Experiencing Dehli one day at a time

After travelling some 28¹/² hours (inclusive of layovers) to India for the Commonwealth Games, I do believe it's going to take a great degree of convincing to get me in another airplane for some time. I think I have done my quota for the next three years, at least.

In fact, my trip started at 6 a.m. Friday (Jamaica time) and ended over a day later at 10:30 on Saturday morning.

My entire Ipod library, five movies (some I promised myself I would never watch) and Mitch Albom's Thursdays with Morrie provided some well-appreciated company for much of the journey, but it still seemed as if time had stood still.

Earlier in the day, an immigration officer at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport seemed determined to engage me in a discussion about Usain Bolt, a topic that seems to follow me everywhere I go in these parts.

"I'm not even an athletics fan, but when someone does what he has done, you just have to take notice," exclaimed the officer. I nodded in approval.

At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the choice of conversation for many of the locals was the same.

"Why did you guys leave Bolt?" asked an enthusiastic volunteer, as he escorted me and a group of fellow media personnel to our transportation detail.

All in all, mine has been a rather pleasant experience so far in Delhi and there is little to suggest that things would not get even better.

Oh, before I forget, I must say, after only one night in Delhi, I can safely say that I have never seen a worst bunch of drivers anywhere in the world. They almost make our Jamaican taxi and bus operators look like road angels. Each rotation of the wheel is met with near misses and irritated commuters. It is so hostile on the Delhi streets and the cars swerve so close to each other that the drivers do not even drive with their side mirrors extended.

Hindi word of the day: 'Namaste' which means 'Hi' or 'Hello'.

Coverage of the 2010 Commonwealth Games brought to you by