The Three Vinnys

6th and 7th March

With a 2.30pm flight we arrived at the airport at midday and began getting our taste buds ready for our next destination with a good curry!

The flight was shorter than expected at 3hr30mins and we landed in India at 8.30pm local time. The runway must have been very short as we seemed to emergency stop!

As soon as we touched the ground 5 passengers jumped out of their seats and ran up the plane in a frenzy to the toilet, quickly followed by an airhostess shouting at them to return to their seats. This happened 3 times and tickled us greatly.

(Because it's cute)

Collecting our bags we went out into the 28 degree heat and were immediately approached by a gentleman offering a taxi ride. Our retrospective selves know that we should have ignored him. Even in that moment it felt wrong but he was friendly (naïve we know) and we were tired. Smiley Vinny lead us up some escalators to the airport car park and handed us over to his friend. Also called Vinny. This was encouraging *cue strained smile*. We asked the price often but only when our bags were in the boot and Beth was half in the car did he say ’2,800 rupees’. We quickly worked out that this was about £31 and we only had the equivalent of £28 on us. So we bargained him down by £3. Stealthy negotiators in the making, right? After handing over the cash to Vinny2, Vinny3 started driving us. We were both uneasy and without internet and Google Maps, just hoped we were being taken to the correct location. 35 mins later we arrived at Under My Roof Apartments in Green Park, South Delhi. Phew.

Okay so we know this all sounded massively dodge and should have declined at the beginning but when you’re in the situ it’s hard okay! Okay?!

We know now we were royally ripped off and only should have paid 300-500 rupees.

Ya live and ya learn.

We awoke the next day to street sellers calling out and pigeons nesting in our AC unit.

After a lazy morning we ventured to Green Park Market where we couldn’t help feeling a little out of place. Everyone stared. But we made the most of being out, looking in the shops and grabbing a takeaway pizza from Dominoes (we caved).

The shopkeepers were friendly but we did not buy anything as everything was over a year out of date. A girl with a baby came up to us asking to buy her some rice – we felt awful saying no but knew that we were being watched and others may have asked too.

In the evening we booked a 12-day trip with 'Incredible Real India' tours after speaking to lively manager Raju on the phone. Raju referred to Dan as ‘Dr Dan’ and urged us to get out of Delhi ASAP – “too much pollution, too much traffic!”

Beginning tomorrow, the trip will take us through Agra (Taj Mahal), Ranthambore (Tiger National Park), Jaipur and a few smaller villages. Exciting!

Love,

B&D

- Taxi 2,500 rupees (£28... grrrr).

- Dominoes 350 rupees (£3.89)

- 12 day Golden Triangle Tour with Guides, Driver and Accommodation (£525 each) Look the company up on TripAdvisor - great reviews