I wish you could smell this...!

1. A group of young Indian men on a Friday night smells similar to the perfume area in a British department store, but on steroids. Imagine a quarter of a bottle of aftershave per person and there's a group of 30. It's actually pretty refreshing after some of the other smells... see below.

2. The Nala... This is a shit river. Literally. It is an open air sewerage system, pretty common in Delhi. I walk/ drive over it on the way to the market every day. The smell feels like a very personal and insightful insult, or being slapped in the face with a porcupine and most of the spikes go up your nose.

3. The spice market: Cumin, saffron, tumeric, tamarind,cardamon, pepper, ginger, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, all in one sniff.

4. Meat market. This is not a smelling experience I can put into words. If you are ever in New Delhi, go to the INA market and find the meat section. Make sure you enter from the far side for full effect.

5. Car fumes. Delhi traffic is intense. It used to be so bad that they converted all public transport to CNG (compressed natural gas). This apparently improved the 'choking of Delhi', but it has not improved the 'choking of Casey'.

6. Masala tea. 3 times a day, I receive a mug of steaming masala tea on my desk. I don't ask for it, it's just assumed I want it (which I do). It's made from masala spices, full cream milk, normal tea and about 6 spoons of sugar. Mmmm... when's the next one coming

7. Arriving home to food. We recently hired a woman to cook and clean for us. After 2 months of take aways, opening the front door to home cooking is a knee weakening experience.

8. The sea. Ok, so there is no sea in Delhi, but there is a sea in Cape Town and at the moment, home sickness smells just like the ocean.