New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Madhogarh and now Jaipur

This is not how I meant to keep my blog but unfortunately the internet is more than a luxury here in India, it's more like a mirage for us Westerners!  This is the first time since the start of this trip that I have been able to use anything requiring electricity really. 

Ok..New Delhi...oh my oh my...Mass chaos in the form of cars, motorbikes, tuk tuks, and rickshaws!  After settling in to the hotel and having our first meeting as a group (15 people:2 guys and the rest women) we went out for a nice dinner together.  While walking to the dinner our guide offered to take Sarah and I aside to find a chemist for Sarah's rash so while everyone else made their way into the restaurant Sarah and I followed Jitu to the chemist down the road.  While weaving our way through the mass chaos (no, there are no sidewalks) I was hit by a motorbike.  Yep..day one and wham!  Beyond having the wind knocked out of me it was fine but it was definitely a wake up call to how things work in Delhi!

The next morning we went by Metro to Old Delhi...it has loads of security since the bombings in Mumbai back in '98 so after going through a scanner and a pat down 13 of us (the women) piled into the women's only cart of the metro and our guide took the two men to the men's area of the carts...this is to give women riding the metro a sense of security and I have to say, I thought it was brilliant!
Old Delhi is as crazy as New Delhi but the transportation is more cows and ricksaw, not many cars or motorbikes.  We visited a Mosque (Muslim), it was really beautiful and kind of fun because we all had to dress in full length saris out of respect. 

After walking through the streets and looking at the old shops (tin roofs held up by wood sticks filled with very dusty half used merchandise) we went into a Sikh temple.  I LOVED it!!  It was huge and beautiful and everyone was warm and friendly.  This was the first time in Delhi I felt that I was somewhere welcoming.  I'm sure people are nice in Delhi but the men stare and act like pigs and there are very few women out and about.  -If I get a chance I'll geek out on why I loved the Sikh people in Delhi the most.

Agra

Not too much to say, friendier than Delhi, a lot less busy but similar in buildings and shops..very old, very dirty but still lovely in it's way.  Now, I thought Taj Mahal was going to be my highlite in this city but even though it was lovely it was the Red Fort that stole the show.  If you ever have time google it..Red Fort in Agra...HUGE and an amazingly cool history!  Going back to the Taj for a minute though, it was everything it was meant to be-gorgeous marble, huge etc..but the best part of it was that we were a MUCH bigger attraction than the Taj itself!  We were literally surrounded by heaps of Indians visiting the Taj and photographed like mad.  We stood for hours out of being polite to take 100s of photos with local Indian people there.  It was absolutely crazy but very sweet, they loved that we were there and I took a few addresses down so I could mail some photos back to India for these people as most of them don't have anyway of every printing off photos.  In return, one family invited Sarah, Kate, Heather and I to their home to stay with them in a more Southern part of India...very sweet!

Madhogarh

Or the village that now owns my heart...this one is a littrle inexplicable for me..it is a very small rural village filled with the most wonderful men, women and children I have ever had the fortune of meeting.  If I return to India, it will be for Madhogarh.  I wish I could upload my pictures now so you could all at least see this small village and these beautiful souls.  I got to hold baby goats, walk hand in hand sharing lessons in English with children as they corrected my Hindi, I watched women make necklaces right from cracking gems to drilling the holes in the stones and stringing the newly made beads into a necklace.  Weavers, yarn makers, farmers...just people...everything I came for was exceeded yesterday in this village.

As soon as I can post pics, I will!

I am just now in Jaipur but haven't started my journey through the city yet.  We are seeing a Bollywood film tonight after we FINALLY shower!!!!!!!!  It has been a really long time since I have peed in a real toilet or had a shower that wasn't some messed up hole you crouch over while kicking bugs away...ewww

Ciao for now!!!

Beijing to India-April 21-24/2011

Alrighty..so I survived my first flight over 5 hours, not going to lie..the jump from 5 to 11 hours is a big one, especially when you are the only person on a full flight of over 100 people with a broken tv!  At about hour 9 I started to panic pretty badly and did some yoga in the isle of the plane while bewildered Indian elders looked on..

At hours 10 through 11 I had my head between my legs throwing up a LOT of chana masala while a wonderful Chinese stewardess who spoke about 7 words in English took care of me.  The most memorable part of that last bit was when the wonderful stewardess took my hand in hers and sqeezed the crap out of a pressure point between my fingers.  I asked her if that was a way of reducing nausea and she said, "No, distract from belly with more pain"  haha awesome. And it worked!

Once in Beijing, China myself and two girls I met going on to Thailand went through customs together so we could leave for awhile as we all had a full day of layover ahead of us...might as well forget the plane ride with some amazing Chinese beer!  At customs I told the woman she could throw my water bottle out because I knew I couldn't take it, she said, "No no, it's ok" and threw it into my backpack as it went through the scanner.  On the otherside a man grabbed my water bottle and screamed at me, "NO WATER" and threw it half way across the room into a trash bin!  I looked back at the security woman who was smiling...I'll be back for her!

Once at a "restaurant" called, "Beer, burger, speghetti cafe" we ordered a round of beers and chilled out..it was wonderful!

After wandering around a little bit of Beijing for the day I went back to await my flight to Delhi praying that I would have better luck with my stomach and maybe sleep away the 7 hour flight!  I did pretty good, I slept about 5 hours and didn't throw up on anyone!!!

Once in Delhi a wonderful driver from Intrepid tours named Raj Singh picked me up and showed me some of the sites on the way to my hotel.  He showed me his house where his two little boys and wife were asleep (it was 4:30am) and the school where his 9 year old attends school.  We chatted lots about Bollywood films and he was surpised at my knowledge of all the actors and films but had a good laugh at my Hindi :-(  Apparently all the Indians in Vancouver are either lying to me about how well spoken I am or they have never been to India and heard locals speak! 

At the hotel Raj gave me his phone number so I could call him at the end of the trip and tell him if I still had strong feelings for India and it's culture after experiencing it first hand, he thinks I will fall more in love with it, I agree!

At the hotel, I learned that my friend Sarah, who was suppose to meet me in India from her travels in Nepal, had gone to the airport to find me...whoops!  The airport is a solid hour from our hotel and a VERY scary ride!  Lots of driving all over the roads, no real rules and lots of honking!  I was so worried about her and had no way of calling her to get her to come back.  One of the tours that was just ending took me out for breakfast while I was waiting and told me about the adventures I'll soon have...they could not tell me enough how beautiful, terrifying and life changing the trip was for them...I can't wait!!!!

Finally Sarah found me having breakfast with my new friends, we both screamed and ran for each other, the whole tour cheered that Sarah came back in one piece (I wouldn't stop talking about how worried I was or stop starring at the door)...I found it very cute of them and Sarah found it very confusing..lol.

Sarah and I took a walk through the streets of Delhi because our tour isn't meeting until 6pm tonight and she was bored.  I was content to sit around in my underwear watching Oprah with subtitles but Sarah has a much more adventursome spirit so off we went!  HOLY SHIT..pardon my french.  Mass chaos!  Men everywhere screaming to us to take their rickshaw into downtown square, men and children starring at us like they have never seen anything quite so bizarre as us before (I like to think they were starring at Sarah's insane rash from the spider that slept with her two nights ago but...;-)  We worked our way through some of the most broken, dirty, old streets and building I have ever seen, you can't truly understand this world until you see it.  Finally we stopped for a glass bottle of coke at a street vendor who made us sit on the bench beside him before he will give us the cokes, this is because he wants the bottles back afterward! ha!  In return he provides some respite from the non stop harrassment we are getting from rickshaws by telling them to go away while we are drinking his pop..the minute we are done I dragged Sarah back through the streets to our hotel, sweaty and a little stressed out.  Once inside, the people from the tour that just ended have a laugh at my face when we get back in, "How was that little taste of India for you? hahaha"  Very funny, I'm sure!

I'm happily back to being almost naked in my hotel room after enjoying curry and paneer with a mango lassi, nap time!!

Peace!

Packing April 20/11

Phew, I'm beat...watching my sister pack my bag for India was exhausting. Items my sister, the world traveller, packed in my ONE bag: 1 pair of pants, 1 shirt and 3 tank tops for under my 1 shirt, a money belt, bug spray, sunscreen, tooth brush etc.. What I contributed to the ONE bag I am bringing: hair straightener, camera and all my make up in a pretty new makeup bag.

I'm ready to go! Passport, Rupees, plane ticket, and traveller's visa (which as it turns out, does NOT dispense cash-they should really reconsider the name "visa", very misleading not to mention disappointing).

So I'm pretty sure I am going to be appointed a Swami upon visiting the temples in Rajasthan so please be sure and fully appreciate that I am providing you, my friends and family, with my words and wisdom for free at this time as popularity may force my hand at some point and you'll require a pay pal account or visa to access my scriptures. And by visa, I mean credit card, just to be clear.

Itinerary April 21/11

Days 1-2 Delhi
Chaotic Delhi is awash with historical sites, museums and markets. Visit the wonderful walled city of Old Delhi and see one of its most impressive buildings, the Jama Masjid. Join the crowds to explore the bazaars. Everything is for sale here from fireworks and silks to copper and spices.

Day 3 Agra
Travel by train to the Mughal city of Agra. Learn the tragic love stories and mysterious legends of the Red Fort. Visit the iconic Taj Mahal - constructed from marble and inlaid with jade, crystal and sapphire, it must be seen to be believed.

Day 4 Rural Rajasthan Heritage Stay
Journey to rural Rajasthan to stay at a royal family residence. Explore the village, meet villagers and chat with traditional craftspeople for a unique insight into local life.

Days 5-6 Jaipur
Visit the Amber Fort en route to Jaipur, Rajasthan's 'Pink City'. Jaipur is bursting at the seams with markets filled with jewellery, textiles and folk-based arts. After bargaining for souvenirs there's an opportunity to laugh, shout and cheer with locals at a lively Bollywood film.

Day 7 Ranthambore National Park
Safari into the heart of the Indian bush to discover lakes and ruined palaces. Keep an eye out for deer, monkeys and the reclusive resident Bengal tigers.

Day 8 Bundi
Journey through rural Rajasthan to Bundi. Admire stunning murals at the palace that presides over the town's Brahmin-blue rooftops, explore the enchanting alleyways and experience life in remote Rajasthan.

Days 9-10 Bijaipur
Experience the best of both worlds in Bijaipur. Camp lakeside under the stars then spend the next night in the luxurious Castle Bijaipur.

Days 11-12 Udaipur
Rolling hills, white marble palaces and lakes come together to make Udaipur the most romantic city in Rajasthan. Visit City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India.

Days 13-14 Pushkar
With India's only Brahma temple and a holy lake, Pushkar is the place to rub shoulders with pilgrims and sadhus (holy men). For a change of pace, take a camel ride into the desert and witness a magical sunset among the dunes. In free time, shop, explore or head to a hilltop temple for views over the town. A hot chai at the top makes the effort worthwhile!

Day 15 Delhi
Come full circle on return to the hum of Delhi.