This postcard comes to you by means of the new Microsoft Wormhole feature, which allows users to send e-mail faster than the speed of typing fingers. That means it is being sent as I experience the material being described, well ahead of many other postcards still being processed by the systems. 

The picture to the right shows the entrance to the Connaught Hotel where I stayed during my three days in Delhi.

I spent three days here in Delhi trying to figure out how to get up to Urumqi in northwest corner of China. None of the travel agencies I consulted could find a way. So, I called the Chinese Embassy and learned ALL of the borders in Central Asia into China are closed, but one can enter Tibet Autonomous Region from Nepal and then there is no problem getting into Nepal from India. 

Finally, I discovered the present scheme: fly to Kathmandu, then over to the border with Tibet by bus with a group of at least five arranged by a travel agent, then on to Lhasa by another bus for our group, then desert the group and make a private reservation on an obscure Chinese airline for Chungdu. I've just had it confirmed by a travel agent in Kathmandu, so I think it is going to work.

The picture to the right shows a typical scene looking down the street which hosts the morning flower market in Delhi. 

As this special wormhole feature is only available on Windows XXPP, I may not be able to use it again for a while. So, if you get curious about my present whereabouts, drop me a note. I always try to immediately answer personal correspondence. 

The photo to the right shows a government building near the Connaught Hotel where I stayed the three nights I spent in Delhi. I didn't spend much time in the capital city sprawl as my main reason for coming here is to contact the Chinese embassy for information and visas.

The next picture on the right is a close-up of my auto-rickshaw driver, hired for an hour exploration of the city on the special national holiday of Holi. It occurs this year on a Saturday when everything is closed. The "colors" on his clothes say he has participated in the wild custom of indiscriminatingly throwing powdered paint on celebrants... and any hapless tourist who fails to vigorously protest quickly enough as the jubilant celebrants approach! 

As I write this I am simultaneously working on the next postcard from Bodhgaya, the place where Siddhartha first saw the light.

My flight for Kathmandu leaves tomorrow, so that's it for now... the worm hole is closing... More when I next find a friendly cyber cafe.

Peace,
Fred L Bellomy