Travel Journal - Entry 7

Delhi 2/13/2008
When I was in Varanasi there had been a 'mad cow' running roughshod down some steps toward the river with its giant horned head swinging from side to side the whole way. I gave this demon creature a wide berth when I had to venture across the same stretch of walkway it had decided to stop and wait for me on. The same thing happened this morning, only this time there were two berserk dogs in hot pursuit. The narrow walkway betwixt buildings here is just about wide enough for a cow chased by dogs to run down unscathed. No so for the weary traveler who happens to be sharing the same walkway, however. I stepped up into a doorway and let them pass.

All part of the show folks...

I awoke this morning stuffed up. Confirmation of my previous concerns that I have caught some cold. Hope this clears up soon as I just felt like staying in bed today. This is the first sign of illness this trip.

Indian shoe shops and street kiosks do not have my show size. I was looking for slip on closed-toed alternatives those heavy sneakers I brought along with me. I tire of having to removed them at every turn and will give them away if I can find suitable replacements. These are the sturdy warriors that have been with me through thick and thin. They have stepped in all manner of excrement - yesterday at least twice. Yuk, I know. I also seemed to have 'rubbed against' some when I got lost last night, a big brown blecchh clinging to the side of my shoe as I walked through the hotel lobby and up the stairs before I finally noticed the shoey-gooey along for the ride.

This next portion was blogged previously, however as it now appears in my log have decided to include it again here, a little different than before.

Last night I had the bright idea of going out into the dark streets to take photographs of the goings on in Delhi at night. Leaving the hotel with a great deal of confidence, the bazaar still had open brightly lit shops with people walking up and down the street in search of something to buy. Not knowing exactly what I was looking for I went to the end of the street, turned a corner and proceeded to become a little bit confused as to where I had started. These streets already look similar in the day. At night they look identical to me. Not to worry, my compass seemed to work in Mumbai so I figured I could take a shortcut between buildings to find my way back onto the street where my hotel is. And so I did, down a dimly lit alley offset by the staggered setting of buildings so you couldn't see exactly where you were going to end up, just that you could keep going if you thought it was a good idea. Apparently I thought it was.

For about an hour I wandered the alleys searching for my hot shower and thin foam bed. Some paths revealed men hovering over small personal fires for warmth, others had folks walking in the same direction as I was so I would follow them. I figured following someone who seemed to know their way around might help me find my way back onto a street. Some pathways had no light to speak of and many, I discovered to my dismay, were simply dead-ends. I could tell how much I wasn't liking this because it was freezing cold and I was soaked with perspiration.

One dead end offered a territorial dog that growled menacingly as we circled one another, me trying to get back on the 'get me outtahere' side of the beast while it was no doubt sizing me up to determine which part of my body might yield the most meat. I am not too sure how I got into position but once I had a clear shot I took my leave...walking calmly since I didn't want to provoke a chase, but quickly all the same. I walked faster when I heard the pitter patter of tiny toe-nailed feet behind me. When I finally reached the street two dogs shot out past me and into the darkness - sentries of my previous nemesis sent to escort me off the premises.