The Taj Gallery

I just opened the Taj gallery. What an incredible place. If you ever find yourself in Agra, India, make sure you visit.

THE TAJ MAHAL!

India Photo Gallery!

I finally have a gallery of photos ready to go. It is the first one I have created and there will be more. This one is photos from our first few days in Delhi. I hope you like the pictures!

UPDATE: New link, above and a new gallery has been posted. Check it out!

Bourbon's

Today, I cracked the second party pack of Bourbons. Bourbon's are cookies that I discovered in India. Well, not so much discovered as was introduced too. Let me tell you, in India, I was loving these cookies. So much so that I bought two party packs and brought them home. I have to say they tasted better in India. I wonder why!

These pictures are from our first day or two in Delhi. The view? That is from our hotel. The street? That is the street our hotel was on. The dog up above? Who knows, just a nice dog that was near our hotel and clearly wanted its photo snapped; I obliged.






The lotus temple (below). It was a nice spot in the middle of the Delhi chaos. So calm and peaceful. We gave up control of our shoes so we could enter the temple. It was well worth it. The temple was quiet and offered us a moment to relax and reflect. I wanted to scream. The roof line would have made for an entertaining echo!










On the same day we saw India Gate. Here it is without all the tourist brochure photoshopping. It was well worth the stop. We milled around and took pictures. The children love having their pictures taken and both Taren and I were happy to do it.




As for the Bourbons. Well, I have three quarters of the party pack left in my cupboard. I will eat them. If you want one, let me know and we can share one. A little taste of India. And, if you are really lucky I could make some Masala tea to go with them. All you have to do is ask.

My Shirt has Spaghetti on it!

I'm Home

I have been back just shy of a week. I was exhausted after my journey home and I caught a cold. The past couple of days I have been taking it easy, eating well, and resting.

India is fading into my memory and today I was actually thinking about going back. Is that something I would ever do? I am still undecided. The pollution puts me off, as does the constant badgering from people wanting money. However, I would like to see the south and, more so, Leh Ledak.

I was reviewing some of my pictures and I can see in the pictures the contrast and contradiction of India. The amazing beauty reflected in the Taj Mahal and the incredible mess, reflected here in this street picutre.

On the way home I spent about 2 hours in Paris. What an incredible place, and such an oasis after my time in India. I wandered the streets, not straying too far, as I had a plane to catch and the threat of rain was looming. I did find a wonderful street with little cafes and food shops. I love the picture of the shop with the little dog tied inside. He is waiting while his owner shops. Here are the first pictures of Paris.

I also wanted to share these two photos. Because one shows my travelling friend Taren, at the Taj Mahal, and the second shows Taren, Alanah and Sarah. Take in that photo and how these women stand out, 3 beauties among the chaos. We eventually lost site of them as their ricshaw driver raced away ahead of us. We did, finally, catch up to them back at our hotel.

Agra

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...

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.

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...

In the picture left to right... Tom; me; Krishna; Sarah; Shivani; Taren

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...

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!

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.

India

I have been planning on tripping off to India (click the picture but come back and read my blog). I am leaving on November 7 for 21 days. I have asked everyone in asking range about India and what I should expect. I have had lots of advice and some great tips from everyone from the employees at MEC to famous world travellers (well one famous world traveller). I have purchased a small pharmacy, a new digital camera, cargo pants and more tissue than I would use in a year. I also have a rolling piece of luggage I borrowed. I am going to purchase a pair of Keen Sandals and that should set me on my way.

Since my Wanderlust friend started me off on this journey I have come to learn that India is overwhelming; I will return a different person. I tell myself that I am okay with that, when I consider the past few years a different person inside me will be welcome. I am also telling myself that I can manage the poverty and the dirty water. I am telling myself that I can accept another culture and I will be okay seeing dead cows floating down the Ganges. I am telling myself that armed with this information I will be able to avoid the meltdowns that others have had. I will walk in eyes wide and take in India’s amazing and ancient culture. I will be okay.

I wonder. Spain and one day in Morocco years ago will not compare. As I sit here typing this I am thinking about seeing the amazing sights. I cannot begin to imagine poverty on that level or the other things I have heard about. It is simply not part of my life experience. One well-travelled friend told me not to be one of those people that comes back and gets pissed at people that complain about their lattes. I will endeavour not too but I am not sure I can make any promises. I hope she can forgive me.

With exactly two weeks to go I am coasting into the experience. I am ready to go. I need to take the Dukoral vaccine tomorrow and then again in 7 days. I have all my shots; the Typhoid vaccine knocked me down but I am back up and ready. I am not sure there is anything else I can do to prepare.

My pictures coming soon and my Departures in 14 days and counting…