Day 59 - New Delhi
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Wednesday 6th October
Day 3 Commonwealth Games
I was craving for some internet - what were the media saying about the Games? Where could I buy merchandise? Where were some good cafes? So after breakfast I hopped the Metro into Connaught Place, to find the internet cafe Lonely Planet had recommended.
Despite an hour of walking, and constant interruptions by Indians ('main bazaar is over there!' 'Shops aren't open yet!'), I hailed a tuk-tuk down to Paharganj, the main backpacker area, where the Lonely Planet said the streets were lined with internet cafes. What a scary place!! Again, I felt like I'd entered a whole new world - this was the 'real' India, with dirt roads and crumbling buildings. I am sooo glad I didn't stay here - only the 'hard-core' backpackers were bunking in here. I did find some internet, although of bad quality, but took advantage of it to google a few things Indian and update my blog.
I took another tuk-tuk back to the hotel to drop off my hotel key - unsure as to whether security would allow me in the stadium with it - and then took the Metro and shuttle bus down to Indira Ghandi Stadium, where I had tickets for the gymnastics. This was the first time I'd ever attended a gymnatics venue, and it was quite good. The first sessions was the all-round individual mens' final; followed shortly by the womens'.
Although not full, the stadium did have considerably more people in it than the netball stadium, and security here worked well and efficient. We clinched a bronze in the mens, as well as medals in the womens. At the half time intermission I walked out to have some 'lunch', only to be told that they'd run out of everything (water included!) except coke, fanta, and burgers. Hmm ...... I'd heard yesterday was even worse, they'd run out of everything!
I asked some volunteers where I could purchase merchandise. "None here", they replied, "You can only get it at the Commonwealth Games HQ". I therefore left the stadium early (before it got dark) and took the Metro into Connaught Place, where the HQ were based. (Not as easy as it sounds ... imagine thousands of stampeding Indians all trying to get on the shuttle bus to the station - queuing is not a concept here - they even jump on buses before they've stopped!). Once I arrived at the HQ, I was told by a volunteer the store was through entrance 'B', so over I walked, only to be stopped by the guard who told me it was closed. 'What time does it open?', I asked. 'Closed', he replied. 'I know, what time does it open tomorrow?', I repeated. '10am' '11am' '11:30am' - the different guards replied. 'Ok, what time does it close?' I asked. 'Closed', the guard replied. He then proceeded to ignore me as I posed the questions again. Super frustrated, I left without an answer, intending to return the next day.
Day 3 Commonwealth Games
I was craving for some internet - what were the media saying about the Games? Where could I buy merchandise? Where were some good cafes? So after breakfast I hopped the Metro into Connaught Place, to find the internet cafe Lonely Planet had recommended.
Despite an hour of walking, and constant interruptions by Indians ('main bazaar is over there!' 'Shops aren't open yet!'), I hailed a tuk-tuk down to Paharganj, the main backpacker area, where the Lonely Planet said the streets were lined with internet cafes. What a scary place!! Again, I felt like I'd entered a whole new world - this was the 'real' India, with dirt roads and crumbling buildings. I am sooo glad I didn't stay here - only the 'hard-core' backpackers were bunking in here. I did find some internet, although of bad quality, but took advantage of it to google a few things Indian and update my blog.
I took another tuk-tuk back to the hotel to drop off my hotel key - unsure as to whether security would allow me in the stadium with it - and then took the Metro and shuttle bus down to Indira Ghandi Stadium, where I had tickets for the gymnastics. This was the first time I'd ever attended a gymnatics venue, and it was quite good. The first sessions was the all-round individual mens' final; followed shortly by the womens'.
Although not full, the stadium did have considerably more people in it than the netball stadium, and security here worked well and efficient. We clinched a bronze in the mens, as well as medals in the womens. At the half time intermission I walked out to have some 'lunch', only to be told that they'd run out of everything (water included!) except coke, fanta, and burgers. Hmm ...... I'd heard yesterday was even worse, they'd run out of everything!
I asked some volunteers where I could purchase merchandise. "None here", they replied, "You can only get it at the Commonwealth Games HQ". I therefore left the stadium early (before it got dark) and took the Metro into Connaught Place, where the HQ were based. (Not as easy as it sounds ... imagine thousands of stampeding Indians all trying to get on the shuttle bus to the station - queuing is not a concept here - they even jump on buses before they've stopped!). Once I arrived at the HQ, I was told by a volunteer the store was through entrance 'B', so over I walked, only to be stopped by the guard who told me it was closed. 'What time does it open?', I asked. 'Closed', he replied. 'I know, what time does it open tomorrow?', I repeated. '10am' '11am' '11:30am' - the different guards replied. 'Ok, what time does it close?' I asked. 'Closed', the guard replied. He then proceeded to ignore me as I posed the questions again. Super frustrated, I left without an answer, intending to return the next day.
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