Reminiscence! Indian and Nepal!

For our Indian and Nepal adventure, we again chose Intrepid. "Highlights of India and Nepal" and "Inside out Kathmandu" In countries such as these it is easier and safer to travel with a tour group.  The tour traveled from Delhi, all around the North of India to Kathmandu in Nepal. In Kathmandu we joined another tour to hike around the spectacular Himalayas.  We stayed in luxury and squalor (by Western standards) and tried a variety of transport; train, tuk tuk, camel cart, car, push bike, bus, canoe, safari jeep, boat, house boat ( just to name a few). And of course, we ate all the foods!


Helpful Hints!

- Our highlights of India tour was 19 days. We felt it was just a tad too long. A fortnight is a good length of time.
- Don't feel you have to do every activity offered. If you are not interested, don't do it.
- In Delhi, we were offered an optional half day tour to see the sights. Cost was $40 US per person and we did not get to see all. It would have worked out better to hire a taxi for 4 hours ( $20 ) and visit what is of interest yourself.
- You do not have to go with the group to every group meal.
-  Give the Radisson in Varansi a wide berth. " The Great Kabab factory" is over priced and not very nice.
- Try all the traditional foods on offer. The guides know what is safe in relation to street foods. We had fabulous samosa, masala tea, momos and lassi from street vendors and lived to tell the tale.
- If decanting vodka into a water bottle ensure you mark the bottle. A good swig of vodka when brushing your teeth goes down a treat.
- Gin and rum are the spirits of choice in that part of the world. Old Monk Rum very nice indeed.
- Organise a tip kitty. Each member of the tour pays an agreed amount into the kitty to be used by guide to pay tips along the way.

In summation, the tours were excellent. They offer a great assortment of activities and immerse you in the culture and lifestyle of India and Nepal.
Nameste!

Outstanding Orchha

We stand on the edge of the dilapidated bridge as the river rages. The sun bathes us in its orche embrace as we share the bridge with the oncoming trucks . As the sunset burns the landscape and silhouettes the Cenotaph of Maharaja Sujan Singh, we hold our breath as the whiff of petrol fumes gags in our throat and the vacuum of air from the passing trucks sucks us towards the rivers depth.  The sacrifice was worth it to capture mother nature at her most vulnerable; that period where the day weeps away and the night roars.  Babas emerge from unknown crevices and fasten themselves to rocks to meditate. In an attempt to gather some understanding of the Hindu way we watch the Priest give out blessings to the masses as he bathes them in rosewater and basil. The poverty of village life becomes prevalient in the subsistence lifestyle and their dependence on cottage industries.  School children make their way to resource poor classrooms in a hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and we sample freshly prepared food cooked in an authentic kitchen.

In Orchha, grandeur is captured in stone, frozen in time; a rich legacy of the ages.  The palaces and temples built by its Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries,  retain much of their pristine perfection.  Orchha boasts the Raj Mahal, Lexminarayan temple as well as the impressive Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful chhatris, where monkeys trapeze across rooftops and rabid dogs howl.

As we sit by the sacred river and watch garlands of marigolds float by, we are again entranced by the beauty of India.

JAIPUR - The Pink City.

If we thought Delhi was mad, then Jaipur is on another planet. Sacred cows roam freely on major road ways, monkeys share the stage with goats, feral pigs, camels and the locals. The city is bathed in orche as the claustrophobic mass of people swirl past. The flower market with its rose petals and marigolds provide a strong contrast to the grime of the city.

The mighty Jantar Mantar sundail stands sentinel like commanding time, snake charmers scam with their hypnotic melody, decorated elephants transport visitors up to the gates of the Amber fort, whilst black faced monkeys squawk their welcome.  Again we sample the local street cuisine and watch in amusement as a sacred cow dines with us!  Bollywood calls and we join the locals at the cinema to to watch Action Jackson in all his Hindu glory.  We visit the Hawarmahal aka  Palace of the Winds which stands monolithic like with its decorative gates that represent  the four seasons. As another day in Jaipur comes to an end we sit on the rooftop of our hotel, a Kingfisher beer in our hands and watch the sky come alive with dualling kites.

Delhi: A city of contradictions!

India is a land of contradictions; it has immense beauty and abject squalor,  ancient wonders and a city in decay. It is a city that gets under your skin.  The Delhi  that we experienced had streets strangled with traffic, beggars pleading, a sepia landscape that washes over the people and its surroundings,  hawkers peddling their trade whilst monkeys smile down from balconies, and all manner of animals merander along the streets.

We wonder through alley ways crammed with life; our taste buds are massaged by freshly brewed Chai as we sample the mighty Samosa from the street vendors and sit to watch the hectic life that is Delhi go by.  Our ear drums reverberate to the constant sound of horns and our eyes water from the pollution and black snot escapes with every tissue blown.  Amongst the chaos we witness great beauty; the Sheik Temple that provides free food and lodging for those in need, Lodi Park with the Shish - Gumbad tombs, the ancient water wells of Ugrasen ki Baoli , Indian Gate and the Presidential Palace and the smile of young children brought to life by a simple clip on Koala.

Our first taste of India smashes the senses but it also slowly worms itself into your heart.