1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 1: from News Talks ab Our travel correspondent is Mike Yardley. 3 00:00:16,213 --> 00:00:17,493 Speaker 1: He's here with us this morning. 4 00:00:17,573 --> 00:00:19,733 Speaker 2: Gilda, Good morning Jack. 5 00:00:19,773 --> 00:00:23,173 Speaker 1: You know, I have absolutely loved the last few weeks 6 00:00:23,493 --> 00:00:25,973 Speaker 1: as you've been taking us through your favorite parts of India. 7 00:00:26,013 --> 00:00:28,733 Speaker 1: And I remember a couple of weeks ago you were 8 00:00:28,733 --> 00:00:34,493 Speaker 1: discussing how Deli is absolutely surging on the economic front 9 00:00:34,533 --> 00:00:36,213 Speaker 1: at the moment. So just how big is it? 10 00:00:37,293 --> 00:00:39,533 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really hard to get your head around it 11 00:00:39,573 --> 00:00:43,493 Speaker 2: because the growth is so staggering. It's those middle class 12 00:00:43,533 --> 00:00:47,333 Speaker 2: high rise apartments mushrooming everywhere. That is just said in 13 00:00:47,373 --> 00:00:49,413 Speaker 2: my memory, but I think it was my guide with 14 00:00:49,453 --> 00:00:52,613 Speaker 2: Wendy Woo Tours check Gresh who summed it up best 15 00:00:52,613 --> 00:00:56,013 Speaker 2: for me. He said, Deli is more than just a city, 16 00:00:56,133 --> 00:01:02,093 Speaker 2: It's a megalopolis. The metropolitan population of Delhi is now 17 00:01:02,733 --> 00:01:06,973 Speaker 2: thirty million. Wow, so it's on track to becoming the 18 00:01:07,013 --> 00:01:09,853 Speaker 2: world's most popular city in about three years time. It 19 00:01:09,893 --> 00:01:11,333 Speaker 2: is just enormous. 20 00:01:11,453 --> 00:01:14,973 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, that's staggering out. I remember driving in the 21 00:01:15,013 --> 00:01:19,013 Speaker 1: city ones and like driving for like two or you know, 22 00:01:19,053 --> 00:01:21,213 Speaker 1: two and a half hours from the center of Delhi 23 00:01:21,333 --> 00:01:24,093 Speaker 1: out and still being still just being in a city 24 00:01:24,253 --> 00:01:25,093 Speaker 1: like just totally. 25 00:01:25,173 --> 00:01:25,373 Speaker 2: You know. 26 00:01:26,253 --> 00:01:28,093 Speaker 1: It wasn't like, oh, we left at Delhi and then 27 00:01:28,133 --> 00:01:30,093 Speaker 1: we were sort of in some outskirt towns. It wasn't 28 00:01:30,133 --> 00:01:32,293 Speaker 1: like going from christ Roots today in you order or 29 00:01:32,333 --> 00:01:34,693 Speaker 1: something like that. It was like, no, no, no, you're 30 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:37,413 Speaker 1: still in delis still very much in Delhi. And it's 31 00:01:37,453 --> 00:01:42,093 Speaker 1: famous for its vast canopy of trees. Ah. 32 00:01:42,573 --> 00:01:46,413 Speaker 2: I love this about New Delhi within Delhi. Yes, So 33 00:01:47,133 --> 00:01:51,213 Speaker 2: on one hand you've got all those forests of concrete 34 00:01:51,253 --> 00:01:53,853 Speaker 2: and steel in the way of high rises, but then 35 00:01:54,373 --> 00:01:58,533 Speaker 2: that verdant canopy that is New Deli's calling cards. So 36 00:01:58,613 --> 00:02:02,333 Speaker 2: this is the more modern planned city within this city 37 00:02:02,693 --> 00:02:05,653 Speaker 2: built by the British just over a century ago. And 38 00:02:05,813 --> 00:02:11,013 Speaker 2: for all the pros and cons of British colonial influence, 39 00:02:11,053 --> 00:02:13,813 Speaker 2: you'd have to say one of their great legacies was 40 00:02:14,373 --> 00:02:20,293 Speaker 2: the meticulously planned green cover for New Delhi. So fanning 41 00:02:20,373 --> 00:02:23,533 Speaker 2: out from Connaught Place along all those long broad avenues, 42 00:02:24,133 --> 00:02:28,253 Speaker 2: they just meticulously planted so many large specimen trees like 43 00:02:28,373 --> 00:02:32,813 Speaker 2: banyons and mangoes and pilkens, because they knew it was 44 00:02:32,853 --> 00:02:34,933 Speaker 2: a hot place and they thought this might you know, 45 00:02:35,053 --> 00:02:38,053 Speaker 2: give people a bit of cover from that fierce Deli heat. 46 00:02:38,213 --> 00:02:41,013 Speaker 2: My god, that was that was visionary when you think 47 00:02:41,053 --> 00:02:41,373 Speaker 2: about it. 48 00:02:41,733 --> 00:02:45,973 Speaker 1: Yeah, did you go to the monuments, because there were 49 00:02:46,053 --> 00:02:47,213 Speaker 1: quite quite a few big ones. 50 00:02:48,293 --> 00:02:51,053 Speaker 2: There are so many to tick off because the city 51 00:02:51,173 --> 00:02:55,773 Speaker 2: is littered with just a trove of crumbling tombs and ruins, 52 00:02:55,813 --> 00:02:58,653 Speaker 2: so many that most of them not even on the 53 00:02:58,693 --> 00:03:01,893 Speaker 2: tourist map, and it can get tiring to do a 54 00:03:01,893 --> 00:03:04,813 Speaker 2: bit of you know, monument ticking and Delhi. But if 55 00:03:04,853 --> 00:03:07,413 Speaker 2: you're a first time into the city, I would suggest 56 00:03:07,973 --> 00:03:10,413 Speaker 2: there are two you really need to see over an 57 00:03:10,493 --> 00:03:15,253 Speaker 2: old Delhi. Two Mogul era masterpieces, the imposing Red Fought, 58 00:03:15,773 --> 00:03:18,813 Speaker 2: which was the Mogul seat of power for two hundred years, 59 00:03:19,093 --> 00:03:23,733 Speaker 2: huge big slab in sandstone. And then Jamma Mushad, India's 60 00:03:23,813 --> 00:03:29,293 Speaker 2: largest mosque. I absolutely loved this mosque jack because it 61 00:03:29,413 --> 00:03:34,573 Speaker 2: was commissioned by Jahanov taj Mahal Fan talk about six 62 00:03:34,693 --> 00:03:38,653 Speaker 2: years courtesy of five thousand laborers to put up. And 63 00:03:38,773 --> 00:03:44,013 Speaker 2: for Muslim people, it's really really sacred this mosque because 64 00:03:44,453 --> 00:03:49,773 Speaker 2: within a tallowed walls lies the hair of Prophet Muhammad, 65 00:03:49,853 --> 00:03:52,293 Speaker 2: so a very special site. 66 00:03:52,053 --> 00:03:54,933 Speaker 1: For Islam amazing. Did you go to India Gate. 67 00:03:56,013 --> 00:03:59,053 Speaker 2: Yes, so this is back in New Delhi, very close 68 00:03:59,093 --> 00:04:04,213 Speaker 2: to that sprawling parliamentary complext I've got. But yeah, India Gate, 69 00:04:04,293 --> 00:04:07,653 Speaker 2: it's sort of like India's answer to the Arctic Triumph. 70 00:04:07,773 --> 00:04:13,173 Speaker 2: It's such a monolithic beast of a thing, quite monstrous. 71 00:04:13,333 --> 00:04:16,293 Speaker 2: I don't think you would say pretty. It's amazing, but 72 00:04:16,413 --> 00:04:21,973 Speaker 2: not pretty. But yeah. Interestingly it was designed by Edwin Luttians, 73 00:04:22,013 --> 00:04:25,413 Speaker 2: who was the master planner for the British of New Delhi, 74 00:04:25,853 --> 00:04:29,573 Speaker 2: and it is principally a war memorials and memory of 75 00:04:29,613 --> 00:04:33,293 Speaker 2: the seventy thousand Indian soldiers who laid down their lives 76 00:04:33,373 --> 00:04:35,853 Speaker 2: during World War One. But I did what the locals do, 77 00:04:35,933 --> 00:04:38,013 Speaker 2: and you hid down there at the end of day 78 00:04:38,973 --> 00:04:43,493 Speaker 2: because it's beautifully illuminated after sunset and at twilight that's 79 00:04:43,533 --> 00:04:45,773 Speaker 2: in all the street food vendors and the ice cream 80 00:04:47,053 --> 00:04:49,333 Speaker 2: they lie in the area. And you've got those spawling 81 00:04:49,413 --> 00:04:51,813 Speaker 2: lush gardens around India Gate as well. So it's just 82 00:04:51,853 --> 00:04:54,373 Speaker 2: a beautiful part of town to end the day. 83 00:04:54,413 --> 00:04:58,293 Speaker 1: And how wonderful. What about market time and Old Delhi? 84 00:04:59,133 --> 00:05:02,013 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, I reckon this is the runaway highlight 85 00:05:02,253 --> 00:05:07,693 Speaker 2: of a visit to Deli. Plunging yourself is a plunge 86 00:05:08,213 --> 00:05:12,573 Speaker 2: into the chaos, the Cannibal, the cauldron of commerce in 87 00:05:13,133 --> 00:05:17,173 Speaker 2: Changin e Chok Delli's four hundred year old marketplace. And 88 00:05:17,253 --> 00:05:20,173 Speaker 2: I love how the spaghetti like tangle of street wiring 89 00:05:20,293 --> 00:05:24,413 Speaker 2: is still there, garlanding all of those pencil fin lanes, 90 00:05:24,573 --> 00:05:28,733 Speaker 2: choked with people and cows. It's got all the rough 91 00:05:28,773 --> 00:05:34,293 Speaker 2: as guts function over form fields to eat chog. I 92 00:05:34,333 --> 00:05:36,453 Speaker 2: thought of you, Jack, because I thought, I'm sure Jack 93 00:05:36,653 --> 00:05:45,493 Speaker 2: likes Jellybyes. I do, Levy Jack, So yeah, a real 94 00:05:45,533 --> 00:05:50,893 Speaker 2: street food hero. The Jellybesmara like a deep fried spiral 95 00:05:50,973 --> 00:05:54,413 Speaker 2: shaped better dust and sugar syrup, a plate of those 96 00:05:54,493 --> 00:05:57,533 Speaker 2: piping hot, crispy, sticky gellbbies that will keep you going 97 00:05:57,573 --> 00:05:57,893 Speaker 2: all day. 98 00:05:57,933 --> 00:06:00,453 Speaker 1: Yeah, that keeps you going. The spice market is amazing 99 00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:03,133 Speaker 1: as well, ah ah. 100 00:06:02,773 --> 00:06:05,133 Speaker 2: One of the best I think I've ever experienced in 101 00:06:05,133 --> 00:06:08,933 Speaker 2: the world, and the penty, Asia's largest wholesale spice market. 102 00:06:09,373 --> 00:06:12,053 Speaker 2: And I think wholesale is the key word because the 103 00:06:12,253 --> 00:06:17,133 Speaker 2: spices are so fresh. You know, it's an aromatic head 104 00:06:17,133 --> 00:06:21,813 Speaker 2: blast as you walk past all these bulging sand castle 105 00:06:22,053 --> 00:06:26,053 Speaker 2: like mounds of spice and they sell over a hundred 106 00:06:26,253 --> 00:06:30,373 Speaker 2: types of spice in their spice market. And Old Deli 107 00:06:30,893 --> 00:06:33,533 Speaker 2: I love how if your doored all too long outside 108 00:06:33,573 --> 00:06:36,733 Speaker 2: the shop fronts, chances are a trader will come along 109 00:06:36,733 --> 00:06:39,213 Speaker 2: with a huge sack of chilies or cut them and 110 00:06:39,293 --> 00:06:43,173 Speaker 2: pods and sort of bump you out of Yeah. But 111 00:06:43,293 --> 00:06:46,053 Speaker 2: if you would to stock up on some spices and 112 00:06:46,093 --> 00:06:49,373 Speaker 2: get them into New Zealand legally, a really good place 113 00:06:49,413 --> 00:06:51,653 Speaker 2: to go to is this really old shop called Miha 114 00:06:51,853 --> 00:06:56,413 Speaker 2: channd In Sons and they've been in business since Victoria 115 00:06:56,613 --> 00:07:01,613 Speaker 2: ruled the roost. So they have got packaged spices pretty 116 00:07:01,653 --> 00:07:04,813 Speaker 2: much one hundred spices by the way, They've got teased, 117 00:07:04,853 --> 00:07:08,293 Speaker 2: I've got saffron, and one of the biggest sellers with 118 00:07:08,453 --> 00:07:13,333 Speaker 2: international visitors is turmeric. There is no stopping that globe 119 00:07:13,333 --> 00:07:16,053 Speaker 2: Wal'll love here. So yeah, they've got them all packaged up. 120 00:07:16,133 --> 00:07:18,213 Speaker 2: You'll get them through New Zealand customs as long as 121 00:07:18,253 --> 00:07:18,853 Speaker 2: you declear them. 122 00:07:18,893 --> 00:07:21,893 Speaker 1: Okay, Oh, that's really good to know. That's fantastic. Where 123 00:07:21,893 --> 00:07:23,693 Speaker 1: would you recommend staying in Delhi? 124 00:07:24,413 --> 00:07:27,933 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say go for New Delhi because of 125 00:07:27,973 --> 00:07:31,013 Speaker 2: that canopy. It just feels, you know, like a lifesaver. 126 00:07:31,973 --> 00:07:35,493 Speaker 2: But also make sure you bag a flash hotel with 127 00:07:35,533 --> 00:07:39,093 Speaker 2: a pool, because the pool really will be the lifesaver 128 00:07:39,253 --> 00:07:41,893 Speaker 2: of all. I love how and you will recall this 129 00:07:41,973 --> 00:07:45,933 Speaker 2: from your time at the Games, the Commonwealth Games five 130 00:07:45,973 --> 00:07:49,013 Speaker 2: star hotels at three star prices in Delli. Yeah, so, 131 00:07:49,853 --> 00:07:53,373 Speaker 2: for example, I stayed at Shangula Eros, which was just heaven. 132 00:07:53,413 --> 00:07:55,933 Speaker 2: They had the most enormous pool and one of my 133 00:07:56,173 --> 00:08:00,173 Speaker 2: favorite time or moments in Delhi was just marinating myself 134 00:08:00,213 --> 00:08:03,213 Speaker 2: in that pool, gazing up at the flocks of black 135 00:08:03,293 --> 00:08:07,093 Speaker 2: kites circling above. And then you had recess mac x 136 00:08:07,613 --> 00:08:11,613 Speaker 2: swinging between the pool side banion trees, much to the 137 00:08:11,653 --> 00:08:14,693 Speaker 2: annoyance of the rose ringed parakeets who were trying to 138 00:08:14,813 --> 00:08:16,813 Speaker 2: nest only in New Deli. 139 00:08:17,013 --> 00:08:20,973 Speaker 1: Yeah, ah, that sounds so good. I had. I mean, 140 00:08:21,013 --> 00:08:23,453 Speaker 1: I had amazing experiences of my time in Deli, and 141 00:08:23,493 --> 00:08:25,813 Speaker 1: I was there. I was there both for the Games, 142 00:08:25,853 --> 00:08:29,293 Speaker 1: but also I went there by myself afterwards all my 143 00:08:29,333 --> 00:08:31,253 Speaker 1: colleagues had gone. I traveled around India a bit and 144 00:08:31,293 --> 00:08:33,173 Speaker 1: then spent a bit of time in Deli myself, and 145 00:08:33,253 --> 00:08:37,533 Speaker 1: I do remember seeking a bit of refuge from the 146 00:08:37,653 --> 00:08:40,373 Speaker 1: chaos of Deli and sitting down in a small sort 147 00:08:40,413 --> 00:08:42,973 Speaker 1: of green space on my on my first or second 148 00:08:43,053 --> 00:08:48,453 Speaker 1: day staying in old Deli, and I was surprised by 149 00:08:48,453 --> 00:08:51,813 Speaker 1: a man who came up behind me, grabbed my head 150 00:08:52,053 --> 00:08:56,173 Speaker 1: very gently, cradled it, and in a swift action, inserted 151 00:08:56,853 --> 00:09:02,133 Speaker 1: a needle into my ear drum. And fortunately it wasn't 152 00:09:02,333 --> 00:09:04,613 Speaker 1: a needle that pierced the ear drum. But he was 153 00:09:04,773 --> 00:09:06,973 Speaker 1: one of these people who was a it is himself 154 00:09:07,013 --> 00:09:11,973 Speaker 1: a professional ear cleaner, and so without my explicit consent, 155 00:09:12,653 --> 00:09:16,453 Speaker 1: he came up behind me, saw a vulnerable ki We 156 00:09:16,573 --> 00:09:18,533 Speaker 1: tourist and said, oh, there's a man who's probably got 157 00:09:18,533 --> 00:09:20,293 Speaker 1: waxy ears. And I tell you what, he was right 158 00:09:20,333 --> 00:09:23,013 Speaker 1: on that front at the very least, and yeah, came up, 159 00:09:23,053 --> 00:09:26,733 Speaker 1: snuck up behind me and cleaned my ears for a 160 00:09:26,773 --> 00:09:31,453 Speaker 1: few rupees. So yeah, that was It was very assertive, 161 00:09:31,493 --> 00:09:33,413 Speaker 1: I did think. But of course, once you're sort of 162 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:36,813 Speaker 1: once your head's been cradled by an Indian man and 163 00:09:36,853 --> 00:09:40,733 Speaker 1: he's got various instruments tickling your ear drum, you're not 164 00:09:40,733 --> 00:09:44,613 Speaker 1: really in a position to push back. So yes, yes, 165 00:09:44,693 --> 00:09:46,813 Speaker 1: yes that was an experience, but my god, it is 166 00:09:46,853 --> 00:09:49,573 Speaker 1: I mean it is an amazing city. It's just you know, 167 00:09:49,613 --> 00:09:53,413 Speaker 1: and I think you're I think your point about finding 168 00:09:53,453 --> 00:09:55,453 Speaker 1: a good place to stay. See I reckon. The way 169 00:09:55,493 --> 00:10:00,213 Speaker 1: to really enjoy India if you're not used to traveling 170 00:10:00,213 --> 00:10:02,613 Speaker 1: in that kind of place is to give you is 171 00:10:02,653 --> 00:10:04,213 Speaker 1: to stay in a place where you can have a 172 00:10:04,253 --> 00:10:06,933 Speaker 1: little bit of a reprieve from the chaos, so that 173 00:10:06,973 --> 00:10:10,013 Speaker 1: when you leave your accommodation, when you step outside the 174 00:10:10,013 --> 00:10:12,733 Speaker 1: front door, you're just going to be bombarded by incredible 175 00:10:12,773 --> 00:10:15,893 Speaker 1: sights and smells and all these kind of sensory experiences. 176 00:10:16,053 --> 00:10:18,333 Speaker 1: But having a place where you can kind of retreat 177 00:10:18,773 --> 00:10:23,133 Speaker 1: and you know, and rejuvenate overnight is really really important. 178 00:10:23,173 --> 00:10:25,373 Speaker 1: It means you actually enjoy the stuff during the day 179 00:10:25,373 --> 00:10:29,173 Speaker 1: a whole lot more. I reckon so very good advice. Hey, 180 00:10:29,213 --> 00:10:31,333 Speaker 1: thank you so much. We will make sure all of 181 00:10:31,333 --> 00:10:33,453 Speaker 1: your tips for exploring Deli are up on the news 182 00:10:33,453 --> 00:10:35,373 Speaker 1: talks he'd be website. Can catch you again very soon. 183 00:10:36,093 --> 00:10:39,293 Speaker 1: That is Mike Hardly, a travel correspondent. AH producer Libby 184 00:10:39,293 --> 00:10:42,653 Speaker 1: has just told me that she had her ears cleaned 185 00:10:42,733 --> 00:10:44,973 Speaker 1: last week. There you go. I do you know. I've 186 00:10:44,973 --> 00:10:46,573 Speaker 1: done it as well. I've had it done before but 187 00:10:46,653 --> 00:10:49,493 Speaker 1: only because one time I was presenting. I was presenting 188 00:10:49,533 --> 00:10:51,933 Speaker 1: TV and all of a sudden, one of my ears 189 00:10:51,933 --> 00:10:55,533 Speaker 1: just went loop and all of a sudden it was blocked, 190 00:10:55,533 --> 00:10:58,293 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh my goodness, this is that's 191 00:10:58,293 --> 00:11:00,773 Speaker 1: so gross. Since I had to have an emergency ear cleaning, 192 00:11:00,773 --> 00:11:03,053 Speaker 1: which is very satisfying, I'll tell you what's dark, Livy. 193 00:11:03,453 --> 00:11:06,413 Speaker 1: What's dark is getting into a YouTube hole where you 194 00:11:06,453 --> 00:11:09,293 Speaker 1: look at professional air cleaners. It's a whole it is 195 00:11:09,333 --> 00:11:14,293 Speaker 1: a whole industry. It's a whole genre of different films 196 00:11:14,293 --> 00:11:16,893 Speaker 1: on YouTube where they go and these people who've never 197 00:11:16,933 --> 00:11:18,773 Speaker 1: had the ears cleaned and they get the ears cleaned, 198 00:11:18,773 --> 00:11:25,053 Speaker 1: and it's like, here's sixty years of wax and debris. Anyway, 199 00:11:25,213 --> 00:11:28,213 Speaker 1: leave you with that metalm For more from Saturday Morning 200 00:11:28,253 --> 00:11:30,853 Speaker 1: with Jack Tame, listen live to news talks i'd B 201 00:11:31,053 --> 00:11:34,693 Speaker 1: from nine am Saturday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.