Chandni Chowk


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Our first adventure in Delhi was a pedicab ride through the old shopping district called Chandni Chowk -- and it was a great way to start the trip.  We really got a great taste of the sights and sounds and bustle of India.

So what is this place?  From Wikipedia: Originally meaning "moonlit square" or "moonlit market", Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, now in central north Delhi, India. Built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor of India Shah Jahan, and designed by his daughter Jahan Ara, the market was once divided by canals (now closed) to reflect moonlight, and it remains one of India's largest wholesale markets.

This guy is going to pedal ME through the streets of Delhi?  And Don too?  In THAT thing?  Don climbs aboard while the poor guy gives me the once-over.

 

OK, we're ready.

 

Poor guy.

 

Davinder rounds up the tourists to send them on their way to who knows where?

 

Scarlett grabs one last picture.  She can't believe we're doing this either.

 

A nice beggar lady and her baby hope to relieve the tourists of some rupees.

 

And...we're off!  Just look at that armada of tourists in rickshaws.

 

Our guy seems to be doing OK so far.

 

The street seems to be getting narrower.

 

The food smells great.  Davinder has warned us not to eat any of this.  Ever.  From the look on his face it was apparent he'd had his fill of dealing with tourists whose digestive tracts objected to Indian street food.

 

Looks like Frank and Matt up there.

 

I'd like to meet the electrical engineer in charge of this.

 

Shops and tight quarters.

 

Here's some Flash video to give you an idea of what it was like. 

 

Mmmm. Candy.  But Davinder says no.

 

Pretty fabrics.

 

Colorful, bright, delightful fabrics.

 

Mmmm, forbidden fruit.

 

More colorful shops.

 

Now the traffic is getting pretty heavy.

 

More Flash video.  The crowded market just goes on and on.

 

Tourists from all over the world mingle with the locals.

 

Our guy pedals right into the crowd.

 

And the crowd parts.

 

Well, sometimes it parts.

 

I offered to pedal for a while but our guy wouldn't hear of it.

 

One crowded street after another.

 

Get out of the way, motorcycles.

 

Hmmm.  Once I owned a house in Alabama with wiring like this.

 

If that guy can have Indian doughnuts, Davinder, why can't I?

 

He's using his head.

 

Just smell the food...

 

Mmmmm

 

Looks like the most crowded streets are behind us now.

 

We've almost formed a caravan again.

 

Look!  It's Cathy and Tammy behind us, and their very tired looking rickshaw driver.

 

Almost back to where we started.

 

Some Flash video from near the end of the ride.

 

Our driver hasn't run out of steam yet.

 

And I'm glad of that.

 

He did it!  And he's still standing!  I'm impressed.

 

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