Shock at its finest.

It is now 5:50pm at night on Friday, May 1st, 2009. I am sitting in the inn internet lounge with a fan blowing uselessly on my sweating body. It is currently 45 degrees celsius; my head is on fire, my stomach swimming with Indian goodness, and my spirit soaring irrevocably through the dirt, piss, shit, and inexplicable wonder that make up Delhi.

I have not slept more than 30 minutes in one span in 48 hours, I think. But, with all the time differences, I honestly have no idea how long we've been away from home. The plane ride was a journey unto itself. Finding our way around the Taipei airport was an exercise in sheep herding and a human ability to mistrust the herd. A Skytrain ride and some confusion later, we found the terminal. In any case, we succeeded and have arrived 23 hours later, flight delayed, and exhausted in Delhi. The Paharganj where we are staying is the most incredible place I have ever been. Cows, children, beggars, rich people, Westerners, hippies, stray dogs, bugs, poo, piss, police, and just about every type of vehicle you've ever imagined all crowded onto one street. And each street is densely packed, shop on shop, person on person.

I feel kind of at home with all the honking; it reminds me of Montreal. It's incessant. And speaking of streets and roads in India, I have seen Youtube videos and heard many a description of what it's like to drive in India. But, let me tell you, that after having been driven from the Delhi airport to Connaught Square and to our hostel, driving in India is nothing you'll have ever experienced before. There's no logic, reason, structure or format, and in spite of all this, the traffic flows as freely as 10:00 on a Tuesday morning in New Westminster. No problems at all. What a world.

We are here until Sunday, and then we are being picked up by our coordinator (who is an incredibly, incredibly nice, genuine man. He had so much amazing advice and knowledge to give us in just one car ride from the airport to our hostel... and he was so worried about the area we are staying in, lol [because of all the touts, etc]). He will drive us from this area to the house we will be staying in in Khera Khurd, in North Delhi, which is apparently a semi-rural area, unlike where we currently are. The family we are staying with is apparently quite well-educated and wealthy. The father is a police officer, and they have four children, one of whom has a Masters degree apparently.

I have had my first Indian meal: dal and garlic chappati. It was amazingly delicious, and I wasn't even able to finish it all. It cost less than 1 dollar. I asked to carry the dal (lentil soup) out of the tiny little road side cafe we sat in, and it was given to me in a plastic bag which is now sitting in our room still uneaten.

Mom, Dad, and every family member and friend I wish to contact... I haven't quite figured out the phone business yet. I tried to call collect in Taipei, but it didn't seem to work. I will do everything I can to come and update on here as much as possible and I can't wait to show you some of the amazing pictures I have taken so you can see the absolute perfect chaos that is Delhi.
I miss and love everyone, but I desperately need to sleep. I seem to have forgotten what that is like.