My small world: 2010

This post is long over due...
"Why India?" - That was the question most often asked before the trip and after. While I have yet to come up with an articulate answer to that question here are the basic points of "Why India"
1. I wanted to experience a culture that was completely foreign. While yes I have been to foreign countries before. I wanted to go somewhere removed from my own. Due to the ancestral ties of the United States and Europe, there was something in Europe that while it was different still seemed like home. With its lack Judaic-Christian tie, India's different historical and religious background peeked my curiosity.

2. I wanted to go some place that made me think and reflect on life a little more. I did not want to go to your typical holiday destination to relax and be pampered. I wanted to take some place in, breath their air, see their faces, hear the voices, and broaden my perspective of life.

3. Oh and there's my little goal of visiting every continent before I turn 30, India nicely checked the box for Asia.

4. The Taj Mahal! Doesn't everybody want to see the Taj Mahal before they die?
So there it is...
Now While I will probably bore you with the nitty gritty details, I will at least try to stick to the main highlights . Feel free to ask questions...or skip this entry entirely.

Day 1- Sunday
Meeting the group
I have never really been with a tour group before, so meeting everyone Sunday mourning was quite interesting. As each person entered the room I systematically compiled what my first impression was of who they were and why they were in India. We had the comedian, the charmer, the intellectual, the old, the young, the well traveled, and bit of everything in between. We had a fantastic group of 2 Americans, 1 South African, 3 Australians, 10 Brits. They all kept the humor lively, and everyone provided an interesting contribution to the group. :)

Red Fort
We began our journey into Old Delhi at the Red Fort. The fort boasts a history dating back to the mid 17th century. The majority of the fort is composed of red sandstone. On August 15th, India's Independence Day, the prime minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort. The detail in the carving makes this as with the many other buildings we saw an incredible beauty.

Rickshaw ride
If I have any regrets about the trip, it would be not thinking to take a video of our first rickshaw ride and most interesting ride in India. After the Red Fort we picked up a rickshaw on the side of the road to ride through Old Delhi to the largest Mosque in India. The ride took us down narrow streets and alleys, where cars, pedestrians, and bikes all tried to make their way through the practically non existent streets. The gauntlet of the maze made the ride quite entertaining as we avoided collision after collision. We sailed past people cooking, frying, selling, urinating, smiling, laughing, staring, driving, walking, and talking. Each small scene passed by in such a quick flash it was hard to take such a quick mental picture much less an actual picture. Although I did try to take some pictures as Michelle hung on for dear life.

Mosque
The Mosque was beautiful. Once again built out of red sandstone, we had to remove our shoes and cover up using little shawls they gave us. We arrive as they were preparing for prayer. I love watching people prepare for different rituals there is something sacred about it. While we were lining up to take a picture as a group, all of the sudden there was a man with a stick yelling. At first I was a little disturbed, but he was chasing out these children that were begging for money.

Which brings up another subject entirely, Oh the begging. When a three year old in Bolivia asked me to buy gum from them at 1 in the morning I thought I'd never see anything like it again. When I went to Peru and people constantly in my face trying to sell something, I thought this has got to be the worst.... India takes the cake. I have never felt so rude in my life. Literally you can not acknowledge that anyone exists without the fear of being asked for money. It was quite possibly the greatest downfall of the trip, constantly having people in your face non stop.

Gandhi's Cremation
Later we went to the site where Gandhi was cremated. It is a beautiful and peaceful park. Amazing the ability of one man to change ideas and culture. As we were leaving the park I notice a group of school girls staring, which by the end of day one I was starting to get accustomed to. I did however find it slightly entertaining how much they giggled when I said hello to them.

Humayun's Tomb
One of the last stops of the evening was at Humayun's tomb. Built nearly 100 years before the Taj Mahal, Humayun's tomb served as the example or template for Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal for his wife.

Camels, Cows, and Elephants OH MY!
On our way to dinner that night in Delhi we saw our first elephant in the road. Yes right in the middle of the road mixed in with regular traffic it was slightly mind boggling that it was not in a zoo but just there normal as any other mode of transportation. Camels and cows were also very common roadside companions.

Day 2-Monday

We drove to Jaipur. By far my favorite thing along the way was seeing the people, but especially the women in the fields. The contrast of their brightly colored saris with the golden wheat was an incredible image. The photo of which does not do it justice.

Pit stop- The picture probably should be left without words... but alas a comment must be made. We were blessed that our hotel rooms had regular toilets. So this was found at one of our roadside pit stops. There was no way in the world I was using it. One lady tried to convince me that it would not be that bad, but I could not be convinced. There was simply no way in the world I would go through the obstacle of squatting that will be left for the bushes in the wilderness.

Taking it all in...

The drives on the bus did not seem that long as nearly every minute was spent glued to the window as the different scenes passed by and my mind exhausted itself trying to take it all in. Many of the sights sparked awe or amazement, and a few caused a good laugh such as the family of five fitting onto one motorbike or the barber shops that were frequently set up along the streets with nothing more than a stool and a piece of mirror.

Saying it how it is...
On one of our quick roadside stops to a Hindu temple, I stopped at tiny kiosk to buy some water. The teenage boy behind the counter was very quick to start asking all the details of my life and background. Name, Country, Age, Marital Status, etc. Without hesitation after stating that I was 26 and not married. Oh you would be married by now in India. 26 is very old. Don't you want to be married? You should live in India you could marry someone here. I appreciated his friendly attitude, but slightly surprise by the non beating around the bush approach

World's Largest Sun Dial accurate within 3 seconds.

Arrival in Jaipur

We felt like we had the a royal welcome as we arrived at the hotel in Jaipur. Trumpets and drums played as we came into the hotel. We were given marigold lays and even given a traditional red dot on our foreheads. It was quite the experience. Later in the evening we enjoyed dinner on the roof with dancing girls with pots on their heads as entertainment. In addition to the dancing they did a puppet show. It definitely gave us a good laugh.