Chandni Chowk

Back in Delhi. With the Orientation behind us we went out today to do some sightseeing in Old Delhi. After a quick tour of the massive Red Fort, we crossed the street (approximate crossing time: 5 frightening minutes) to the Chandni Chowk shopping district.

Street after street of shops and stalls, food vendors and hawkers. Chandni Chowk is an intense experience, offering a true assault to your senses. The crowds. The smells of cooking food mingling with incense and diesel fumes. The heat. The calls of vendors beckoning you from the street over the bells of passing bicycle rickshaws and the ever present honking of traffic. The dizzying array of goods for purchase - bangles, books, fruit, gold jewellery, shoes, textiles, electrical gadgets, sweets, saris. If you can name it is probably for sale.

We choose a random street - one of many - to wander down. Even more chaos. Should we bring the boys down here? It is loud and crowded... and hot. Neither of them seems to mind. Evan is sitting comfortably on his father's shoulders taking in all of the action. Eli rides, as always, in the Bjorn carrier turning his head side to side while wiggling happily, then falls asleep. At the end of this street, hot, thirsty and overwhelmed we head for the nearest auto. We make a half hearted effort at haggling our fare - the potential 50 cent savings not worth the trouble.