The train arrived in the evening in Gurgaon. It is actually a part of Haryana, a state to the south-west of the capital district of Delhi. But because Delhi is growing so much and most people in this place work in Delhi it is politically part of the NCR (National Capital District).
This is where I had my second couchsurfing experience. Christina and I stayed with Jayanth, he works for a company in Gurgaon itself, same as his 2 roommates. Both of them are from Tamil Nadu, so southerners (not in a US meaning). Also Jayanth originally is from Hyderabad, which is also considered south India. We always joked when someone asked, if I liked the south more than the north, that I had to, because the enitre flat was from the south. But I actually really did like the south more ;-)
So we arrived there in this big complex of newly built buildings for living. Luckily Gurgaon had its own metro station, so it wasn't too expensive to get into the centre of Delhi and faster than taking buses. They had extra metro-cards so Christina and I got them were able to avoid alot of long queues and other hassles of not having a card. And the rides are a little bit cheaper than buying the tokens!
This is where I had my second couchsurfing experience. Christina and I stayed with Jayanth, he works for a company in Gurgaon itself, same as his 2 roommates. Both of them are from Tamil Nadu, so southerners (not in a US meaning). Also Jayanth originally is from Hyderabad, which is also considered south India. We always joked when someone asked, if I liked the south more than the north, that I had to, because the enitre flat was from the south. But I actually really did like the south more ;-)
So we arrived there in this big complex of newly built buildings for living. Luckily Gurgaon had its own metro station, so it wasn't too expensive to get into the centre of Delhi and faster than taking buses. They had extra metro-cards so Christina and I got them were able to avoid alot of long queues and other hassles of not having a card. And the rides are a little bit cheaper than buying the tokens!
While we were there the Hindus celebrated Dusshera, a festival in honour of different legends. One is that Rama defeated Ravana. Rama representing the thruth and Ravana the "unthruth". Or basically good vs. evil. Rama is the hero of the Ramayana and is searching for his wife (or to be wife?) Sita and has to defeat Ravana who has 10 faces (or embodiments) and fights him for 10 days (each day a head - you could say), so the festival is 10 days long and in Delhi they build big statues of Ramas enemies which are burnt on the last day in a big celebration.
In Mysore, where they have big Dusshera festivities aswell, they celebrate Chamundi, the goddess of the royal family of Mysore. In another state (I think Bengal) they celebrate Durga. Both women defeat the evil, I think also embodied by Ravana, and therefore have the same status (in these regions at least) as Rama, maybe only for this holiday though.
So during this time there were a lot of things closed (like post offices and some sights), others full of people or more things more expensive. There were several fares in the central city of Delhi which was nice. It didn't cost anything to get inside, the rides of course were not for free.
In Mysore, where they have big Dusshera festivities aswell, they celebrate Chamundi, the goddess of the royal family of Mysore. In another state (I think Bengal) they celebrate Durga. Both women defeat the evil, I think also embodied by Ravana, and therefore have the same status (in these regions at least) as Rama, maybe only for this holiday though.
So during this time there were a lot of things closed (like post offices and some sights), others full of people or more things more expensive. There were several fares in the central city of Delhi which was nice. It didn't cost anything to get inside, the rides of course were not for free.
Here on the festival grounds they had built large statues! We missed watching them burn down...
We went on a ferris wheel and saw the lit red fort (big fort of Delhi) and the inner city with all its lights.
Before that we went to the Gate of India (not the gateway of India in Mumbai), which didn't look THAT fancy as the one in Mumbai, but had a bigger open space around it. Here we were another attraction next to the gate and alot of pictures were taken.
Before that we went to the Gate of India (not the gateway of India in Mumbai), which didn't look THAT fancy as the one in Mumbai, but had a bigger open space around it. Here we were another attraction next to the gate and alot of pictures were taken.
Here it is:
A wild Jakob appears!
Christina said alot of people take fotos from a lower perspective making you look like a giant monster....
We searched for another nice bazaar for Christina, she still wasn't totally satisfied. But it seemed more difficult than we thought. The bazaars are vast in Delhi, but you might need a guide, more patience or luck to find the right places. We didn't really look too hard.
The next day we visited the Lotus temple and a iskcon (international society for krishna conscioisness - basically the hare krishna movement) temple in Delhi, well we didn't make it inside the lotus temple. The queue was way too long and so we visited the other one, which was also interesting and seems to have alot of similar temples around the world.
The next day we visited the Lotus temple and a iskcon (international society for krishna conscioisness - basically the hare krishna movement) temple in Delhi, well we didn't make it inside the lotus temple. The queue was way too long and so we visited the other one, which was also interesting and seems to have alot of similar temples around the world.
The ISKCON temple from the outside
And you were allowed to take fotos inside. This is one of their shrines (there were several inside)
And the lotus temple - wasn't easy to get a foto without the barbwire surrounding the temple...
After that we had a stop at taco bell, my first time and Christina was just soo happy to see it, so we had some burritos and other mexican food in there.
We had tried to get into the red fort, though it was closed because of the holiday. So we went on shopping. The ride into Delhi was always a hassle. It was over an hour riding the metro. But we were there almost every day. Always seeing something new, or at least trying to do so. Then Christina had to fly back to the USA. We spent several hours at Jayanths place searching for cheap flights and proper connections! In the end it worked out and she left about a week before my time in India ended...
The main gate to the Red Fort. I think they raised the indian flag on that pole on the actual independence day 15.08.1947
The big masjid (mosque) near the red fort. I didn't manage to get inside sadly...
I tried a veg whopper of course (after having a veg big mac at the beginning of my trip!)
The huge Flag of India in the Connaught Place - a huge shopping area built circular around this massive flag pole
(the flag is probably as big as our apartment, maybe even bigger!)
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