Today, after I got up, the receptionist gave me a breakfast voucher. There was a petite top roof restaurant, but you can barely see anything outside since the bamboo fence which blocked the view. One of the most important thing in my journey happened in this morning, I had met a backpacker, Kai, in the restaurant. After a bit chatting, we've both found that we were also visit India alone and had a similar travel route. With no doubt, we joined together for this trip. I did think that was a good starting point, at least you have a companion for the place where visit you first time ever.
After leaving the hostel, we were heading to the metro station nearby for sightseeing. On the way, an Indian guy started approaching us with asking us some questions and “seemed” very friendly to say hi and introduced himself, talked about India, and also he showed us the direction of the metro. Few minutes "talk" later, he showed us a shop which is so called a tourist centre, as he described, can give you some “useful” information. But, luckily enough, we ignored him and go away. (As written in Lonely Planet, don’t t them as they just try to earn your money by asking you to join the trip that doesn't worth anything or coursed you other problem.) After this annoyance, we’re now going to the Red Fort. Taking metro in India is not as easy as you expected in Hong Kong, like people were just pushing you into the compartment and security check when you enter the stations. That is really chaotic and not user-friendly, especially for tourist. Well, I'm not complaining this, you know, here is India.
(Supposed you cannot take photos in the station due to the security issue.)
When I had arrived Red Fort, first thing I had awarded was most museum or tourist place in India, they charged you several time more than the local. I can't understand the reason behind, do the Indian think all foreigners are rich so that we deserved to pay more?! Anyway, i hope what I paid can help to preserve the heritage. After passed though the security check (it happen in all sites), we now start our sightseeing. First thing we saw was a indoor market selling the typical India souvenirs. That's, um…, a bit weird for me. (A market inside a historical site?) Inside the Fort, you can see some nicely built chambers and houses there.
After a while, we have decided to leave and went ahead to Connaught Place. In the travel book, it's described as a big commercial area in New Delhi. But when I arrived, I just thought that's kinda of a market or bazaar. But we had a nice lunch that, quite expensive as an Indian meal, but the food were good and the service was nice. The environment was quite classic as well.
And then we went to the official tourist office (the genuine one) for some information. The people there introduced us a travel agent to book a few day visit to Kashmir. We had went there and the flight tickets and the houseboat. Actually after the booking I was worried, as lonely planet said don’t book any tour and houseboat for Kashmir outside Kashmir since there were a lot of reports with misleading and even a danger. But anyway, we have booked and the agent was also "recommended" by the official. Just put it aside a keep going on for the trip.
Before the end of the day, we went to the India Gate. That's not impressive for me as it's just a gate for a war memorial and that’s all. After this “tourist point”, we were heading to Khan Market. There is a book café which has nice environment that we order some coffee and kill some time.
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