Our last day in northern India, so after saying goodbye to the rest of our tour group we get a tuk-tui ride into the centre of Delhi. We start off in Connault Place, but the garden in the centre is closed as it is a national Seikh Festival. A passerby directs us to a bazaar, then puts us in a tuk-tuk to get there, which means we are now slightly lost. Inside the bazaar I'm once again surprised at the price of silk, but end up buying 3 metres of fabric and some lime green leggings. It takes three people to serve me, then someone else to take the money. Another person cuts the fabric and takes it downstairs where, with the production of my receipt, I'm finally allowed to collect my purchases.
Outside we start walking in the direction we want, ignoring many tuk-tuk drivers, and stumble across a little fabric shop run by a single old man. He asks if I want dress fabrics, then pulls out sets of fabrics. Each contains a fabric for the tunic, already embroidered, and a matching or contrasting fabric for the trousers. Some also include a scarf. Prices are really good, and I buy two sets!
We set off again, bump into another helpful man who offers to show us a good shop, and five minutes later were back at the place we first started from. Giving up on shopping we get a tuk-tuk ride to India Gate and join in the holiday feel with hundreds of locals.
Our next tuk-tuk ride takes us to Lodhi Gardens, and the tombs of a number of rulers from the 1400s. Lovely gardens, and obviously a favourite place for wedding photos.
Our next ride should have taken us back to the hotel, but the driver has no idea of where we want to go, and despite us telling him several times he was going in the wrong direction, we end up back at India Gate. Somewhere in the confusion Mick also lost his Tilley hat as we stormed out of the tuk-tuk. Finally we got a ride back to our hotel, though it was through some of the roughest and dusty streets we had yet seen.
Off to the airport at 3pm for our flight to Kochi, and we finally arrive there at about 9pm. Then a two hour transfer to our beach resort hotel before we finally can get to bed exhausted. A busy and stressful day!
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