16 Fun Moments on a Rickshaw Tour of Old Delhi, India
I couldn't stop laughing, flipping through these final Old Delhi photos from our teacher tour of India. As you may have seen from the previous two articles, Old Delhi is chaotic on foot, so you can imagine how much more of a crazy rainbow whirlwind things became when our guide hailed a pack of bicycle rickshaws to zip us around! In the moment, I hardly realized what my camera was capturing.
Now back in snowy Boston, I am finally able to slow down and see what my camera froze in time... and some of it is really funny! I have numbered each photo so you can respond in the comments section about what YOU observe. I will start you off with a giggle about the photo, below. At what point did those vendors decide, "The best business direction for our orange business will be to add... necklaces!"?
Now it's your turn. What reactions, connections, or questions do these photos elicit for you? (As you scroll down, do notice how jaunty that rickshaw driver's hair is.) Enjoy!
What a wonderful Old Delhi tour we had! I eagerly await your comments, analysis, connections, and questions about the photos that stand out to you. And do stay tuned, because this article merely covers the morning of Day 2 on our 9-Day India tour! To see all the other articles from touring India, click here.
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
Feel nostalgic when I saw those fotos, living in UAE for 2 years. Really miss those fotos
Thanks for the great articles and sharing your impressions!
Nice post, and this is the real picture of Old Delhi.
I am from Calcutta, India and I had visited Delhi long ago. Looks funny when I see Delhi through your photos. You'll find similar pictures in Calcutta too except street vendor who sells both oranges and necklaces... This is really unique! :D Loved your photos.
Thanks! Ah, I'd love to see Calcutta. I've heard so many things!
I love the pretty pictures!!! They make me more interested in India and they make me want to visit India myself!!!
Great Shots, Lillie, making me excited about our trip to India in Dec!
Thanks, Lindsey! Yes, get suuuuper excited!
Beautiful photos, I can't wait to visit next year!
I am always so excited to see a new article posted on your blog! Having read so many, I now have this urge to travel all over the world! In fact, I am going on a wilderness trip to Minnesota this summer through a program. I will also be traveling abroad (do not know exactly where, yet) the follow summer. I hope to have wonderful experiences like yours!
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind comment, Victoria. Have a WONDERFUL time in Minnesota and keep us posted on how your trip goes!
In picture #12, the things on the plates somewhat looks like pancakes.
Almost... but not quite!
They are called Aalu tikkis... Actually like fried hash browns with spices in that round shape.
aalu - potato
tikkis - round shaped
It's wonderful album of Delhi daily life!! Thank you for sharing. These pictures are great and little bit aged... was in between the thoughts should I or shouldn'tI intervene and say the fact that these are not "Alu ki tikki". these are Cookie made from flour and called as "Nan khatai". they are offered to guests with Tea. okay.. now I that I am done with blabbering.. i am over the doubt session for me.. should /shouldn't. pardon me Anshul and Roahni for dropping by. Very good content on the blog, wish you all the best Lillie.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Alisha! Corrections and additions are always welcome -- and so important!
Number 4 rickshaw driver--I could totally see that guy on the Sartorialist website if he happened to be wandering around the streets of NYC. I can't say specifically what about his outfit makes him "Scott Schumann material" (aka Sartorialist's real name) but he has that similar style I seem to find in all of Schumann's photos whenever I peruse his website. However Schumann only travels to "stylish" cities like NYC (where he lives), Paris, Milan, Rome, Tokyo etc... I doubt he would ever go to India, least of all Old Delhi. Looks like he's missing out on some fantastic fashion photos!
10. Rickshaw driver just looks ticked off he's being photographed haha. He's probably sick of tourists taking his picture!
Hahaha! Well said!
Awesome, and you managed to survive all of these moments! ;)
gorgeous photos - what COLORS!!
Ha ha ha.. Spider-man would die in Delhi, those webs are dangerous.. and that McDonald pic is awesome, McDonald got killed.
Hah! I didn't notice that! The film being advertised is called "Dabangg" and is hilarious. Stay tuned for photos from seeing it on the big screen in Jaipur...
Good to see you survived...I felt some of the same fear on a rickshaw through the hutongs in Beijing.
Ah, got photos of that, too! Those felt a bit more luxurious: https://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2012/04/06/daniel-travel-shows-there-is-no-need-to-fear-china/
Yeah, your face says it all! I found myself laughing out loud more than once!
Oh goodie :)
Oh, that looks like fun! Yes, we've seen McDonald's almost everywhere too.
Who needs a roller coaster at an amusement park when you can have all the fun with scenery too! :)
More great pictures from India Lillie! Love the look on your face in photo #1!!! What are the little pancakey looking things in #12?
Thanks! I don't know what those are, but I'd love to find out! Any India experts in the house?
Looks like potato cutlets (aloo tikka)! Very nice photos, by the way!!
Thanks! So happy for your food identification help!
I'm even more excited to go to India on the 23rd now! And I would totally take a ride in one of those!
Wahoooo!!!
Are you guys still in Delhi? I started following your adventures a couple of years ago, and we moved to New Delhi last summer. Would love to buy you guys lunch and meet you, if you are still in Delhi.
Cheers,
Aw, what a kind message! Alas, we've left already, but do be in touch!
Lol! I love your faces in the first picture you have the " OMG what will happen to us now" look :P
Thanks. :) We enjoy making funny faces.
Wow, these are amazing photos! Really want to go and visit Old Delhi and experience the chaos and colours of the place!
Question - what camera were you using? The detail is brilliant!
You should, and thanks! I'm currently using a small Cannon PowerShot S100. It's pretty good! I still sometimes have giant camera envy, though...
those electrical cords heaped together may not be the best idea...lol
I wonder how often there are... complications from those wire tangles.
It all seems so colourful! I've never been to India but I've always imagined the cities to be crowded and dirty. I guess they are both those things, but I hadn't expected the vibrancy as well.
Looks like an awesome trip!
Yes, the answer to most "What is India like?" questions appears to be: "All of the above!"
Even though I barely fit inside, this was definitely the most fun rickshaw ride I've ever had (the ones in Southeast Asia were a lot more intense). And I love all the surly expressions :) Can't wait to see your next batch of photos!
hahaha i love the hipster rickshaw driver
Looks like a blast! :)
And great photos, as always.
At least the crazy tuk-tuk rides in Thailand didn't have such crowded streets. Looks like you'd have to travel a bit slow through the streets of Old Delhi.
Yes and yes! Though tuk-tuks in Thailand terrified me!
As I peruse these photos again, I notice how many of the men are wearing button-down collared shirts and/or sweaters. We almost never saw local men wearing T-shirts, or local women wearing anything but Saris and sandals. I wonder what the origin of this strong cultural norm is...
Yes, not a scruffy T-shirt in sight! Another mystery...
The simple explanation would be the weather. Most of them are wearing sweaters, shawls (pic 7), or jackets and some form of head cover. It is definitely not T-shirt weather.
True!