Vicy in India 2008

Jaipur!

2009-02-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well I am back in Jaipur! Was planning to do some of the south, but seeing as all the places I need to go to are up North, I thought to myself 'Where better place to go for Holi?' and the added bonus that the Elephant Festival also starts on the same day, 21st March!!

So I arrived in the Pink City - it's kind of nice to know your way around a little, although I missed so much last time as all the tourist places closed during the tribal problems - I am back and the place is safe :)

I've spent some time catching up with an old friend and seeing many places. Went to see the City Palace yesterday, and the Amber Fort today, along with the Monsoon Palace and Jantar Mantar. Seeing as I am here for a while I will try and get some photos up on this blog! The weather is nice, varying between cool, cloudy with a little rain to blazing hot sunshine and blue skies - perfect!!

I hired a moped to drive round the city and visited Amer, the small village outside Amber Fort. Have also visited many temples, places and have lots of photos to put on!! Took some time before Holi to go and see Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, catching the train back to Jaipur though Bikaner! Spent spare time exploring parts of Jaipur I haven't seen, meeting up with old friends and see bollywood movies like Race and Black and White that are screening at the moment :)

A few photos from Mumbai

2009-02-19T13:18:00.000-08:00

Back in Mumbai

2009-02-19T13:12:00.000-08:00

Mumbai is really humid ate the moment. I thought I would get used to it, but there are some days where you get slight breeze that helps a little but other days you just sweat, get hot and sticky, and it's doesn't change much at night time! I stayed at India Guest House in Colaba, the rooms are small but very clean, and for a single it's only 300 rupees a night - good for Mumbai!

Spent the days here seeing places I missed last time. Colaba is a pretty mad place, and you don't actually feel like you are in India. It's great to head down to Crawford market, and the surrounding bazaars. Chor Bazaar and Grant Road are also interesting to see, and you actually get left alone, no one bothers you this side of town.

Busaba is a hip and trendy (expensive) bar, but nice for a change, you really get to see the difference in affluence in Mumbai quickly!

Around the corner from India Guest House is street leading back up to the main Street in Colaba and the Colaba Market. Not far up it, a man named Shankar works there on the pavement, fixing items and polishing shoes, he is an amazing person to talk to and many people call him their guru - so if you ever take the time to stop and talk to him (he is well know, worldwide and on that street) please tell him Victoria said to come to talk to him :) He is a fountain of knowledge and advice, and many people will tell you wonderful things about him!

As most of journey is planned for up North I'm heading back up through Jaipur, as I have things to do there! Bye Bye Mumbai!!

Mount Abu Photos

2009-02-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

Mount Abu, Rajasthan

2009-02-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

AArgh!! I hate private buses!! After being promised an uncomplicated trip from Pushkar to Mt Abu (silly me for listening!) I finally arrived in Mount Abu 5 hours late. The bus from Ajmer that was supposed to be a direct transfer, I finally got to after 4 taxi rides around Ajmer, a long wait at a tourist stand, before being dropped off on the side of a busy road waiting until 12.30am! So much for the 7pm direct sleeper bus from Pushkar! Oh well.. this is India!

I was really surprised by Mt Abu, it has a lovely climate, hot and sunny in day times, cool at nights and I'm staying in Shri Ganesh Hotel, where it is good value for money and friendly staff. I spent some time by the lake, at the Jain Dilwara temples and Adhi Devi, the Cave Temple. The Brahma Kumaris are based here (Daughters of Brahma), who basically believe in spiritual principles based on all religions having the same goal and that we can attain peace by soul realisation and meditation.I went to their museum and the university, and was enlightened by their ideas! People are so friendly there and it is definitely a worthwhile stop, there is much to see and do.

One morning I went for a trek with some others from the same hotel, where we climbed some mountains are saw different things, like the Christ statue (imitation of Brazil), various wildlife, and palaces etc!! Highly recommend the treks (100 rupees each), especially the night time ones, where you can see panthers and bears, and the ones to sunset point for sunset!

It was a nice break to be in Mount Abu, in Rajastan - I don't know why the trav buddy map has gone bonkers and made out I flew to the coast of Africa lol - any suggestions?

Pushkar Pics

2009-02-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

Pushkar, Rajasthan

2009-02-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

I got into Pushkar about 8.30 pm, and made my way round the lake to the hotel. I stayed in OM, it's swimming pool had not yet been filled up but the room was 100 rupees a night, and they have a really cool pet tortoise there who eats bananas!

It is so relaxed in Pushkar and you get no hassle from any of the shop owners, you do get a few guys chasing you with flowers to make 'puja' or celebrate 'brahma' festival. I decided to get it over and done with to get my 'pushkar passport' a bit of red and yellow string that's tied round your right wrist, you can actually buy a meter of the stuff for 5 rupees, so it's not worth the hassle and the money. I only gave 50 rupees and the guy wasn't very happy with me, so I told him that God didn't need money, it seemed to work, and no more hassle from people trying to give me flowers for the lake!

I took time to relax here and soak up the scenery and ambiance of the place, it's a great place to meet other travellers and to my surprise, there weren't actually a huge amount of tourists there.

Monkeys at the ghats I decided from there to go to Mount Abu, although recommend getting the train from Ajmer for a hassle free trip, you can get a local jeep from Abu road to Mount Abu and as they are shared it's only 20 rupees per person.

Sunset Cafe and the ghats are probably one of the best places to sit and watch the sunset, people are playing music there, and a lot of people go to watch it, you can here the bells ringing out from temples across the lake - wow.

Pictures of Agra, the Taj Mahal and Yamuna River

2009-02-19T12:26:00.001-08:00

Agra, and the Taj Mahal

2009-02-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

I had a good breakfast from the rooftop of the Hare Krishna hotel and made my way up to the train station at New Delhi. Had an interesting chat whilst waiting at the platform for the train to Agra! Has anyone else ever noticed how they play the Windows start up and shut down tunes over the tannoy? You can also pass a lot of time by counting how many rats are running around the rail tracks! Had a pleasant trip to Agra, took about 3 1/2 hours in total passing through Mathura (the birthplace of Krishna).

I arrived in Agra Cantonment (in my bid for a less polluted India I try to take the cycle rickshaws whenever possible, they need the money and it's much better for environment), and made my way to the Taj Ganj area, where I stayed in Shanti Lodge for one night - good hotel!
In the afternoon I spent about 4 hours at the Taj Mahal, no pictures of photos can do it justice in comparison to seeing it in real life! I felt amazed to be standing in front of one of the worlds wonders, it was lovely to have time to reflect on life there as it has a really calming presence.

The Taj Mahal
The change in colour of the Taj Mahal is magnificent as you see it in bright white in the sunshine, and then changes to a yellowish colour as the sun sets. I was amazed by how many people were actually there, and by the amount of Indian Tourists wanting to take my photo there.... it's happens to loads of tourists in India!

Had food back at hotel late at night, and tries to get a good sleep as my train is leaving at 6.20am for Jaipur!

Pictures from Delhi

2009-02-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

First week back in Delhi

2009-02-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

My first week in India has had it ups and downs. I was so excited for my trip, the flight went smoothly, and food was fab. I flew with Air India from London Heathrow and had great India style plane food. The only thing that made me giggle was the air hostesses coming through the aisles with can of air freshener 2 hours after the main meal! Landed in Delhi late Monday night so went straight to the hotel in Parharganj.I spent the first 2 days getting used to things. On Tuesday there was a large Hindu Temple procession though the main bazaar, in the afternoon I caught the metro to see the Jama Masjid Mosque up close and have a walk through Meena Bazaar and other food markets. Wednesday was also pretty relaxed, just adapting to the loud 's from traffic every second, smells, colours, noises etc.

A common sight - Hindu Temple Ceremony running through Parharganj from the temple.Unfortunately I got sick on Wednesday night so was stuck in the hotel for a couple of days, things were not improving so called a Dr to my room. I was taken to the medical clinic as I was suffering from Dysentery and bad dehydration problems! I was hooked up on an IV line for fluid and antibiotics so that really helped a lot. I am now fine, feeling a lot better and set for travelling!I spent Sunday with a family who live behind the train tracks as I wanted to learn more about life here, and what it is was like for the railway families. I had an amazing time there. So it is now Monday and I'm feeling fit, recovered and motivated so I am off to Agra to see the Taj Mahal tomorrow!I would also like to recommend Hare Krishna Hotel in Main Bazaar, Paharganj. It has clean, nice rooms for about 300 rupees a night, with a lovely rooftop terrace and very nice staff!

From the beginning

2009-02-03T09:28:00.001-08:00

Hey! I know a lot of people haven't caught up with my travel site, so I am posting a blog of India 2008 up with all the photos! Hope you're all fine :)