General Informations, Delhi

Playing some music with friends at university...

Local bands are often on view at college/ university annual festivals. The season begins towards the end of summer, and goes on for a while.
That apart, several lounges and restaurants also have live music with local bands often performing. Olive and laidbackwaters are two such, besides many more...

Kingfisher is found throughout India and while I am not usually a beer drinker, I did sample a few on my trip… I am told that it’s a lager beer. It is light with no bitter aftertaste and fairly inexpensive, certainly compared to imported brands. I was surprised though in some hotels to see Fosters instead of the local Kingfisher.

In some areas of Delhi the mish mash of intertwining, looping and curling street wiring is amazing especially around the Jama Masjid Mosque... there is plenty there leaving you to wonder how it all doesn't spark a fire or worse, just simply collapse and electrocute someone.

Delhi’s summer months range from April to July and even when I was there early April, the temperatures were up around 35C. They can however get as high as 45C and dry with some dusty winds. October to November and February to March are probably the best and most comfortable time to visit. Most of the rainy season happens between July and September

In the summer months make sure you wear something light, comfortable and preferably cotton. Comfortable and sensible shoes are essential as often you need to be careful with uneven surfaces where you are walking. While socks or foot coverings are often provided at temples and shrines, you may wish to carry your own. It is advisable also around these religious places to be modestly dressed so as not to offend and more often to not be refused entry. A hat is definitely an important item during the heat of the summer months and be sure to drink plenty of water

Delhi is one of the greener metros that i have seen. Inspite of its heavy traffic, there is a good deal of green cover around still, though pressure on land etc mean that its a constant struggle to keep it that way. The Ridge forest area of the city especially, is referred to as the lung of Delhi. Its a feature that also helps keep the possible sand-storms from neighbouring Rajasthan to blow over Delhi, something that does happen in the dry summer months even so...

If you would need to caugh a bus, a train or a flight, then you will have the problem of the queue.
In India, as well as in a lot of places in Asia, there is no respect for queue
The rule is: the first one speak is the first that has to be listened!
Altough you are waiting for your turn, you will detect that hundreds of people will jump on your shoulder trying to overtake you...it will take away your hair..something really bad! Be patient, that’s the only thing to do!

Walking trough the street of India you will see all the people (i saw only man) smoking such a small sigar, called BIRI. In India there are a lot of tipes of Biri and it is a normality smoke a biri. (it costs also only 5Rs Vs 50/70Rs for a package of cigarettes), they smoke wherever, on trains, buses, restaurants and so on....

It depends on where in Delhi you are - in parts of south Delhi or Connaught Place you could wear anything you like. However long trousers, skirts are best. You dont have to have full length tops/ shirts but short sleeves are fine, as are sleeveless, but preferably with not very deep necklines. I always find it handy to carry a scarf - for covering up in an situation where you dont feel comfortable and for protection against the sun/ pollution.

When staying with friends and not at a swank hotel, you might need or want to make a call home. It will then be at a booth like this. Coming from the "west" it looks a little dodgy. But don't let appearances worry you! The cost of the call is clearly displayed on the meter ovehead and you pay after you have finished talking. These private STD/ISD call booths are absolutely everywhere.