Sightseeing in Delhi

As if yesterday's encounter with the OCVSI wasn't enough, today was yet another example of what happens when people specialize in the practice of complicating otherwise simple things.

We were told to be present for the beginning of today's tour at 8:00 am (or so we thought). The appointed hour arrived and departed, and yet there were only a handful of people gathered in the designated meeting place. In the end it took another hour and a half to find all the people. This was a process all the more complicated by the fact that we had to travel from one hotel to another in search of all those who had expressed their interest in today's events (and paid their fees).

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that although I had been careful to leave my hotel sufficiently early, and to arrive at the other hotel (where the rest of the Conference is taking place) ahead of the previously-appointed hour, the bus picking up patrons actually made its way right back to the very place where I had begun this adventure. If I had known this, a whole lot of frustration might have been avoided, but then again, that's life here in Delhi.

Today's tour took us to the famous Red Fort, the tomb of the second Mugol emperor who once ruled these parts, and a very brief stop outside the Qutb Minar monument. In each case, the tour guide was more than willing to share some historical perspective (more information than some of us needed, but well appreciated by others).

We made it back to the hotel just in time to change and get on another set of buses in order to be taken to the site of tonight's celebratory banquet and yet another taste of some Indian fusion music courtesy of a band called Advaita. Properly fed and watered in the true Indian fashion, we are now ready for yet another day. Each of us will find ourselves doing some sightseeing tomorrow at some point, and I'm sure there will be more adventures to recount. Stay tuned.