Namaste from Delhi

Research, watching films, reading Lonely Planet and yet nothing could have fully prepared me for Delhi.
I was expecting chaos. I was expecting pandemonium. And oh boy did I get it.
All the cliches come out for this amazing city for it truly is a total and unashamed assault on the senses.
My journey from the airport alone saw me meet Lalit my driver (his name meaning Lotus) who spun me through the streets, skimming rickshaws, dodging tuk tuks and narrowly avoiding animals & pedestrians as they walked casually among the motorised & peddle power traffic. Through the constant honking of horns, heat, dust and pollution we eventually found my hotel - a slightly more modern version of The Best Exotic Marigold.
I'm sharing a room with Erin from Australia and in her I found myself a city buddy to explore with. Walking through the streets and being a minority turned out to be both an unnerving and flattering experience all at the same time. People stare, really stare and throughout the course of the day many stopped to ask if they could take their picture with us. I've never felt so western, white and a woman (Angela W - I understand now!). I also had a taste for how famous people must feel. I'm not sure how many redheads and blue eyed blondes these people see on a regular basis but I'm guessing not many!
We took the metro - an experience in itself based on getting a token to ride. Despite joining the ladies queue we had to fight elbow to elbow to get to the ticket officer. The trains themselves were exceptionally clean though and a strict bomb screening process is in place before you enter. If passengers are found to be causing obstruction to the doors on the trains they can face a jail sentence and 5000 Rupee fine. I think my commute in London could be much improved with these same principles!
We visited The Red Fort - an amazing red sandstone complex from the Mughal era and took our own Rickshaw which is being noted as one of my favourite ever travel experiences. I have seen a baboon, sacrificial goats being carried on rickshaws, hundreds of cooking oil cans piled 8ft high on bicycles, people living on street dividers, men selling fruit I've never seen before, beggars and a rat. Yes the first rat. On return to the hotel we met our tour CEO Ricky. Ricky made it painstakingly clear that his job title is very important and stands for Chief Experience Officer. A local he gave us all a thorough briefing of dos and don'ts (many of which I'd managed to do that afternoon) and then took us out for our first Indian dinner & welcome meal.
Others on the tour are Claus & Johannes two brothers from Germany, Erin, Michael & Laura a couple also from Germany and a backpacker called Geoff. So I believe the seven of us are all in for an epic adventure if the last 24hrs are anything to go by....
Tomorrow we head to Agra and my bucket list item - Taj Mahal...