All Is Quiet on New Years Day…

…Or at least as quiet as its gonna get when surrounded by 12 million of your closest friends. While our Business partner slaved away at the offices, I was rousted out of my heavy, whiskey slumber by the yipping of 8 hungry, baby puppies who were born in a little alcove right below the balcony. They are about 12 weeks old now and are able to take their yipping outside into the alley for all to hear until their mom comes home.

Craving a bit of the homeland, Arunji and myself set out to Cannaught Place, relic center of British colonialism, for some McDonalds French fries. I have never been to a foreign McDonalds (heck, I cant remember the last time I was in a state-side one) but this one in the center of C.P. was a true Indian twist on an American classic.

A teeming mass of celebrating Indians all had the exact same idea as us at the exact same time and it was sheer chaos as everyone was hell bent on getting their Veg. Burgers (no beef…Hindus, remember?) and fries. The crowd was such that it required security guards to “direct traffic” which really meant they got pushed around by short, chubby old Hindu women. When we finally reached the front and ordered the “Aloo Tikka” burger (at Arunji’s recommendation) and fries and pushed and shoved our way back out and to the center of the circle, claimed out bit of brown grass amongst the masses, I can honestly say it was worth it.

Perhaps it was that I was finally able to stomach solid food on a regular basis after 7 or so days, but the “Aloo Tikka” burger which is a potato burger is really freakin good.

Not having the wherewithal or strength to drive toe motorcycle to C.P. we took and auto rickshaw there and back. Our driver back spent the entire time shouting “Happy New Year” intermittently as he regaled us with his tale of nights events and how much chicken an whiskey he consumed and demonstrated how he danced (see description in previous posting) all while swerving along the wrong side of the road and, while not entirely out of place in Delhi, the totality of the circumstances lead me to the inevitable conclusion that his celebrating had not actually ended yet.