Dec 14, 2018 - Mumbai

The flight from Udaipur was good but the landing in Mumbai was questionable as we seemed to change directions multiple times once we hit the tarmac. We were excited. Security before and after the flight was very heavy and a result of the terrorist attacks a few years ago when hundreds lost their lives. We always felt safe and appreciative of the checking points. The drive to our hotel was slow because of heavy traffic but unlike all other places we've visited horn blowing was minimal and things seemed like 'organised chaos'. Following the...

Dec 12, 2018 - Udaipur

Another 5 hour drive got us to our next stopover, Udaipur, the 'City of Lakes'. Along the way we visited Ranakpur and its Jain temples, one of the sects main holy places. Though over 500 years old the temples were in near perfect condition and extremely interesting. The drive was an interesting one but did have its moments. On a few occasions we were confronted with oncoming traffic which normally would not have been any concern except these were in our lane and required some changes in direction. Our driver simply made the appropriate...

Dec 10, 2018 - Jodhpur

Jodphur, the Blue City on the edge of the Thar Desert and the second largest city in Rajasthan ,was our next stopover and was impressive with its 10km long encircling protective wall and other fortifications. When it came to fortresses Jodhpur's Mehrangarth Fort was excessive. The Pearl, the Flower and the Mirror Palaces were all located within its walls and all were impressive. That amazing complex was built in 1459AD and houses a fascinating display of elephant seats called 'howdahs' and an armoury full of all sorts of weaponry. We made...

Dec 7, 2018 - Jaipur

Next stop was Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan. Its red sandstone buildings definitely gave credence to it being known as the 'pink city'. The mixture of Hindu and Mughal architecture fitted well together in the 1592 Amber Fort built from sandstone and marble. The extremely impressive 5 storey, 953 window Hawa Mahal Palace got our attention. Ladies from the royal household were able to watch everyday life through the intricately carved honeycombed windows known as 'jharokhas”. The architectural astronomical instrument collection of Jantar...

Dec 5, 2018 - Agra

One of Gilli's dreams came true when we visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. It was magnificent and she was ecstatic. It took 20000 workers over 22 years from 1631 to construct the opulent mausoleum and it remains impressive. A tonga ride was less impressive but fun. The tough little pony used for our personal ride was called upon to haul not only the four of us but also the driver, our guide and a 'hanger on'....plus the cart! The Agra Fort built in 1666AD was another spectacular feature of the city which was the capital before the move of the...

Dec 3, 2018 - Delhi

It was certainly an abrupt change of scenery, temperatures, noise and smells when we arrived in India after our time in Europe but we were ready for the final leg of our travel year. Our drinking partners from home, John and Gayle, had also arrived so it was all systems go. A rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, was exhilarating if not a little scary . Spice markets and shops of every kind crammed the minimal space. New Delhi, created by the British Raj, had tree lined avenues and grand...

Nov 29, 2018 - Living Large at the Leela

Days 14, 15 & 16 Living Large at the Leela When we booked this trip, I had a funny feeling that we might be sufficiently overwhelmed at the end of two weeks. We declined an option through Brand g to go on with them for a couple of days to visit the spiritual city of Varanasi and decided to end our trip with a couple of decompression days at a hotel in Delhi. We chose the Leela Palace in the Diplomatic Enclave part of the city mostly based on location. Turned out to be just what we needed to relax without a set schedule every day. The Leela...

Nov 27, 2018 - We’ll Always Have the Taj

Day 13: Agra - New Delhi We’ll Always Have the Taj I admit it; I’m a sucker for a good love story and lots of drama. Add that to the architectural marvel of one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and I didn’t have a chance. I fell in love with the Taj Mahal. The back story, in my own words, is that the Emperor, Shah Jahan, loved his third wife, Mumtaz, so much that when she died giving birth to her 14th child in 1631, he was a mess. Rumor has it that his hair turned gray overnight, and he started building her mausoleum the next...

Nov 26, 2018 - Karma Happens

Day 12: Jaipur - Agra Karma Happens Our long bus ride to Agra was actually quite fun. I enjoyed watching the parade of farm land with its rows of cabbage and other green crops being tended by mostly women. Restaurants with clever names like “Eating and Meeting,” fruit and grocery vendor stands, and the omnipresent cow broke up the monotony. Small shops popped up on the highway in front of modest villages tucked just behind. Still lots of motorcycles and scooters honking and beeping with abandon but at a much reduced volume than in the major...

Nov 25, 2018 - The Pink City

Day 11: Jaipur The Pink City I know what you’re thinking. But no. Jaipur is not known as the Pink City because a boatload of gay men and 2 lesbians visited there. The real story is that it’s due to the pinkish color of the stone used in construction of all buildings. That plus the fact that the Maharaja in 1876 decided to paint the whole town pink to welcome Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales on their first tour there. Since then it’s become the law; no matter how many queens come over. The city’s “must see” sight is Amber Fort....

Nov 22, 2018 - The Motherhouse

Day 10: Kolkata The Motherhouse I fully admit that I didn’t know a lot about Mother Teresa before this trip. Sure, I knew that she worked with the poor in Kolkata, but that’s about it. The tour to her mission today, known as the Motherhouse, changed all that. We started with a visit to her tomb and then walked upstairs to visit the room where she lived, worked, and died. At first I was thinking that she and I had a lot in common, and I could probably do what she did. Then I read the sign that explained how she refused to get a fan even...

Nov 21, 2018 - It’s All About Color

Day 9: Mayapur - Chandernagore- Kolkata It’s All About Color I’ve been fascinated with the caste system in India ever since I read the book, A Fine Balance. It gave me a glimpse into a world unknown where one’s station in life is set forever just by virtue of your last name. Sumit’s lecture today expanded my understanding to include the history and the current status of this system only found in Hindu culture. Arranged marriages are still very much a thing here although modern times do allow for an occasional love match. Sumit cracked...