I am Wyatt Wang.Com

It's seems that life can pass one by before one realises it. After almost 8 months in the Bangalore project, I somehow managed to survive (while constantly watching my back against corporate atrocities that may potentially befall on me) and came back in unscathed. However, there was 1 remaining piece of jigsaw puzzle to be fulfilled for my India trip. That is, to complete an one-week backpacking trip to Delhi, Varanasi and Agra (regarded Mysore and Goa more of weekend getaways). Objective? To "immerse" myself with Hindu holiness in Ganges (hope I don't sound too lame) and experience the magnificent Taj Mahal. More about that later. Did a search on the Internet just 1 week before my trip and decided on Spicejet (one of the many low cost carriers in India) to fly me from Bangalore to Delhi (Rs9,000 or S$333). After sending the usual project handover emails, I took a boring 2.5hr flight and got into Indira Gandhi International Airport at 10pm (Friday). As I was scheduled to catch a train for Varanasi the following evening, I took a pre-paid taxi (Rs200 or S$7.40) to Paharganj. Although this wouldn't get voted as the most decent area in New Delhi, it's prime location and proximity to the New Delhi Train Station (a convenient 5min walk away) resulted in the availability of many cheap (or budget) accommodation. I checked in into Hotel Downtown for a non air-conditioned room (Rs250 or S$9.26 per night) and was looking forward to get some rest for my Old Delhi walk tomorrow. I thought it was "cool" to stay in the cheapest accommodation. It was a wrong move; summer nights in Delhi can be as high as 35 Degrees Celsius and I was practically sweating IMMEDIATELY I came out from my shower. Embarrassed I had to sleep the night off only in my underwear (no pictures though, sorry).

		New Delhi Train Station (on a busy Friday evening) welcomes me (see signage).
		And just across the street, Main Bazaar (in Paharganj) welcomes me as well (see signage).
		My first meal (potato curry, dhal, rice, tandoori roti and fish curry) in New Delhi; Fish Thali (or set meal with fish) at Neelam Hotel, Paharganj (Rs50 or S$1.85). Didn't really enjoyed the fish; thought that it was full of bones!
		Along one of the many side lanes leading from Main Bazaar, Paharganj. The stall was selling curd (or yogurt). p.s.: Wasn't willing to be so adventurous on the 1st day of my trip even though I had spent so much time in Bangalore.
		Just felt that this photo should be included into my blog as it shows the "mud" oven where tandoori roti (bread baked in a tandoor, which denotes a clay oven in Hindi) are made. Note this kind of bread gets VERY chewy when it is cooled.
		Street hawkers selling jalebis, a sweet oily snack (Delhi specialty) that will guarantee to satisfy a sugary tooth. I tried one (Rs5 or S$0.19) and the guy was nice enough to wrap it with a small piece of newspaper. I thought there were alot of sand flies around the area though. - impressions of Main Bazaar, Paharganj, New Delhi
		A potrait of a cycle-rickshaw driver under the hot summers of New Delhi.
		Nothing much here, just a public urinal (see the right) along Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Paharganj, New Delhi. My friend commented that this was an area where settlers stayed when they arrived from Pakistan after the parition. p.s.: I pee in it and thought that it was pretty smelly.
		Well, they don't allow people to take pictures of the Delhi Metro. Thus, all I could do was to take a photo of the station that was the closest to Paharganj. I was on my way to Chandni Chowk (Rs9 or S$0.33). p.s.: Note that ALL* passengers would have to walk through a metal detector and have the bags inspected by security.*
		Saturdays are considered to be the day of God Shani (denotes Saturday in Hindi). This appears along the streets of New Delhi and people generally donate coins/money (by dropping coins into the box) to make God Shani happy.
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