Mr. Singh - rickshaw driver - Today we reconnected with our Mr. Singh. We asked him to drive us around the old Delhi, the center of the Moghul capital, where we wanted to stop and look at the 'Friday Mosque.' Mr. Singh was thrilled to have employment for 3 1/2 solid hours. He was a little less talkative today than on our first meeting, but still tossed out tidbits for us as he sped through the city manoevering as though he thought himself 007. After particularly narrow misses (we had at least a dozen) he let out a delighted throaty chuckle. Mr. Singh's version of Extreme Sport? :) A big consolation is that he can't get up to very high speeds with the moped motor and lugging the three of us around.

Amazingly, there is no reverse on the rickshaw. Perhaps it isn't so amazing, there is no reverse on a moped either! It still strikes us as such a contrast with the speedy handling when Mr. Singh puts his foot outside the rickshaw and pushes the conveyance back a few feet to enable him to wriggle his way out forwards at a better angle. There is something reminiscent of the Flintstones about it.

Mr. Singh must have earned some brownie points today: he took us today to see his friend/connection with the state approved travel agency on 'Imperial backside' (read: on street behind the Imperial hotel) who specializes on tours to Rajasthan; AND he guided us round a large Sikh temple in the old town. The photo is taken in the Sikh dining hall and all visitors are required to take off their shoes and wash feet and hands and wear the attractive head coverings. Mr. Singh is the one with the more dignified head covering. :)

Our intrepid driver had great relish in introducing us to INA market today. He was correct: they had everything in the cramped stalls that we can find in the two other markets that cater to expatriots, but at a better price. More of Mr. Singh's entrepreneurial spirit inspiring him to provide more value to his customers. We are grateful beneficiaries.

He refused to put the taxi meter on for the afternoon's jaunt stating that we were his guests. :) It was a pleasure to see his satisfaction in our payment. I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Mr. Singh over the next months.