Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in India on Sunday, 20th-November-2016. In Delhi. I was going to pack my bike away this morning but then decided it’s easier to play the tourist on the bike rather than walking.
The Red Fort
First on the list was the Red Fort which I really liked, obviously I never went in I just did my normal touristy thing, look at it briefly from the outside, photograph it then move on!
The Red Fort viewed from Netaji Subhash way
Opposite the Red Fort on Netaji Subhash Way, there was a market going on, and I’ve never seen so many people at a market before it was chaos, even more so than the normal chaotic scenes in India!
Parliament building viewed from the rear
After the Red Fort, things went a bit downhill on the sightseeing front as most of the other things on my list I couldn’t actually see from the road very well!
In memory of the countless Indians who generation after generation, struggled and sacrificed against foreign rule
But I still had a nice ride around Delhi, covering about 20 miles in about 5 hours, and I saw some monkeys and had loads of “selfies” taken!
The tomb of Khan-i-Khana under renovation
Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 India Saturday 19th-November-2016. In Delhi. Early start today. I was up at four o’clock trying to sort another hotel out. I’d already spent an hour or two last night trying, but everywhere seemed full. Well, apart from hotels at the top end of the market or the ones at the very bottom. In the end, I decided it’s probably better, the devil, you know, so I’m staying where I am. I later found out that the Delhi half marathon is tomorrow, which would probably explain why all the hotels were full.
A smoggy view of Delhi from my hotel window this morning
After filling up on the buffet breakfast (to make sure I got my money’s worth!) I went to source packing materials for my bike, ready for my flight home on Tuesday. The hotel concierge pointed me to the area in town where I might find some. I’d already sorted a bike shop where I could get a box from. But they didn’t open until 11 am, so I went off to get some bubble wrap, which I found remarkably quick!
The message on the front of a learner’s driving book. What a load of rubbish!
After returning to the hotel to drop the bubble wrap off, it was time to find the bike shop, which was about five miles away in South Delhi. That, too, was pretty easy to find. And he had a box, which he delivered to the hotel in the evening.
Parliament
On the way back to the hotel, after sorting out the box, I went for a spot of sightseeing. I went to see the Indian gate and the parliament buildings, which was enough for me. And I returned to the hotel.
India Gate
Whilst I was out playing the tourist, I got speaking to Nick, who was also from England and was staying at the same hotel as me. Nick was over here on business and playing the tourist on his last day before flying home in the early hours of tomorrow morning. It was nice to converse with somebody and not have to keep guessing what they said because of their accent! We also had supper together tonight.
Subscribe to Garry’s blog and follow Garry’s ride across Asia. Plus, you’ll receive news and updates on future tours. You can also follow Garry on social media Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 India Friday 18th-November-2016. Moradabad to Delhi. 106 miles. I had a nice early start today as I wanted to reach Delhi. But I wasn’t sure how far it was or whether I would make it or not. After getting on my bike, I put my headphones on, and it was head down and cycle! I never put my headphones on and listen to music (I like to hear what’s happening around me), but I knew it was a dual carriageway to Delhi, and I just wanted to get there.
After looking at the map last night, I debated only going as far as Ghaziabad today and sorting a hotel out for my last few days in India from there. Oh, how I wished I did!
I thought I was in America for a moment
I knew it was a mistake to arrive in Delhi in the dark! The traffic was a nightmare, and I couldn’t find any hotels. After cycling around and around, I eventually stumbled upon a group of hotels. The only trouble was that they were all at the top end of the market, all five-star hotels, and I hate those types of hotels. But by now, I’d had enough, so I chose the unbranded hotel or rather a brand I didn’t know and hopefully the cheapest.
Initially, the over-officious security guard wouldn’t let me take my bike past the security gates and into the grounds. But there was no way I was leaving my bike outside the hotel. A hundred or so yards away from reception. He was having none of it, but I kept arguing with him. Eventually, he got a manager, who dismissed him and let me take my bike up to the hotel entrance.
Finally
After checking in and having a shower (I’m not surprised that the security guard wouldn’t let me in after looking at how dirty I was!) I went up to the “sky bar” on the hotel roof only to be refused entry because I didn’t have shoes on! I explained that I was staying in the hotel and that I’d cycled here and didn’t have any shoes. In the end, he relented and let me in but stuck me in a corner away from everybody else, where I got ignored by the waiter!
After a quick beer and something to eat, which no doubt has cost me a small fortune, I went back to my room to try and find a cheaper, friendlier hotel. That was after paying for the wifi, which you usually get free, but expensive hotels always charge for some reason! In fact, everything in posh hotels is a chargeable extra!
Subscribe to Garry’s blog and follow Garry’s ride across Asia. Plus, you’ll receive news and updates on future tours. You can also follow Garry on social media Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Garry McGivernTravelsonabike2 India Thursday 17th-November-2016. Khatima to Moradabad. 84 miles. Now, what came first: the bad mood, bad roads or the bad drivers? I suspect it was the bad mood! The hotel, or rather the place I stopped at last night, was so noisy it kept me awake for much of the night. Some party or celebration was going on across the road, with loud music. It wasn’t so much the loudness of the music that annoyed me. It was more the fact that the music was so distorted! They always have to play music to the limit of the speakers.
Proper hotel camping!
Not too sure what time I fell asleep, but it wasn’t for long. I soon got woken up again by somebody in the hotel, possibly the staff, playing loud music! So it was no wonder I woke up in a bad mood, which wasn’t helped by the bad roads and drivers. And when somebody cut me up and forced me off the road, they felt the full force of my bad mood. I had a right go at them! And what was their response? They just looked back at me as if they’d done nothing wrong, but I made sure they knew I wasn’t happy! As far as I was concerned, everybody was a tosser today!!
The bad roads today, I saw several lorries like this with broken axles
Come Back Nepal
I’m already missing Nepal. All the places I stayed were pretty good and had good wifi, whereas what they pass for good here in India leaves a lot to be desired. They also don’t tend to have wifi. Or if they do, it’s ridiculously slow!
The long queues at banks
Don’t get me wrong, I love India. I just find some of the accommodation a bit frustrating, especially when they bill it as a luxury hotel when it’s not! But I can’t complain tonight; the hotel is lovely and clean, with good wifi, a bar and a restaurant. And it’s only costing me £6. Hopefully, I’ll be in a better mood tomorrow. Good night, everyone!
A dirty and dusty Garry at the end of the day
Subscribe to Garry’s blog and follow Garry’s ride across Asia. Plus, you’ll receive news and updates on future tours. You can also follow Garry on social media Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
