I booked myself a flight for that night (happily finding out fares go down in the last few hours before departure!). Sweet! Unknowingly on a mission impossible, I had 2 hours to get to my plane seat from the 16-million people crowded city.. The universe had a few hoops to jump to test me... the rickshaw-driver's "Trust-me" detour against all my map-commonsense... passing X-rays only to get into the metro... being denied entering the airport by guards as I only...

I softly woke up to the cacophony of the street. The first challenge was to take my shower without swallowing any water, and reasoning myself to accept there would be no bubble-singing for the next 3 weeks... As clean as I could get in a mould-smelling bathroom, I stepped out on the street for the first time - NOW WOW that was the indian moment !! just like your first bite of a curry, where all senses are stimulated in a flashing moment - seeing all this life...

Going-with-the-flow as motto meant my plan changed as soon as I touched the ground. I met Rick at the landing and we both had to figure our way out. I decided go to Delhi instead of staying at the airport and getting an early flight north. It was 11pm and all dark. Taking the cab to Pahar Ganj, the backpackers central of Delhi felt somewhat life threatening and exciting at the same time :) As good tourists we got ripped off by $1 in our first transaction as we ...