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 :)
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Back in Mumbai
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!!
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, Rajasthan
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?
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, Rajasthan
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.
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.
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