Delhi!!

Yesterday was our first day in Delhi and it was absolutely incredible!! Do to the fact that the 15th of August (Independence Day) is coming up, many attractions here have been closed, such as the red fort and Ghandi's memorial and gravesite have been closed.

On the way to our first stop we drove by India Gate, which is a beautiful marble gate that sits in the middle of New Delhi. We got a great view of it as we made our way to see Jama Masjid, India's most famous mosque. As we walked in to the mosque we were asked to take off our shoes and I was asked to wear a make-shift skirt because I was wearing shorts. (Note to self: wear pants to mosque in future!) We roamed around the mosque for a good 30 minutes taking pictures of it and enjoying the views of Old Delhi from it. We were permitted to climb to the top of a tower which was scary and claustrophobic, but worth it for the view. On the way down the stair case, we ran into two young men who were smoking hash. Apparently this is very common here, because its use is legal for Hindu Religious purposes. People who pray to shiva, the destroyer, use this frequently.

Anyway, Our next stop was Huymaun's Tomb. This was the tomb of many of the people from the Mogul empire. When I say tomb, I mean grand palace and garden. This place looked very similar to the Taj Mahal that I have seen in pictures but it was colorful and not very crowded. We strolled the grounds coming up to new tombs, waterfalls and buildings in honor of the late rulers.

After this, we went to the Ghandi Museum. It would be an understatement to say this museum knew EVERYTHING about him. They had managed to collect personal artifacts, photos, gifts, etc,etc all related to Mahatma Ghandi. While I was a little creeped out by the memorial to him (It contains the clothing that he was wearing when killed, inclusive of bullet and bloodstains.) the museum was really informative about his life and India's struggle for independence from the British.

After that, we went to an upscale garment store so we could pick up a few souvenirs for friends back home and for our selves. While I got some really great pashmina and things from Kashmir, my personal highlight was seeing the tattooed american tourist open a can of beer and light up a blunt in the store. How proud I was of my country....

After a quick stop for lunch, we went to see the Qutab Minar Tower, which is an absolutely beautiful tower. Sadly, we didn't have a tour guide and my friend and I didn't quite know what was happening there, so we amused our selves by making up intricate and detailed stories about the site and what happened there. My recommendation to future travelers would be to spring for the audio guide.

After that my friend and I went to a large outdoor shopping mall, were we went to the Urban Cafe for coffee and to relax.

For dinner, we went to Bukara at the ITC (another hotel here). Bukara is North Indian food with some Afghani flair. This restaurant gives you a bib instead of napkins and asks that you eat with your hands. I ate a delicious creamy and spicy cheese cube served with traditional tandoori naan. The food in the North is more like the Indian food that we are used to state side, which is a shame, because I prefer the South Indian food.

Anyway, After dinner, we retuned to the hotel to crash. Blackberries are still not working here, so I can not immediately respond to emails.