We arrived in Delhi late on Saturday night and had the usual hassles form the taxi drivers. They are extremely aggresive and predatory by nature. After a couple (10) of polite refusals I told him to f#$k off! He did.
Hotel Aura is ok but in Old Delhi which is quite run down but the rest of Delhi is a pleasant surprise. The roads are clean and wide and the city is very green. The traffic is orderley by Indian standards and the eating and shopping is pretty good. All in all we've had a good couple of days.
Sunday we went to Red Fort and it was packed with huge lines to get in because of the upgraded security. (a bombing last week). Carolyn wandered off and had her back to me and I noticed some guys in their 20's checking her out (as with all western women). 1 of them gestured to his mates to stand next Carolyn so he could film her from behind but seemingly taking photo's of his mates. I could see what was going on and walked over to Carolyn and gently moved her away whilst explaining what was happening.. She turned round and the guy was videoing her. I told him to stop as Carolyn did but she then walked up to him and cracked him on the arm with her brolly and yelled at him. He was startled and rejoined his mates. As we walked off he said something and I spun round and took 2 steps towards them and they took off. This all happened in a crowd of thousands. Carolyn laughed it off and it didn't spoil her day but it does highlight something that may seem lighthearted and innocent but is far from that.
Since we arrived we've both noticed that, from teenage boys to older men, look at western women with a lustful look that is not flattering in any way. They are very open about it and it is done in a fashion to intimidate. This is not us as visitors mistaking signals - it's very off putting and not at all nice when you are admiring a tourist attraction only to have gangs of boys ogling in a highly sexualised manner at your wife. When I catch them I give them the stare or say something and it stops. We've heard from other travellers about single western women being groped on the streets.
It won't spoil our holiday but non-the less it's very unsettling especially for Carolyn. I'd like to be there when the bloke Carolyn whacked and his mates tell the story of the day they took on Ms Carolyn and lost!
We went to another couple of tourist spots including the Lotus Temple which is staggeriing and then called it a day.
We're off to Nepal tomorrow and have had a good time here in Delhi - one incident apart!
Hotel Aura is ok but in Old Delhi which is quite run down but the rest of Delhi is a pleasant surprise. The roads are clean and wide and the city is very green. The traffic is orderley by Indian standards and the eating and shopping is pretty good. All in all we've had a good couple of days.
Sunday we went to Red Fort and it was packed with huge lines to get in because of the upgraded security. (a bombing last week). Carolyn wandered off and had her back to me and I noticed some guys in their 20's checking her out (as with all western women). 1 of them gestured to his mates to stand next Carolyn so he could film her from behind but seemingly taking photo's of his mates. I could see what was going on and walked over to Carolyn and gently moved her away whilst explaining what was happening.. She turned round and the guy was videoing her. I told him to stop as Carolyn did but she then walked up to him and cracked him on the arm with her brolly and yelled at him. He was startled and rejoined his mates. As we walked off he said something and I spun round and took 2 steps towards them and they took off. This all happened in a crowd of thousands. Carolyn laughed it off and it didn't spoil her day but it does highlight something that may seem lighthearted and innocent but is far from that.
Since we arrived we've both noticed that, from teenage boys to older men, look at western women with a lustful look that is not flattering in any way. They are very open about it and it is done in a fashion to intimidate. This is not us as visitors mistaking signals - it's very off putting and not at all nice when you are admiring a tourist attraction only to have gangs of boys ogling in a highly sexualised manner at your wife. When I catch them I give them the stare or say something and it stops. We've heard from other travellers about single western women being groped on the streets.
It won't spoil our holiday but non-the less it's very unsettling especially for Carolyn. I'd like to be there when the bloke Carolyn whacked and his mates tell the story of the day they took on Ms Carolyn and lost!
We went to another couple of tourist spots including the Lotus Temple which is staggeriing and then called it a day.
We're off to Nepal tomorrow and have had a good time here in Delhi - one incident apart!
Haha go Mum! I think we already all knew she is not one to mess with.. Glad you guys enjoyed Delhi and I'm sure you guys will love Nepal.. Take care miss you guys xx
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