A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Posted on December 3, 2018 by thebritishberliner
And so it begins!
We’re in India and we’re already being tested!
For those of you just catching up, here’s what happened:
Delhi isn’t kind to travellers.
And I thought I was prepared.
Haw! Haw!
But I wasn’t ‘cos the airline lost my luggage!
We flew Berlin – Munich – Delhi and half-way through the flight, one of the flight attendants discreetly told me that my luggage had been left behind.
In Munich!
In truth, I wasn’t too worried.
Ha!
So we arrived
In Delhi.
And airport staff were waiting with forms and huge smiles.
But what wasn’t waiting for us though, was my husbands’ suitcase!
He has a blue-green Samsonite suitcase which is a 30-year-old model.
I didn’t think it was even worth stealing!
I was wrong apparently!
It was gone!
And nobody knew where it was.
Was it in Germany?
Was it in India?
No-one had any idea.
Sigh!
Thankfully, I had pre-booked a very nice family-friendly bed & breakfast / apartment-hotel.
It was called Aashianaa Living.
I booked it myself via booking.com
I also booked their hotel car!
Because the last thing you ought to be worrying about after a long stressful flight, is where you’re going to sleep or spend the night!
You really don’t want to do that!
Good news!
Our luggage – both suitcases – came two days later.
I couldn’t have been happier!
Phew!
Is that it then?
As if?
Look at the title!
Err.
So what happened?
Take a seat!
I’m quite an organised person so I pre-booked a “free” walking tour around Delhi.
It was to be an early morning two-hour affair.
But due to the palaver of the night before, we had spent all morning calling the airline and trying to find out where our bags were.
So much so, that by the time we actually left our hotel, it was 09:20.
Our walking tour was to start at 10.00!
No problem I thought.
We’ve got plenty of time.
Wrong!
I called an Uber taxi and then called the tour guide.
Uber is fantastic in India.
If you’ve never used Uber before and you would like to. As a first-time customer, if you use my code – victoriaa12504ue – you’ll get €5.00 off your first ride. It’s like riding for free!
The tour guide told me that we were miles away from the meeting point.
The meeting point was the Red Fort at Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi.
But
We were in New Delhi!
Aha!
He waited for as long as he could and then had to move on, as there were other tourists with him.
He sent us a link of where the next stop would be so that we could catch up.
Umm.
Reader, we never found him!
We followed the Google-link into the market place, but every time we tried to reach the target point, we ended up at the doorway of someone’s private home!
They weren’t pleased!
We went backwards and forwards.
We went around the corners.
We dodged into alleyways.
And then we found ourselves hopelessly lost!
We called the tour guide.
“Oh, you’re just around the corner. I’m wearing a pale blue T-shirt.”
We went around the corner.
And met a stone-brick wall.
We tried and we tried.
After one (1) hour, we gave up.
I called the tour guide and apologetically cancelled the tour.
Ah well.
It shouldn’t be too difficult, we’ll do the “tour” ourselves!
Let’s have a bit of a rest and then find our way out!
Yeah, that didn’t happen.
Haw! Haw!
We searched everywhere for a “restaurant,” but there was none to be found.
We wouldn’t have minded a “cafe,” but in the midst of the Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, such an establishment was alien.
So we went back to Google.
Google said that straight ahead was “a big road.”
Great.
Let’s go there.
We did.
And found that instead of the road getting larger, it was in fact, getting smaller!
It was hot and crowded and we really had no idea where we were.
At one point, the road was so tiny, we were caught up in some sort of scrum and had to leap over piles of filthy sacking and straw that had been thrown put on the floor!
Meanwhile, we struggled to not get crushed by horses, camels, motorbikes, cars, tuk-tuks, rickshaws, people and wheelbarrows stuffed with “things” that choked with so much traffic congestion, that nothing could move!
It wasn’t one of my best ideas. 🤣😆
But we saw and experienced real Delhi so much so, that both The Music Producer and The Tall Young Gentleman were at times quite distressed!
They were brave though and didn’t complain too much as it took us three (3) hours to get out of that mess.
Things began to look up though as local scammers began to approach us so we knew we were near civilisation!
It was a little difficult to shake them off until I spied the Radisson Blu Marina Hotel Connaught Place nearby.
On my instruction, we practically ran there, went upstairs and ordered lots and lots of cocktails at restaurant Fifty9 / The Connaught Bar!
Phew!
And for those of you who are over 30 (ahem!).
This blog and the next couple of months weeks, is for you.
India isn’t easy, but if you want to go there.
You can!
And of course, if you’re really nervous, I offer a consultancy, and can help you organise or advice you on many parts of your trip to India!
For more info, click here!
Who doesn’t like an exciting adventure?
Well, follow me over the next few months, and find out!
So what are you waiting for?
‘Rah! ‘Rah!
This article isn’t sponsored, and all opinions and lost adventures in India, are my very own!
p.s. I’ve purposely not mentioned the name of the tour company, as it simply wasn’t their fault.
Stay tuned.
Yay!
That’s it for now.
See you next week!
Watch this space!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond, WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
Please note that there are now affiliate links (for the very first time) connected to this post. Please consider using the links, because every time some sort of accommodation or travel insurance is booked via my links I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
Category: INDIA, Indian, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, lost, Rajasthan, stories, THOUGHTS & IDEAS, trapped, traps, TRAVEL, travel abroad, travel stories, travel the world, travel through Asia, travel tricks, Visit Delhi, Visit India, Visit Rajasthan, Welcome to India, world travelTags: Asia, Delhi, Delhi Market, family, family travel, how to travel India, Incredible India, India, Indian, Is India safe, lost, Lost and Trapped in Delhi, lost and trapped in India, lost in Delhi, lost in India, National Capital Territory, New Delhi, Old Delhi, Rajasthan, trapped, trapped in Delhi, trapped in India, travel through India, travel to India, Welcome to India, why travel to India
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I'm a British girl from Manchester living in Berlin with my German husband and my half British – half German son. My blog is a lifestyle expat travel blog and puts a focus on my promotion of culture, history, travels around the world, Europe, Brexit, the Royal Family, British-German life and being British in Berlin - I am The British Berliner!
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Victoria you are so funny, you made me lol. At least you had your husband and son with you to share this crazy place with and now some very entertaining stories to tell 🙂
Thanks so much Gilda. I certainly try my best! 😀
Honestly, even with all it’s issues, THIS trip to India is still far, far better than my first trip to India back in 2005!! ‘So glad that hubby and son were with me and that I could open their eyes to all the crap that I usually have to endure when I travel solo / to a developing country…
Mind you, I still travel solo a few times per year, and I still very much enjoy the crap.
I think! 😉
Wow! This is quite a drama filled time you guys had in Delhi, makes for great blogging fodder though LOL! I am happy it all ended well and there are many sage lessons for those who will read your travel tips.
Thanks very much Kim!
Yeah, it was beginning to look like we were cursed. And from the 1st and 2nd day too!
But I managed to get it all back under control and everything was fine.
In the end! 😀
Wow did you take all of those incredible pictures yourself? What an AMAZING talent!! P.s, how do you set up affiliate links as a travel blogger?
And finally – I happen to believe that even with all of the misshaps and frustrations that happen all-too-often on an overseas trip (believe me, I’ve had more than a few!), it’s all part of the adventure!
Janine
Thanks so much Janine. You’re very kind to say so! 😀
Yep! Mishaps & frustrations are indeed, the very soul of lovers of travel. Raise your hand up if you haven’t been through some ordeal or other!
p.s. I took exactly 50% of the photographs that you see in this post.
p.p.s. Setting up affiliate links is quite easy to do once you know how, but difficult to explain in my reply. If you would like expert help in which I will take you through step-by-step, please link to my consultancy info here: https://thebritishberliner.wordpress.com/let-me-help-you/
Wow, sounds tough – a real adventure for sure. I still haven’t tackled India, partly because I know it’s going to be a challenge, the closest I’ve come is Nepal. Judging by your story and the chaotic pictures, I think India would be even more of a shock though! Still, I’m really intrigued by all the beautiful scenery and UNESCO sites the country has to offer. Looking forward to hearing more about the trip and Happy New Year!
Hi Amy,
Happy New Year to you too! I hope you guys are well?
Yep. India is crazy! 😀
I’ve been there before so knew what to expect, but even so, it’s still pretty tough, but you’d like it! Nepal is so cool. I haven’t had the time to go that far North, but I hope that I can get to the Himalayas one of these days! Did you hike up Mount Everest?
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