I am Wyatt Wang.Com

Woke up at 6.30am and was pretty amazed that I could actually have uninterrupted sleep throughout the night. Went to bath (again) and rushed out (was trying to avoid the sun) to explore Paharganj and surrounding areas. Alas, the sun was already up at 7am and had turned New Delhi into a burning furnace. Welcome to India during the summers! Delhi actually consists of Old Delhi and New Delhi (this is what world maps usually denotes). With the narrow streets and busy markets, Old Delhi represents the capital of Muslim India when the Mughals ruled. But just head 2 or 3 kilometers south, one will experience a different Delhi. Wide roads and contemporary buildings dominate here; the British declared the shifting of their capital from Calcutta (Kolkata) to New Delhi in 1911. Although the final inauguration took place in 1931, the British left India in 1947 (only after 16 years). New Delhi then remained as the capital of modern India since then. Met up with my friend in Chandni Chowk (a busy shopping district in Old Delhi) and began our walk in the area. Starting out from Haldiram's (a famous chain of restaurants from Nagpur selling chats or snacks) in the heart of Chandni Chowk, we checked the main touristy sites of Lal Qila (a.k.a. Red Fort) and Jama Masjid. Despite the glaring heat, people go around with their duties as per normal (maybe they have no choice). Although Sillypore is well known for its humid weather, I actually found it hard to get accustomed to the hot (and VERY dry) summer of northern India. But of course, the summer weather is going to hit me more as I get on with my trip. Before catching my train at 6.30pm, I got myself 2 bottles of Kingfisher (Rs35 or S$1.30 per bottle) at a wine shop along Qutb Road, Paharganj. As I drank the golden fluid and admired the Delhi sunset from the rooftop of my guesthouse, I would never have thought I would be in India for an 8-month project (not to mention a trip to Varanasi). I rubbed my eyes again; train ticket still didn't show any changes. I was going to city of Shiva afterall.

		Just a touristy shot of Lal Qila or the Red Fort (Rs100 or S$3.70 per foreigner). Completed by Emperor Shah Jahan (yes, he was the one that built Taj Mahal) in 1648, he never did managed to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi as he was deposed and imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb.
		Chatta Chowk or the Covered Bazaar; an arcade of stalls selling ornamental items that may please all sorts of tourists. Don't think the stalls were here during Shah Jahan's time though. - impressions of the Red Fort in Old Delhi
		wyattwang.com doing it in front of Lahore Gate! The main gate of the red Fort, it got its name as it faces Lahore (in Pakistan, 420kms northwest of Delhi). Independence fighters had a dream to see the Indian flag flying over the gate and this became a reality in 1947.
		Lunch was Chole Bhature (Rs50 or S$1.85) and a cold glass of sweet lassi or yogurt (not shown in picture). Made up of a special kind of wheat, the roti is deep fried and eat with masala channa (or chick peas).
		The largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid in Chowri Bazaar can hold a stunning 25,000 people in its courtyard. Built by Shah Jahan (again), it took 14 years to complete in 1658. p.s.: I did not enter because I need to fork out Rs150 (or S$5.56) for bringing in my camera.
		Cabling works in Delhi probably needs some improvement. - impressions of Chowri Bazaar (just in front of Ajmeri Gate), Old Delhi
		Drinking Kingfisher (I was holding a beer bottle) with a bunch of Nepalese (aged 19 to 22) working for the guesthouse as room attendants. They would have gotten a monthly salary of Rs1,000 (S$37) if they were working in Nepal. This is only one third of what they can get if they work in Delhi.
		Me with a bottle of Kingfisher on the rooftop of Hotel Downtown. I would never had knew that it would be my last bottle of beer in India. :(
		A man was probably waiting for his train on the overhead bridge in New Delhi train station. - impressions of New Delhi on 19 Apr 08, 6.15pm
		wyattwang.com on the Shiv Ganga Express (3AC, Rs 835 or S$31, upper berth) to Varanasi (14 hours). Although it was air-conditioned and thus offered much relief from the summer heat, one can hardly see anything outside from the tinted windows.
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