We arrived at Heathrow in time to enjoy the Sky Lounge before out Jet Airways flight was ready for boarding. We were promptly called to the gate where we experienced our first lesson on how to queue Indian style. Graham, being a gentleman, decided we should join the end of the queue which snaked around the departure lounge and as it went past the actual gate, I suggested we just merge into the queue about to go through but no we had to continue to queue along with the few other unexperienced Brits whilst everyone else just walked through on to the plane!
I have to say we were both really impressed with JetAir, the staff were really attentive, the plane was clean and the leg room wasn't too bad. Graham did his usual trick of falling asleep before take off and sleeping for most of the flight without moving...in fact the lady he was sat next to him was really impressed how still he was for the whole flight....not sure the man next to me thought the same!! Oh yes forgot to say when the Bells fly together we both sit in aisle seats...these ones were staggered so Graham was slightly behind me :-) When we disembarked in Delhi, Graham announced it was the smoothest flight he had had in years.....when I told him that the seatbelt lights had been on for at least 3 of the 8 hours due to heavy turbulence he just smiled!! Even the steward lifting his blanket to check he had his seatbelt on didn't disturb him.
After negotiating immigration, obtaining rupees ( including negotiating being given notes of less the 100 rupees which is equivalent to £10) and collecting our cases, we were met in arrivals by the agent. He escorted us to our car and driver who were ready at the entrance, our driver is called Alum and will be with us for the whole of our trip. The car was well supplied with water, drinks and snacks and also WiFi!!
We then headed into the centre of Delhi to our hotel and wow...we can really understand why tourists are advised never to drive! There appear to be no rules to the road apart from use your horn as much as you can and ignore any other car on the road! We hit a traffic jam which turned out to be due to a tipper track running off the road but it was amazing to see them turn a two lane road into a four lane one with cars at all angels. No one waits for anyone and the Tuk-Tuks just seems to scrap between the cars where they can.
We drove through New Delhi and past some of the Embassy's before heading past the Red Fort to Old Delhi.
We are staying at the Maidens Hotel which is the oldest hotel in Delhi and is a beautiful colonial style building with lovely grounds . It is a real sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city just outside its gates. We arrived at the gates where the security guard walked around the car with a large mirror to check under the car before allowing us in. We were greeted with a cup of Laassi which is a really refreshing yoghurt based drink before being shown to our lovely suite having been upgraded when we arrived. Our agent also gave us friendship bracelets to wish us luck for our holiday.
We spent he rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool and acclimitising to the heat and time difference.
Tomorrow we start our tour of both Old and New Delhi
I have to say we were both really impressed with JetAir, the staff were really attentive, the plane was clean and the leg room wasn't too bad. Graham did his usual trick of falling asleep before take off and sleeping for most of the flight without moving...in fact the lady he was sat next to him was really impressed how still he was for the whole flight....not sure the man next to me thought the same!! Oh yes forgot to say when the Bells fly together we both sit in aisle seats...these ones were staggered so Graham was slightly behind me :-) When we disembarked in Delhi, Graham announced it was the smoothest flight he had had in years.....when I told him that the seatbelt lights had been on for at least 3 of the 8 hours due to heavy turbulence he just smiled!! Even the steward lifting his blanket to check he had his seatbelt on didn't disturb him.
After negotiating immigration, obtaining rupees ( including negotiating being given notes of less the 100 rupees which is equivalent to £10) and collecting our cases, we were met in arrivals by the agent. He escorted us to our car and driver who were ready at the entrance, our driver is called Alum and will be with us for the whole of our trip. The car was well supplied with water, drinks and snacks and also WiFi!!
We then headed into the centre of Delhi to our hotel and wow...we can really understand why tourists are advised never to drive! There appear to be no rules to the road apart from use your horn as much as you can and ignore any other car on the road! We hit a traffic jam which turned out to be due to a tipper track running off the road but it was amazing to see them turn a two lane road into a four lane one with cars at all angels. No one waits for anyone and the Tuk-Tuks just seems to scrap between the cars where they can.
We drove through New Delhi and past some of the Embassy's before heading past the Red Fort to Old Delhi.
We are staying at the Maidens Hotel which is the oldest hotel in Delhi and is a beautiful colonial style building with lovely grounds . It is a real sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city just outside its gates. We arrived at the gates where the security guard walked around the car with a large mirror to check under the car before allowing us in. We were greeted with a cup of Laassi which is a really refreshing yoghurt based drink before being shown to our lovely suite having been upgraded when we arrived. Our agent also gave us friendship bracelets to wish us luck for our holiday.
We spent he rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool and acclimitising to the heat and time difference.
Tomorrow we start our tour of both Old and New Delhi
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