The Most Intense Day I've Ever Had In India.

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Good morning. It's good to see you. Old Delhi must be the most chaotic 5 square kilometers on the earth. Today we're in a place called Chandi Chunk. Let's have a look at the madness.

[00:00:31]Some people might be absolutely mortified at the prospect of spending a day walking around a place like this, but I actually find it really really interesting. I find the chaos contagious. I feel imbued with the energy. There's so much going on. People are trying to do deals. They're they're well getting run over.

[00:00:48]>> Are you from Ben?

[00:00:49]>> I'm from Australia. This is your you are a hairdresser, barber.

[00:00:52]>> Yeah. Yes.

[00:00:53]>> How long have you been uh here? I am I am a hair designer. Uh before 20 years uh you know 100 rupees haircut.

[00:01:07]>> Uh-huh.

[00:01:08]>> Uh 70 70 rupees be >> ah very nice.

[00:01:13]>> Are you busy? Are you successful sir?

[00:01:15]>> Uh this I full blessing.

[00:01:18]>> Aha. How long have you been here? This shop you've had for one year, two years.

[00:01:24]Uh for how many years?

[00:01:29]>> 4 years. Four years.

[00:01:30]>> Four years. Oh, very nice. Very nice.

[00:01:32]>> My my experience and 30 years.

[00:01:38]>> Oh, >> yes.

[00:01:38]>> You're a very good hairdresser. You're a very good hairdresser.

[00:01:41]>> Thank you so much.

[00:01:44]>> Come here.

[00:01:45]>> I'm going to go in. We'll have to give him a little bit of a tip for his trouble. I don't want a beard. I like the way my beard's looking right now. I just had a lovely interaction with that hairdresser. But I sat down and um spent a few minutes with him and as time went on his speech impediment lessened and he became uh a little bit more comfortable.

[00:02:02]Um yeah, it was nice. It was nice to experience that. The actual location is Chowi Bazar. Chowi Bazar. And this gentleman here, so I didn't get your name, sir.

[00:02:10]>> My name is Mano.

[00:02:11]>> Manos. The area is very well known for wholesaling, it seems.

[00:02:15]>> Yes, man. There are so many wholesale markets are surrounding here.

[00:02:20]>> Uh-huh. Like this street is famous for the hardware and the wedding cards.

[00:02:26]>> I see.

[00:02:26]>> If you go on the left hand side, there is a very famous book market and a sari market.

[00:02:32]>> Can I ask why you're here today, sir?

[00:02:34]Are you looking for a tap for your bathroom or something?

[00:02:37]>> I'm living here.

[00:02:38]>> Oh, you're living here?

[00:02:38]>> I just came here to take some money from ATM.

[00:02:41]>> Ah, I see. And what is your job? May I ask what your occupation is?

[00:02:45]>> I am a translator.

[00:02:46]>> A translator.

[00:02:47]>> A Japanese language translator. So you are fluent in English, Japanese >> and Indian language, Hindi. Yes. Yes.

[00:02:53]>> Wow. You're a very smart man. Where did you do your study sir?

[00:02:56]>> I study Japanese in Delhi only.

[00:02:58]>> In Delhi?

[00:02:59]>> Yeah. About 30 years ago.

[00:03:01]>> Really?

[00:03:01]>> Yes.

[00:03:02]>> And you've made a career from it. Yes.

[00:03:04]>> Yes. I am a professional Japanese translator and a tourist guide.

[00:03:07]>> And a tourist guide.

[00:03:08]>> I took all my Japanese guests to all over India as a guide.

[00:03:11]>> Wow. Wow. That's that's really really nice. What's your plan for the future?

[00:03:15]Do you see your future as a place where you're retiring to enjoy a simple life or do you really like your job and you want to do it?

[00:03:23]>> I really I really love my job >> and I will I would like to continue my job till my body is allowed to me.

[00:03:32]>> You look quite fit sir. I think you will be doing it a long time.

[00:03:34]>> Yes.

[00:03:35]>> Thank you sir for for talking with me.

[00:03:36]It's very chi only I'd like to walk sir if that's okay. May maybe another time. I would like to walk if that's okay. I want to walk. Thank you so much.

[00:03:47]>> Thank you, sir. Yeah, it's very kind of you. Yeah.

[00:03:53]Really interesting guy.

[00:03:55]>> Hello, sir.

[00:04:15]I knew there was a mosque in the general area, but I've stumbled on it. Uh, Jama Jama >> Jama Jama. Thank you, sir.

[00:04:24]Jamaosk. I'm not going in. I didn't I didn't come looking for a mosque. I've seen a few of those over the last year or two. Um, but it's um Yeah, it's quite an impressive kind of structure.

[00:04:37]Probably looks a lot better from the other side.

[00:04:43]I've had a couple of people ask me how much coconuts are here. I'll find out.

[00:04:46]Excuse me, sir. How much for one coconut?

[00:04:48]>> 80 rupees.

[00:04:48]>> 80 rupees. 80 rupees for one coconut, which is what? A $120? $120?

[00:04:55]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:04:56]>> Hey, brother.

[00:04:57]>> Yeah. I'm smoking.

[00:04:59]>> You are smoking?

[00:05:00]>> Wow. You're a naughty naughty boy.

[00:05:04]>> Nice to meet you, sir.

[00:05:06]>> Nice to meet you, sir. It's you. You going to red?

[00:05:09]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:05:10]>> Only >> this man's been following me around.

[00:05:13]He's been following me around for about an hour. Every time I come around a corner, he's there wanting to get me a ride.

[00:05:19]>> When when when when I'm ready to go, I I will come and see you, sir. Okay.

[00:05:23]>> You are brother only question.

[00:05:29]>> When I'm ready to go, I'll come and see you. Thank you, guys. Okay. Thank you.

[00:05:34]>> Stop smoking.

[00:05:36]Is this inside? Very spicy.

[00:05:37]>> Very spicy.

[00:05:38]>> Yeah.

[00:05:39]>> Okay. Thank you so much.

[00:05:40]>> Look.

[00:05:41]>> Yeah. No, later. Another time.

[00:05:42]>> Maybe I'll look.

[00:05:42]>> No, I don't want to look. I've got to go. Nice to meet you.

[00:05:46]>> Here's another side view of the mosque.

[00:05:49]It's um I love these these uh what are they? Red limestone. Is it red limestone these um Indian buildings, the forts and that are made out of? Uh it really has a deep wow. Someone's making fun of me. It really has a really deep texture. gives it that earthiness, gives it that sense of history. Um, boy, it's good to be in India. There are different little industries everywhere you walk. Here seems to be the cart and bike repair place. Um, these guys are going hard at it.

[00:06:20]>> It's Hello, sir. How are you?

[00:06:23]>> Indian helicopter.

[00:06:24]>> Indian helicopter.

[00:06:26]>> Father. Father.

[00:06:27]>> Father. You've working here a long time.

[00:06:29]>> One day.

[00:06:30]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:30]>> Yeah.

[00:06:31]>> How many in one day? One day. How many?

[00:06:35]mechanic or yeah very nice. How are you sir?

[00:06:40]>> Hello sirian.

[00:06:44]>> Oh yeah.

[00:06:46]Thank you sir.

[00:06:47]>> I'm not sure what he said but it sound like he was trying to be helpful. That's how I like to frame most things unless proven otherwise.

[00:07:00]I've seen that guy about three or four times with different loads as well.

[00:07:05]>> There's a gentleman insisting that I uh talk to him. Sorry sir, >> sir. Which country?

[00:07:10]>> Australia.

[00:07:10]>> Australia.

[00:07:11]>> Do you like the cricket sir?

[00:07:12]>> Very good.

[00:07:13]>> Very good. It was a big game yesterday.

[00:07:15]Yes.

[00:07:16]>> Yeah.

[00:07:16]>> Gujarat won.

[00:07:18]>> Yeah.

[00:07:18]>> Gujarat win.

[00:07:20]>> No English.

[00:07:21]>> No English.

[00:07:22]>> Sir shaving.

[00:07:23]>> You know that English. Okay though. Huh?

[00:07:25]>> Shaving.

[00:07:25]>> Not for me sir. That's very kind. Thank you, sir.

[00:07:29]>> Sir, head massage.

[00:07:31]>> Sorry.

[00:07:31]>> Very good head massage.

[00:07:32]>> Very good head massage.

[00:07:33]>> Yeah.

[00:07:34]>> No, no, I'm okay. Thank you, sir.

[00:07:36]>> Shoulder.

[00:07:37]>> Uh-huh. Maybe another time, but thank you, sir. Good luck.

[00:07:43]>> Insisting, of course, that I should uh utilize his services, which is okay. The next time you consider that you may be having a bad day at work, please also consider that there are people on this earth who are having to pull trailers or carts that are absolutely laden with product or produce.

[00:08:06]And this is the result. Absolutely shattered. Absolutely shattered. And as you would be I guess it's about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and the bulk of the work's been done in the morning because it obviously it gets very very hot in uh in India or particularly Delhi in the summer and this could well be the local cart manufacturer. He's got a couple of dilapidated ones there and some fresh wood here that he's going to work on.

[00:08:32]This whole area is an ecosystem. There are services and people being supported by everything that goes on. It's no wonder that there's a lot of people in this area because there's opportunities for them to um be industrious and and try to make a living. What I don't understand is I just don't see anyone drinking water. Like it's pretty warm.

[00:08:50]It's got to be 34, I guess. Uh everyone's rushing about doing everything. Even the people who are sort of lounging, haven't seen anyone take a drink. As many of you know, I'm an avid photographer. I have several cameras and I I really have embraced street photography a lot uh in this market.

[00:09:06]Wherever I am, I don't know where I am.

[00:09:08]I've come across these old cineex and yashika pentaxes >> photoite camera every type of old camera here >> you you have so many different kinds of cameras sir >> I guess I will show you >> and uh which is your oh my goodness what is that >> this one is video camera old video camera >> wow how old is it >> it's maybe 1925 to 28 model >> 1925 to 28 Yes, you will see this.

[00:09:40]>> Wow.

[00:09:43]>> 1925 to 28.

[00:09:45]>> Yeah.

[00:09:45]>> No, it doesn't look that old, sir.

[00:09:47]Surely.

[00:09:47]>> This one is uh maybe 1970 something.

[00:09:52]>> Yes, that looks very 1970s. How long have you been dealing in cameras?

[00:09:56]>> Uh 1948.

[00:09:58]>> Our shop is in 1948. Since 1948.

[00:10:02]>> Goodness me. So, it's your grandfather?

[00:10:04]>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[00:10:05]>> Really? And he's been uh are you a photographer yourself?

[00:10:09]>> No, I am a video editor.

[00:10:11]>> Oh, really?

[00:10:11]>> Uh my family was doing photography also in wedding in corporate events in every type of things.

[00:10:17]>> Oh, I see. I see. And you've been here since 1948. So that's 80 years almost.

[00:10:21]>> Yes. Yes. Yes.

[00:10:22]>> My goodness me. And you you're married here so with your wife >> in uh Delhi I will marry.

[00:10:28]>> Oh yeah. Very nice. Is it a big family?

[00:10:30]>> Yes. Yes. We are Punjabi.

[00:10:32]>> Punjabi.

[00:10:32]>> Yeah.

[00:10:33]>> Oh, I went to Mojali Stadium once to watch the cricket. Yes.

[00:10:36]>> You just had a cricket final yesterday.

[00:10:38]Yeah.

[00:10:38]>> Yes, I saw.

[00:10:39]>> Yeah. You saw it?

[00:10:40]>> Yeah. Vi been >> Who who did?

[00:10:43]>> Virat Ki team.

[00:10:44]>> Virat Kohi. Of course. Of course. He always wins. Yeah. I'm sorry, sir. I forgot your name.

[00:10:48]>> Derpa.

[00:10:49]>> Derpa. You've been very kind to speak.

[00:10:51]>> We bring old old cassettes only. Also, >> the old VHS mode also.

[00:10:58]>> Really? You make >> You want to see?

[00:11:00]>> Uh, sure. Let's have a look. You make it to digitals. Yeah.

[00:11:02]>> Yes. Yes. I see.

[00:11:06]Hello.

[00:11:07]>> Oh, I see.

[00:11:08]>> So, you put it through the machine and digitize it. Yeah.

[00:11:12]>> Is business good?

[00:11:13]>> Yes.

[00:11:13]>> Yeah.

[00:11:14]>> Oh, that's nice to hear. Thank you so much for your time. Yeah, you've been very kind. Yeah. I've come to some main kind of thoroughare here and I don't know exactly where I am. Oh, look.

[00:11:23]There's the red fort. There's a big red fort down there. Another a reason I don't want to go to the fort and I don't want to go to the mosque is I I just I'm adverse to hanging around with two or 30 hund other tourists looking at stuff. I know there's value to it but Hello sir, how are you?

[00:11:42]>> Meow.

[00:11:44]>> Where are you going, sir?

[00:11:47]>> No, no, I'm I'm fine. Thank you.

[00:11:49]>> Yes.

[00:11:49]>> Hello, sir. How are you?

[00:11:51]>> Hello, sir. How are you? Good to see you.

[00:11:55]>> Sorry. Maybe later. Maybe later. No, but you know, I I approach this type of scenario where it's just quite chaotic and quite mad. It's a bit of fun. It's a bit like Disneyland for me. I uh Oh, what's that? That's a pretty impressive old building. Um I see it as just a little bit of a I don't know, bit of a park ride. I guess I want to, you know, like bumper cars. I'm going to get bumped around a bit. It's going to be noisy. There's, you know, there's going to be a little bit of excitement. There might be a little bit of concern. It's just enjoying and embracing the experience. Along this main thorough affair, I've stopped to have a look at a temple. I met another traveler, Aaron.

[00:12:36]Aaron, how long have you been in India?

[00:12:37]>> Uh, I'm already 5 weeks in India and one more week and then I go back to Germany.

[00:12:42]>> Ah, just in Delhi or >> no, I started in Mumbai and from Mumbai, Goa, then a few stops in Kerala, Kochi, Aleppi and Munar and then I took all my way up to Leila. Ah, very nice. All the way up there.

[00:12:56]>> Yeah. From Lei I came now from Le Manali Castle to Delhi.

[00:13:02]>> What are you going to take away from India? Aaron, what what is this one thing that when you get home you think you remember or feel about the place?

[00:13:10]>> How helpful people are like everywhere I go. Maybe you find it not in Delhi but if you go outside where not so many people then you see the helpness and the friendly people. It's really amazing.

[00:13:22]>> They really are really kind people aren't they? Yeah.

[00:13:24]>> Are you a lifetime traveler, Aaron? Is travel something you you do all the time or is it like your annual holiday?

[00:13:30]>> Um something in between. I think I really started uh right now to change something in my life uh to equip my job.

[00:13:40]I protected some money and now I see I want to see more of this wonderful work.

[00:13:44]>> Yeah, it's it's a really good idea. I think uh for some of us we don't have a choice. It just takes us away. Can I Are you single, Aaron?

[00:13:51]>> Yes, I'm single.

[00:13:52]>> You're single. and and new occupation in Germany.

[00:13:54]>> Um I made an apprenticeship as car mechanic, worked a little bit in German industry and uh I quit for an um season job in Austria and now I'm off to to Mumbai and then after back home and work and travel in Europe.

[00:14:10]>> You've been very kind to talk with me and thank you so much.

[00:14:13]>> Thank you my friend. Don't worry.

[00:14:34]Deli.

[00:14:35]>> No, thank you, sir.

[00:14:36]>> Market, silver market.

[00:14:39]>> Thank you.

[00:14:40]>> No, thank you, sir.

[00:14:41]>> No money.

[00:14:42]It seems I've entered another area of Chichok and we're starting to see spices and nuts and the flavors and uh smells of these. Hello sir, how are you? Um is just really really wonderful. The smells the smells it's just so lush and rich and um stimulating in in a very positive way.

[00:15:10]Hello sir.

[00:15:15]>> I'm assuming that these numbers are by the kilo. Hello sir, this is by the kilo. By the kilo. Can I ask where do you get your produce from? Where do you get your nuts from?

[00:15:27]>> From Afghanistan.

[00:15:29]>> Afghanistan.

[00:15:30]>> Iran.

[00:15:30]>> Iran. Oh my goodness. Uh-huh. And is there a wholesaling area that you go to to buy it?

[00:15:37]>> We buy from importers. from importers.

[00:15:39]Thank you, sir. Have you been in business long here?

[00:15:42]>> How many years?

[00:15:43]>> 47.

[00:15:43]>> 47.

[00:15:44]>> So, your father was in business here also? Yeah, >> my father. My grandfather.

[00:15:48]>> And your grandfather also in this one shop?

[00:15:51]>> Yeah.

[00:15:52]>> Goodness me. And this is your son?

[00:15:54]>> No.

[00:15:55]>> Must will your son take over the business as well?

[00:15:59]>> Uh, no. Son is not.

[00:16:01]>> Uh-huh. Thank you. You've been very kind. Yes. Have a good day. Very nice of him to let me intrude and just look at Oh goodness. Are there any photographers out there?

[00:16:11]>> This is uh one of those times. Oops.

[00:16:13]Sorry.

[00:16:13]>> We're um if you don't mind. Which part of the world are you?

[00:16:16]>> I'm from Australia.

[00:16:17]>> Australia. Okay.

[00:16:18]>> And you?

[00:16:19]>> Which part of India?

[00:16:20]>> Delhi. But apparently I in Canada. I'm just here for a short visit.

[00:16:24]>> Oh, I see. I see.

[00:16:25]>> So good to see you.

[00:16:26]>> Yeah. And what can I ask what you what you're doing in Canada? What's your >> work as a consultant for a US startup?

[00:16:31]>> A US startup? Uh it then? Yeah.

[00:16:33]>> Not it. We are catering to South Asians.

[00:16:35]Are you recording it?

[00:16:36]>> Yeah, I am.

[00:16:37]>> Okay.

[00:16:38]>> Do you mind?

[00:16:39]>> No, that's okay. It's >> Can I ask you some questions? I'm interested about this. I'm interested because I meet a lot of people in Australia who are from India and I wonder what it is that um sort of motivates them to to to to leave. Is it pressure from family that you have to go to a developing country and and make money? Is it is it the prospect of a career or >> I think career is definitely one of the >> big big criteria but sorry >> sorry I'm sorry >> I'm so sorry I'm sorry >> I'm so sorry I'm so sorry sir my backpack just u I'll I'll commiserate I'll I'll compensate him >> that's okay that's >> it's fine so ideally I think it is situational but more more deeper you get to you will realize everyone has their own opinions but again generally speaking generally speaking it is u it is a career thing people prefer for a better careerh >> people prefer for a better lifestyle a safe and a better society to live in and for the future generations to come their idea is to you know settle down in something which is more developed give it to him >> I just want I just want to pay this man for knocking over his My apologies, sir.

[00:17:56]Take it, please. No, please.

[00:17:58]>> It doesn't matter. Please give it.

[00:17:59]>> No. No. I know. I just feel awful my backpack hitting it, you know.

[00:18:03]>> No, sir. So, please take it, please. No.

[00:18:05]No. Please.

[00:18:06]>> No. I know you're not begg. But my bag my bag took it. Please take it.

[00:18:11]>> Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry for hitting your produce. Yeah.

[00:18:15]>> I um I Yeah, I didn't I hope I didn't offend the man by offering him money when he says that, you know, we're not beggars. Um >> he took it the other way around, but that's okay. Yeah, it's a very confusing thing sometimes because you uh you know I understand that this is his produce you know and I knock some of it to the ground so I feel I should compensate >> and that's why I started it's all situational people vary every >> every 10 km you see different kind of people in India so people are kind people are humble but it all depends so >> very proud also I think yeah >> incredibly proud what was your name Sudep >> Sudep my name's Wayne thank you so much for coming up and saying hello Thank you.

[00:18:53]>> Thank you, sir. I apologize. Yeah. I felt like I obviously offended that man.

[00:18:58]And you know, it's um yeah, I can understand how he would take offense to that. He doesn't need my charity, but from my perspective, I um I felt that um I needed to compensate him for um for knocking over some of his uh spices.

[00:19:14]This is probably the most intricately carved building I've ever seen.

[00:19:19]It almost looks like it's made out of marble. It can't be made out of marble surely. But it's um like it's got that lattice. Someone's carved into there. At least concrete that it's lattice. Is it?

[00:19:30]What is it? It's the bank bank of India or something. Magnificent building.

[00:19:38]>> We're now heading into an area that's got some serious bulk produce.

[00:19:42]>> Hello, sir.

[00:19:45]Um, it's just everywhere and there looks like some type of a market ahead.

[00:19:51]>> And it looks really quite interesting to me.

[00:19:55]Let's go down an alley.

[00:19:57]>> I've just walked into the spice market and I've never had this experience before where I'm actually overwhelmed by whatever they've got in here. I don't know where it's coming from, but the air is thick with sp honestly. It's really thick. My nose is starting to get Sorry, sir. My nose is starting to become um agitated, annoyed.

[00:20:21]I've got to follow that smell.

[00:20:26]Like, it's just really overpowering.

[00:20:28]You'll hear people coughing and they're locals that are coughing.

[00:20:36]I'm >> getting in everyone's way here. G, it's really hectic.

[00:20:40]Right, we're Oh, goodness me. We're right in the middle of it. You can tell who the new guy is.

[00:20:49]>> I don't know what I'm looking at. It's all rather exotic to me. Smells wonderful, though. I can't I I'm sorry if I'm harping on or laboring on about this, but the um Hello, gentlemen. How are you? The uh the smell in here is just out of control. Out of control.

[00:21:11]Deals being done everywhere. I have no idea what these yellow things are.

[00:21:18]Hello, gentlemen. How are you?

[00:21:21]Lots of different chilies. Hello, sir.

[00:21:24]May I take a photograph? Yeah.

[00:21:26]Red chilies, orange chilies, pepper.

[00:21:37]Wow.

[00:21:39]It just goes on and on.

[00:21:42]>> I am going to leave. I really did. I really do wish I knew my spices cuz there's probably people watching this going, "Oh my god, there's this, that, and the other." And um he's walking straight past it and that must be quite frustrating. But um goodness me, it's just it's quite overpowering.

[00:22:03]It's quite overbearing. Like there's no escape. every breath you feel the uh it's not residue, the dust, the the and you have to get out. Well, I do anyway. And you'd think that I'd probably be able to handle it a little bit better being a smoker, but goodness me.

[00:22:28]>> Now I'm bending right over.

[00:22:31]Make your dash, pick your gap, go for it.

[00:22:34]>> Hey, how you doing?

[00:22:39]My word that was that was a sensory overload of the lungs and the nasal passages. That's the thing about India.

[00:22:46]No half measures. It's uh it's it's full throttle the full experience and um sure not for everyone but for some of us it's uh it's an absolute joy. I can tell you this good viewer. We we got our 10,000 steps in today and more.

[00:23:06]I'm actually getting a bit weary now, so we might make our way back.

[00:23:10]>> Someone was asking if they could uh see my room. I'll show you my room.

[00:23:14]>> I just got a tuk tuk on my way back to the hotel. And um they're picking up everyone they can. I've obviously paid too much because I don't know what the price is, but um it's often the case you uh you pay overpric.

[00:23:28]You pay an over. You overpay and uh they'll still pick up others along the way. I'm taking this back seat for myself, though.

[00:23:40]>> That was a really rewarding day for me, actually. I thrived in the dusty, chaotic, noisy environment of um Janney Chalk. Uh finishing it off at the end there with those that spice market. I've never had that experience before where I've been so overcome by the the spice dust. Um and causing you to cough and splutter and sneeze and you have to get out. It's just so overwhelming. Um wow.

[00:24:06]Yeah, really good day.

[00:24:10]So, a quick room tour for those who are interested. There was a couple of people that wanted to know what I was paying, where I'm staying. Uh 30 Australian a night through the app. Um, and 25 Australian a night uh direct to the hotel. I like it for a number of reasons. It's clean. It's modern. Um, it has fast Wi-Fi, of course. It has a safe, has the coffees and all that sort of stuff. Uh, out the window. Leave the leave the curtains pulled. But, um, I can't complain. It has fast Wi-Fi. You can watch anything on on TV that you you you care to watch. Um, it's clean. The bed's great. Uh the air the AC sorry is um yeah really really good. Um huge mirror there. Hello at the end of the day. I like it. I like it a lot. Um particularly those colors.

[00:25:06]I like the colors. That was a really really intense day actually. Um Old Delhi is a bit of a monster. It uh it takes it out of you. But I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed my time out on the streets. That's just about it for this one. As always, I hope you're well and happy in life and doing the things you want to do. described to be in India.