I saw the Taj Mahal. What an amazing place. It is just spectacular. When I get home I will post my pictures. Well, not all of them I took well over 100 pictures of the place! The Taj has made this whole trip worth the effort and pain! :) Off to Varanasi tonight on the overnight train. 3 days there and then back to Delhi.
I am looking forward to being home...
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Jaipur Day 2
We had a good day. We went to a paper factory, textile factory and a pottery factory. We met some local people and had tours of each place by the people that run them. We then went to see the Hawa Mahal. Interesting place, although, it too, is falling apart. It is sad really.
I am back feeling like I want to leave. I need fresh air! I need a good meal. When I buy groceries I want them to be clean! Oh well, when in Rome, as I keep saying.
Tomorrow we leave for the Taj Mahal. We are catching a train at 5am. I think the trip is about 5 hours. That should be a breeze! I am looking forward to the Taj and we all have agreed the 750 Rp fee to get in is worth it. How can you come all this way and not go in?
I am off now. I am only paying for 30 minutes of Internet time. I am going to go relax. Update again when I can.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Pushkar
We left this morning and not a moment too soon. This little town in the mountains is the Holy City. Interesting rules like, men and woman cannot embrace in public. You cannot take pictures of anyone in the lake. This is the holy city of India.
Right.
There are drugs on every corner and anything else you may want to get into it. Apparently it has the highest rate of HIV in the country. Lots of foreigners go there just for the drugs and sex. The dirty gypsy look is high fashion. It had an under tone that I happen is behind us.
We took our last bus trip. 4 hours. It was the express bus so it only stop 92 times! The roads are fun if you are into racing and playing chicken. We are now in Jaipur. It is another crazy city. I was a bit disappointed with the Hawa Mahal. It is not such a grand palace. It is right in the middle of the chaos!
Our time is drawing to a close and I am looking forward to heading home. However, there is still the Taj Mahal and Varanasi. I am looking forward to both. And with any luck Paris.
This picture was taken by Taren. It is us at the top on a mountain. There is a temple behind us and we climbed all 2000 steps to see the sunrise. We were worn out and wondered why the hell we did this. A 5am climb in the dark up the side of a mountain. In the end it was worth it. One good memory from Pushkar...
Right.
There are drugs on every corner and anything else you may want to get into it. Apparently it has the highest rate of HIV in the country. Lots of foreigners go there just for the drugs and sex. The dirty gypsy look is high fashion. It had an under tone that I happen is behind us.
We took our last bus trip. 4 hours. It was the express bus so it only stop 92 times! The roads are fun if you are into racing and playing chicken. We are now in Jaipur. It is another crazy city. I was a bit disappointed with the Hawa Mahal. It is not such a grand palace. It is right in the middle of the chaos!
Our time is drawing to a close and I am looking forward to heading home. However, there is still the Taj Mahal and Varanasi. I am looking forward to both. And with any luck Paris.
This picture was taken by Taren. It is us at the top on a mountain. There is a temple behind us and we climbed all 2000 steps to see the sunrise. We were worn out and wondered why the hell we did this. A 5am climb in the dark up the side of a mountain. In the end it was worth it. One good memory from Pushkar...
In the picture left to right... Tom; me; Krishna; Sarah; Shivani; Taren
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Udaipur India
We are on day 9 of our journey. This city, Udaipur, is a beautiful place. The Lake Palace is amazing and is the home of the current Maharahan - I am not sure I have that term correct but it means he is the King of King's. His Palace is an oasis of peace in this very busy city. Having said that, I must say, that Udiapur is actually peaceful in comparison to the places we have been. Perhaps it is the lake, or the gardens, or simply that I am coming accustom to the many tuk tuk's and motorcycles.
Tomorrow morning our journey will continue. We all meet at 5am to catch the train to Pushkar. I believe it will be a 5 hour trip. We are all thrilled that, on this ride, we will have access to a washroom! It takes some planning to ride a bus for 10 hours with only one pee break!
Today, I am taking it easy. I am attempting to get rid of my cold. It has become a night time cough and I would like to shake it off. Everyday is so full of activity and rest, is really, not part of the agenda. I left Taren at the Palace and I headed back to the hotel. I met up with some others from our group and had lunch. I had a brownie with ice cream! Is that a lunch? It was a fortune at 250 RP's! Buying any kind of imported drink is very expensive (before you get on my back about having a brownie while I am suffering with a cold, that is the exception. We had a great breakfast at the home of our tour leader. And, for the most part, I am eating well).
But enough of my lunch choices, back to the adventure of India.
The strangeness of India is starting to change. The other day while shopping, one of the girls casually said to Taren, "watch out there is a cow coming". They both kept on shopping without giving that a thought! I laughed and thought, you know you have accepted it when warning someone of an approaching cow, while shopping, has become common place.
Still, I find myself in amazement of the history, the people and the activity. As I take in the country I have been struck by the two extreme opposites that exist here. The ancient history, traditions, temples, the monarchy and then there is the impact of the modern world. It is like these two parts have collided and the chaos was born from it. I think the Indian people are faced with a choice. Let go of the past and embrace the future or remain in this chaos. Or, perhaps they can find a way to merge the two and truly create a unique and vibrant lives for themselves.
This photo of me was taken the other day in Jodhpur. We were in the Vishnu community and these children took a liking to me. They had many questions for me. Where was I from? What was my name? What was my religion? I had easy answers for the first two questions, but they did not understand that I had "no religion".
As our journey continues, I find I am more and more open to the culture and this experience. I had my difficult moments with this, accepting that people live in such poverty and filth. I was warned, before I left, but it is something you simply have to experience and then work out for yourself.
I have lots of pictures. I do not, however, have a way to get them off my camera! The picture posted above is one I took off Taren's blog. She has the whole set up so she can upload pictures. Check it out as we often have similar shots and she has some pretty good ones of me and her and our India trek.
Taren's Wander Lust Blog
Until I can blog again...
Tomorrow morning our journey will continue. We all meet at 5am to catch the train to Pushkar. I believe it will be a 5 hour trip. We are all thrilled that, on this ride, we will have access to a washroom! It takes some planning to ride a bus for 10 hours with only one pee break!
Today, I am taking it easy. I am attempting to get rid of my cold. It has become a night time cough and I would like to shake it off. Everyday is so full of activity and rest, is really, not part of the agenda. I left Taren at the Palace and I headed back to the hotel. I met up with some others from our group and had lunch. I had a brownie with ice cream! Is that a lunch? It was a fortune at 250 RP's! Buying any kind of imported drink is very expensive (before you get on my back about having a brownie while I am suffering with a cold, that is the exception. We had a great breakfast at the home of our tour leader. And, for the most part, I am eating well).
But enough of my lunch choices, back to the adventure of India.
The strangeness of India is starting to change. The other day while shopping, one of the girls casually said to Taren, "watch out there is a cow coming". They both kept on shopping without giving that a thought! I laughed and thought, you know you have accepted it when warning someone of an approaching cow, while shopping, has become common place.
Still, I find myself in amazement of the history, the people and the activity. As I take in the country I have been struck by the two extreme opposites that exist here. The ancient history, traditions, temples, the monarchy and then there is the impact of the modern world. It is like these two parts have collided and the chaos was born from it. I think the Indian people are faced with a choice. Let go of the past and embrace the future or remain in this chaos. Or, perhaps they can find a way to merge the two and truly create a unique and vibrant lives for themselves.
This photo of me was taken the other day in Jodhpur. We were in the Vishnu community and these children took a liking to me. They had many questions for me. Where was I from? What was my name? What was my religion? I had easy answers for the first two questions, but they did not understand that I had "no religion".
As our journey continues, I find I am more and more open to the culture and this experience. I had my difficult moments with this, accepting that people live in such poverty and filth. I was warned, before I left, but it is something you simply have to experience and then work out for yourself.
I have lots of pictures. I do not, however, have a way to get them off my camera! The picture posted above is one I took off Taren's blog. She has the whole set up so she can upload pictures. Check it out as we often have similar shots and she has some pretty good ones of me and her and our India trek.
Taren's Wander Lust Blog
Until I can blog again...
Saturday, November 07, 2009
7 hours
I am ready to go. I think. I still feel like I have a cold and my anxiety level is so high, I needed a kick in the ass to get out of bed! I am packed and I have all the things I believe I need. Now, if I can just calm my nerves.
I think part of the anxiety is that I am not in control of when I leave. That is why I love road trips. You can get ready, take your time, and then leave whenever you want. I am also all worked up about the unknown. Actually, the truth is, I am worked up about losing all my creature comforts. I like my bed and my safe zone here in Toronto. I know my way around and I know what I need to do and when. Why would I leave all this comfort, to travel in a foreign place, where I can get sick from drinking the water? Oh, right, because you only live once and having some adventure, is good for the soul.
Apparently, this is exactly what I need. No doubt, in 2 days, I will be having a great time and all this will seem ridiculous. I am looking forward to seeing Taren and I am looking forward to the adventure. I guess I just wish the adventure could happen from the comfort of my own bed!
I think part of the anxiety is that I am not in control of when I leave. That is why I love road trips. You can get ready, take your time, and then leave whenever you want. I am also all worked up about the unknown. Actually, the truth is, I am worked up about losing all my creature comforts. I like my bed and my safe zone here in Toronto. I know my way around and I know what I need to do and when. Why would I leave all this comfort, to travel in a foreign place, where I can get sick from drinking the water? Oh, right, because you only live once and having some adventure, is good for the soul.
Apparently, this is exactly what I need. No doubt, in 2 days, I will be having a great time and all this will seem ridiculous. I am looking forward to seeing Taren and I am looking forward to the adventure. I guess I just wish the adventure could happen from the comfort of my own bed!
Monday, November 02, 2009
India Images
This picture triggered an old familiar feeling inside of me. It is a tipping point of sorts that can take me onto the road of depression. I am saddened by this picture because I imagine this man’s life to be sad. One wasted in poverty and uselessness (I just reread this and I wanted to point out that my comment is not the he was or is wasted and useless just that sometimes our lives can be... or at least it can feel or appear that way). It makes me remember that I wanted my life to be fulfilling and worth something. I think that I am going to make the choice not to be dragged down by the feeling. I will feel it and nothing more.
Next week at this time I will be in Delhi with a great friend of mine. I will see first hand how the second largest population on Earth lives. I will get sick at some point and get over it. I will be tired and up but not down. I will not be down because I will be having an adventure. Something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will take pictures of old sad men and I will think of ways to improve the human condition. Who knows, maybe when I get home I'll start a website.
Check out Jennifer Wells's blog on India (photo taken by Jennifer Wells) and Taren's on Thailand. But come back to mine and comment and read more things.
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