Briefly, the flight from Sydney to Mumbai was uneventful although I did get my first curry which, for airline food, was quite tasty. As the flight was during the day time I didn't sleep, but I did manage to watch 2 films (Sweeney Todd and Charlie Wilson something or other). There was a programme on that was geared towards backpackers travelling in India which was insightful and went a (very) little way to preparing me for the next 6 weeks.
I was picked up at the hotel, which was a business hotel and therefore uninteresting but clean and well maintained. I was taken aback though when I arrived at reception to check in - the man behind the desk was european looking, but spoke english with one of the strongest Indian accents I have heard so far. So indecipherable, that in fact the Indian receptionist was far more helpful with much better english language skills. I have yet to get my head around this guy at the desk, and it was to be the first of many surprises!
I arrved in Delhi the next day safely and had a pretty slow day. We dropped my stuff off at Gaurav Gupta's flat (the guy I am working with) and then went to see the studio.
The Flat:
The noise and traffic of Delhi was not unexpected with auto rickshaws weaving in and out and generally frustrating the traffic (in fact, every one frustrates each other, be it 3 on a motorcyle, 2 on push bike piled high with 'stuff', cars, buses, taxis). The accomodation though was quite a shock......
Haus Khas is a wealthy 'village' in the wealthy area of South Delhi, and Guarav in his accustomed over exuberant style frequently tells me that it is the cool, trendy, and well off that live here. With this knowledge I was expecting a reasonable flat, but imagine my dismay when he undid the heavy duty padlock on the glass doors and showed me with pride his 'bachelor pad' that he shares with his friend, Inder. The living room is large, but sparely furnished - a coffee table, some matching chairs, a TV, a wicker rocking chair - sounds okay? It is, but clearly boys only live here. The 2 bedrooms have nice beds with lovely clean sheets provided by Inder's company (he is a home textiles buyer for a large Indian chain store), but one room is the connection between the other rooms and the living room. This is where I am sleeping at the moment, to top it off the light doesn't often work and privacy is difficult! The 'best' aspect, I say with my tongue firmly in my cheek, is the kitchen, which while having a fridge and filtered water dispenser is home to many other 'flatmates'. Cockroaches. Cockroaches galore...... At this point my disappointment was getting hard to conceal, but obviously I don't want to offend the chaps. The bathroom is clean, and the shower is interesting - two waist high taps with a bucket, jug and a little squat stool for washing the traditional Indian way! Amazingly, there is a maid (and her 15yr old daughter) who 'cleans' the flat everyday, someone else comes to clean the bathroom daily, and their cars are polished and cleaned, you guessed it - daily. You would think that the flat would be sparkling......!
If it wasn't for the attentive friendliness of Gaurav and Inder I would have run a mile by now. I think I will stay a few more days, then check into a guest house!
Hannah
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