After breakfast we walked to the bank for me to get out some more money. This time I went into the bank and asked if I could get out more than $200. Yes they said but you have to go to the ATM and withdraw $200 at a time only, but you can withdraw up to 4 times….does this make any sense at all??? It just means multiple withdrawal fees…what can you do?
Then we jumped into a Tuk Tuk and headed for the Red Fort (600 Rupees to get in -$12). This was absolutely gorgeous. Really, the beautiful and intricate carvings in the marble and the sandstone is stunning. The elegant and delicate buildings are just wonderful and then there is the mark of the British who pulled down some of the gorgeous buildings to build ugly barracks, which is a bit hard to understand.
A Tuk Tuk back to the hotel to cool down and then the next sight, which is just over the road, before the next afternoon swim. Tuk Tuk’s cost only a couple of dollars for each ride but Sally and I often don’t agree about the tip. You’d be proud of me Rosa, I tend to the generous side!! At one point there was a young girl by the side of the road doing little dances for the tourists to tout for money. I gave her 10 Rupees and she refused it because it wasn’t enough. When she realised she wasn’t getting any more she pulled faces at me…really!!!!! I guess you can see her point, I’m a mean rich bastard in her eyes.
We went out to get some lunch so walked the streets in search of food which is surprisingly harder than you’d think. Sally got a kind of toasted sandwich street food style but I just had a drink (unfortunately it had ice so fingers crossed). Then we went to Jantar Mantar which is a ‘top’ sight just over the road from our hotel. And it was truly remarkable and very difficult to describe. It is a series of buildings constructed in 1724 as astrology instruments to read the distance to the sun, movement of the stars etc. They are extraordinarily shaped constructions…staircases leading up to the sky etc…amazing.
By this time it was 3pm and time to come back to the hotel for a swim. Fortunately we got a quick swim in because it actually started to rain. I’m sure it will be short lived but it was unexpected!!
We’re supposed to be meeting up with ‘the group’ tonight but there are no instructions as to where or when which is a bit weird but I’m sure all will be revealed. Just FYI I’m being very alcohol free. Sally not an enthusiastic drinking buddy at all!!
Later….Sally was freezing in the room so I got her down to the bar for a cocktail ! Then I decided to warm her up outside in the heat so we went off walking. That was a bit longer and more convoluted than I thought and we actually ended up in a very seedy part of town, as happens on occasion and very quickly too. I kept marching forward (I can imagine Rose telling me I’m mad) with Sally bravely following on. A Tuk Tuk driver stopped to tell us we weren’t safe (and of course he would take us to our hotel. But no, onward and upward, past all the people sleeping on the street, the huddled groups of young men and finally the body all wrapped up in a shroud with candles burning around the body. That was a bit spooky but we soon emerged on a main road and I definitely knew where we were so that was a plus.
Back here for dinner and still no word from the Wendy Wu organisers so we just had dinner here in the hotel (with a couple of glasses of VERY expensive wine). Time for bed and no idea what time we’re supposed to be meeting the group in the morning. Oh, and by the way my pants arrived…a bit disappointing but I guess I was expecting something to turn my body into model style. I’ll get some wear out of them.
Miss you all XXXXXX