Delhi

'Mam, Mam, I give you lift to market', 'This way Mam, come come'. We only spent a few hours in bed before venturing out, but around the block was enough culture shock for now. We settle on the view from our balcony 0f the street and building site. Without day care for the children they accompany their parents to work and toddlers are playing in the dirt beside very steep cliff edges. No one seems concerned that they may fall, and they don't.

It's Sunday, families are out in force looking so colourful. I wonder how the women manage to be so well groomed with clean outfits for all their families with such limited resources. I think of the rat tails that hang from my head, without exception the women's pony tails and plaits are immaculate. It's clear tht many live on the street, in ramshackle lean-to or plastic sheet. The smell reminds me of wet cement.

Our first Indian meal at a local restaurant is delicious! Surprising how quickly we adapt to eating with our right hand fingers.

We hire driver for the afternoon to see some of the Delhi sights. Siam drives us to Parliament House, the President's house, the Prime minister's house & the Chief's house! The layout reminded me of Canberra how you look down to old Parliament House, here you look down to India Gates our next stop.

The first (of many) men to approach us displays a cobra in front of my face. Again the beauty of S is not lost to these males, they surround her and want to take her photo. We meet an Aussie couple from Tatura. The Lotus Temple is obviously very significant in Delhi, 1000s of gathered here today, our driver thinks we should go in, but the crowds deter us.

I feel like an open mouthed clown at a side show looking from right to left trying to take in all the sights as we meander along weaving between tuk tuk, bikes, cars, people, people, people, skinny cows and stray dogs. We drive past Commonwealth Games stadium and all the while we pass slums upon slums upon slums. They appear to be built on rubbish tips, or perhaps the slums become the rubbish tip. Every time the car stops a vendor approaches, 'buy this mam'. Where there is a spare patch of dirt men and boys will be playing cricket. The hotel staff suddenly respected me when I demonstrate my knowledge of cricket, our passports are returned!

The poverty & beggars at the Delhi bus stop is quite confronting. It is in Tibetan Quarter surrounded by dust, mud puddles. We board the 1960s bus at 6.30 pm for our 12 hour journey, pleased we each have a seat. We drive into the darkness watching through the windows so interesting. We stop at 10.30 for Chai then continue bumping, shaking, shuddering and beeping. We overlook how uncomfortable it is because it is just so interesting to watch through the window. The final two hours I notice my arm is getting wet. It's raining outside, the bus leaks. I wonder about the people who sleep out no longer lying in the dirt but mud. How do they cope?