Day 2 - New Delhi and Mandawa, Rajasthan

We were supposed to be picked up from the hotel at 8. Once we were ready and had everything down in the lobby, it was only twenty minutes left, so we skipped breakfast. Instead, I went around the block and took pictures. I really liked just walking around freely.

Milk stall

Neighborhood of the hotel in New Delhi

Sleeping dog

I was back at the hotel at eight, but there was no car. After some time we called the tourist office and were told it was just a few minutes away. Half an hour later we asked the hotel reception when the car would arrive. Reception called the tourist office and told us it was just a few minutes away. After another thirty minutes I asked the receptionist to call the tourist office again and was a bit more pushy this time. He insisted it would only be another few minutes, or he would call a taxi instead. Indeed, a few minutes later we were picked up and told to hurry.
We were driven to the tourist office and Amir, the guy we made the booking with the day before, was really apologetic. All cars had been taken this morning and it would not happen again. I still wondered though why I was told three times that the car would pick us up in just a few minutes when they didn't have a car to start with...This is India, I guessed.

The car, which would take us around Rajasthan, would still need half an hour to arrive at the tourist office. We took the chance to find something to eat in the meantime. The guides Ganesh and Imran joined us.
It was a Sunday morning and the streets in that area were so empty compared to the evening before.
We went right next to the place we were last night. It was a fastfood restaurant combined with a sweets shop. The brand Kaleva is supposedly quite famous and can be found at several places in India.

Kaleva sweets shop

Our guides recommended food and it was really nice, but a bit too spicy for my taste (Puri Chole).

Puri Chole at Kaleva fastfood restaurant

We walked back to the tourist office. I really liked being able to see everything firsthand, and not from a car. So much going on everywhere. Merchants offering their wares, barbers, dogs, tuk-tuks, cycle-rickshaws.

Streets of New Delhi

Remains of demolished houses under the Metro line

We were introduced to our driver for the next 2 weeks, Sanzi. He seemed like a nice guy in his fifties maybe, and his English was reasonably good. Turned out he is doing this and other tours since 15 years.

We left towards Bikaner. That is over 300 km to drive, which doesn't sound too far, but a good portion of the road was in poor condition.
Sanzi is a good and careful driver. Really impressive how he could navigate around cars and people and cows so swiftly. He almost felt insulted when I put on my security belt though. It is only required to wear it in the front seats.
According to Sanzi, you need three things for secure driving: good horn, good brakes and good luck.

The oil cap got broken, and Sanzi had problems finding replacement on a Sunday with most shops being closed.

One of the many decorated trucks

Camel cart in Rajasthan

Halfway we stopped at Midway Avali Resorts for lunch. Sanzi told us it was a really touristy, way too expensive place. We should try it and next time he would show us cheaper places with as nice food. We did try it and we agreed with Sanzi. It was way too touristy for my taste, with stickers from German and other travel organizations on the door. Food was almost German prices and the richness of the taste just wasn't as great.

Driving through a rather small town

Cow in vegetable market just outside the car window

One of the many roadside tea stands

Later on, when it was foggy and dark, one of the wheels broke from the bad road. Sanzi got it replaced really fast though. He suggested spending the night in Mandawa instead of Bikaner, as that was a bit closer (still took us 2 hours to get there). No streetlights in case you wonder.

The hotel we stayed in that night was really beautiful, with little fountains and intricate details everywhere.

Dinner was underlined with local musicians and a gracious female dancer.

Mandawa Heritage Hotel