A total nightmare

This is a long story so get comfortable and strap yourself in.

It all starts at Athens airport at about 12 noon.

To gain entry into India you must show that you are also exiting India by providing a copy of a flight or train ticket. 

Because I am wandering around I didn't purchase one and forums suggested to just say I'm traveling by bus overland. Well that didn't work and I ended up having to buy a ticket to Nepal in advance. Not what I wanted but it didn't cost too much more.

Then the plane was delayed for take off which made my connection in Moscow tricky because I only had one hour. That was reduced to 20 minutes but I made it. Just.

The next plane to Delhi was also delayed and meant I didn't touch down until about 4.45am.

Totally dead tired I got through customs after about 30 minutes.

All that was nothing compared to what came next.

I waited for my bag for an hour and it didn't show. An airport official asked my name and sure enough she said my bag would be another day away in arriving. So now I have no clothes.

An hour later after filling out paperwork and stuffing around I was told that they will "hopefully" receive it at midnight and then deliver it to my hotel "maybe".

I couldn't keep my eyes open but managed to walked off to the ATM because I needed local cash for a taxi.

Every ATM was empty so I lined up at the money exchange. I waited in line for an hour and then......it closed. So no cash for a taxi.

Another airport official suggested I go outside and use the ATM's there. So I did. No money in those either. So my only option was to go back inside and wait for two hours until the money exchange reopened. Nope can't do that. Once you leave the building you can't re-enter.

So I'm stranded with no clothes, no cash and no one takes card or Euros. Screwed.

I sat and pondered my next move. All I could do was pester all the cabs and hope. I did this for about an hour until one finally caved in and agreed to take me to the hotel and I would use an ATM close by to pay him.

I got to the hotel and well... $15 per night buys you filth and stink and wet and dark and disgusting. An unusable room in a horrible area surrounded by garbage and noise and cows and monkeys. I wanted some of that but this was over the top. 

I still hadn't paid my cab driver so we walked down three different streets and all the ATM's were closed.

Together we jumped in a tuk tuk and drove to the government tourist office. I'd had enough!

They paid him and the tuk tuk driver and I rested for a bit and contemplated my next move.

I still had no money and dreaded the idea of going back to sleep at that shit house room.

So I bit the bullet. I cancelled that hotel and wasted my money cos I'd already paid for 5 nights. 5 nights in Delhi is actually 4 to many.

I booked a new room in Delhi and some others in more regional areas that are much nicer. I was here after all so I should make the best of it I thought.

I went back to the shit house with a tourist office driver and grabbed my carry on luggage. That was an event also. 

We drove for what seamed ages and then quickly pulled over. Why? We had a flat tyre. You've gotta be kidding!

I waited and got pestered by beggars while he changed the tyre. 

By the time the tourist office guy drove me to my new hotel I'd been up for what seamed forever. About 30 hours or more and was running on fumes.

I was starving and dying of thirst and still had no cash either. I didn't care now. All I wanted was to shower and sleep. Nope can't do that either because the shower was broken. 

So I changed rooms.

They don't just have issues with 500 and 1000 notes at the moment in India, they don't have money at all. 

I totally underestimated New Delhi. And there is nothing 'new' about it.

Good night.