrastructure and resources. When I visit India, I like to wander around these types of areas to “take in” their culture. I have found it safe and exciting. I am glad you are soaking in the new experiences which are so different from the US.
BTW, did you see the Red Fort in Old Delhi? It was commissioned by the same emperor (Shah Jahan) who commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra. This was done when the moghuls moved the capital from Agra to Delhi.
Papa
Halle
Looks like good shopping girls!
Miss you-
Love Aunty Francine
Hi Halle,
Near the end of your writing, you mention having time to take it all in. You are so right! It made me think about how we often can be so busy rushing from one thing to the next, not having time to see what is around us. The circumstances of crowded streets caused you to go slowly but you had the wisdom and interest to realize the opportunity that provided. Bravo to all of you!! Love, Grandma