Delhi: Day 1 (cont) (cont)

(I broke this entry into two as it's quite long)

After lunch I checked my email for a good hour before I reentered the fray. After rebuking the same tout for the second time, I walked to another tourist area called Connaught Place to further innundate myself. After walking around aimlessly for a bit, I decided that I would take on the task of planning my stint to Agra, about two hours south by train, where the Taj Mahal is situated.

There is a special office at the train station for foreigners, thank god. The booking agent was the first person in Delhi I had met who had no clandestine intention of ripping me off. I wouldn't go so far to say he was outgoing, but he wsa extremely helpful with planning my trip.

My original hope of renting a motorcycle and driving the 130 miles south to the Taj Mahal and watch the sunrise were quickly dashed that first trip from the airport. Not only would I have to drive on the left side of the road, but also I'd have to contend with the craziness of people driving against traffic, etc. Basically it would be a death wish. Once I accepted this fact, I hoped I could at least take a train down in the evening, stay the night, and watch the sunrise the next morning before coming back to Delhi. Unfortunately the trains that would have allowed me to do this were full. I'd have to do the one day up and back and settle for the sunset. Could be worse.

790 Rupees later (about sixteen dollars American) and I was all set for my first train ride in India! This step ameliorated some of my anxiety about figuring this system out. So much so that I decided I would walk part of the way back, past the big traffic areas and catch a tuk tuk home from near the Gandhi museum.

To be continued...