Hey all.
So my trip in India has almost come to it's conclusion. I've been incredibly busy during my time here and I'm completely exhausted - but I wish I could do more - but I'm also nearing my limit. I was getting very frustrated on my trip from Agra to Delhi today... but hold on bit before I tell you that story.
I know my last post was short, so here's some filler. I'll try not to make this post too long, but I've done a lot.
The wedding was Amazing with a Capita(o)l A. It started out with a night of Indian dancing for the couple. Some great dancing, some children dancing, some old people dancing... a bit too much dancing. We all almost fell asleep. Then some great food and we were back to the palace around midnight.
The second day of the wedding was the big reception. There were a lot of events during the day, mostly rituals involving the family (I went shopping instead). The reception had professional gypsy-like dancers, one of which was a male who danced with a clay pot balanced on top of two drinking glasses on his head while dancing on a bed of nails - then on on shattered glass. Pretty cool. This is where I wore my red saree which was very difficult to wear (see the last blog). I danced in front of the elephant that Karthik (groom) was riding for about an hour. His father had to bribe the elephant trainer to let Karthik down, which was kinda funny. We were at this reception until about one in the morning.
The next morning was the actually wedding. It was at 5am, so you can guess who wasn't there. I don't even know the guy, he couldn't possibly expect me to wake up that early for him. :) But later that day we went to the Jaipur fort - it was pretty cool. To tell you the truth, all the forts and palaces are running together in my mind. I'll have to look at the pictures to get them straight again.
The next day we went to Udaipur. On the way, we stopped at the Jain Temple. This is one of the most amazing temples in the world (I know - I've seen all of them). The entire temple (which is huge) is made out of carved marble. Intricately carved marble. You should look up some pictures. And the place is huge. Really, stop reading and look for the picture on the internet... I'll wait.
...After Udaipur, we took a train ride to Agra. Some of you may happen to know that this is where the Taj Mahal is. Pretty freaking cool. It's a giant marble building with such great art work (precious gems inlaid in the marble). I'm not even going to describe it more than that because you just have to come and see it.
After the Taj (yep, I'm on a first name basis with it now), we went to the Agra Fort. This is where the king-like guy who built the Taj was imprisoned by his son. Also really cool. Oh, all this happened today, so I remember this stuff a little better.
Then my long and arduous trip back to Delhi. I could just hit my friend Anil (sorry Anil, if you read this, but I'm about to call you out). First, this driver got lost trying to get us to the hotel in Agra (where we ate and freshened up, but didn't get a room). Then, after the Taj, he got lost getting out of Agra. Then he asked my friend Anil for Rs600 to fill up the tank of gas (which Anil gave him - he is supposed to pay for his own gas even though we had a private driver). Then he had Anil call his boss to so that Anil could get reimbursed the money, but the driver told Anil to tell the boss that he paid Rs1000. Why on earth Anil agreed to do this, I don't have the freaking foggiest idea. Then the driver got lost in Delhi. Then took us to the wrong hotel. Then got lost again, even though he got good directions and map with a phone number from the first wrong hotel. Then we got a flat tire. Then he had the gall to ask Anil for Rs500 tip!!! Absolutely crazy! I was about to scream at the driver and Anil!
But we got to the hotel safely (had to have them come pick us up, we were about 3 blocks away). Then I got some food and beer, and now I feel much better. Tomorrow we're just going to chill out, maybe go to a Bollywood flick. Then the next day I start my trek home. Then some good sleep at home and to work the next day. That's going to suck.
On that note, I'm going to bed. It's a little after midnight, and I didn't sleep hardly at all during the night train from Udaipur to Agra (which adds to the crankiness explained earlier). Oh, I also almost lost it with the guide at the Taj because he was telling me what to do and when to do it and who to talk to... I'm just not good with that kind of authority.
Night all. (or, you know, have a good day)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Wedding in Jaipur
This is going to be a short blog because I'm at a really expensive place and trying to get some work done at the same time.
So - the groom came in on an elephant! It was great. Because I was part of the groom's group, I was part of the party dancing in front of the elephant. Apparently you all might be able to look it up on YouTube - but I have no idea what the address would be. I bought a beautiful red saree for the occassion, but I didn't actually know how to put it on. So I went with what I heard from other white people, then had a nice old auntie take me aside and redress me.
The last few nights we've been staying in the old governor's palace and it's been really nice. The food has been great. Jaipur is pretty cool, but we've only been able to see one touristy thing - the Amber Fort. This fort that was made by the first King in the area or something - sometime in the mid-1600's.
Ok, that's about all the time I've got for now. There is more to come. Oh - I saw monkeys!!
Bye
So - the groom came in on an elephant! It was great. Because I was part of the groom's group, I was part of the party dancing in front of the elephant. Apparently you all might be able to look it up on YouTube - but I have no idea what the address would be. I bought a beautiful red saree for the occassion, but I didn't actually know how to put it on. So I went with what I heard from other white people, then had a nice old auntie take me aside and redress me.
The last few nights we've been staying in the old governor's palace and it's been really nice. The food has been great. Jaipur is pretty cool, but we've only been able to see one touristy thing - the Amber Fort. This fort that was made by the first King in the area or something - sometime in the mid-1600's.
Ok, that's about all the time I've got for now. There is more to come. Oh - I saw monkeys!!
Bye
Monday, June 29, 2009
All of Delhi
Hey all.
I'M EXHAUSTED! Two of the four things that we chose to do today were an equidistant 60 minute ride from each other and where everything else is. So we went to Jantar Mantar (a giant sundial [think 3 story building kinda big] and other building-sized instruments to measure calendar days and when eclipses should come made in early 1700's) and Laxmi Narayan Birla Mandir (a huge Hindu temple). Then a 60 minute ride in a rickshaw (think covered moped that comfortably sits 2 in the back - we sat 3 uncomfortably) to Qutb Minar (ruins of the first mosque in India and the minar (think of a cooler and smaller Washington Monument) which is still in tact and a pure iron thing [apparently no one knows how they got the thing so pure of iron as they did not have the tools that we now do - but really, it was just an iron thing jetting out of the ground]). Then a 60 minute uncomfortable rickshaw ride to the Baha'i Lotus Temple. This was AMAZING! It's a gigantic building in the shape of lotus flower. And, of all the temples I've been to so far, this one was by far the most peaceful. Absolutely fantastic. This experience was only hindered by the trip home afterwards. Apparently, the rickshaws outside this temple like to screw over the whiteys by asking way too much money and making you stop along the way at shopping centers (they get a gas card if they drop off whiteys). So we did a lot of haggling, yelled/spoke sternly to a few of them, got a little worried that we pissed all of them off, then couldn't find one to take us home. But just as we were about to go back and apologize, a nice rickshaw came along. Thank goodness we still have our pride in tact. :) That was a joke: please laugh. Then 60 minutes home and here I am.
Oh, and have you heard about the traffic here??? It's absolutely crazy! Apparently they are supposed to drive on the left side, and most of the time they do, but sometimes they don't actually care. Running red lights is also something to be expected. We have decided that when we get in a rickshaw, we just need to go limp and actively not worry about the traffic headed right for us - nothing we can do about it once we're in the tangled mess they call traffic.
Anyway, to give you a quick overview of the last few days:
We saw Old Delhi - really crowded, more than anywhere else
We toured the Red Fort - huge; made of red sandstone in the mid-1600's
We went to Humayun's Tomb - also huge; built in mid-1500's for the second Mughal emperor
Went to the Lodi garden - absolutely beautiful and huge garden with tombs scattered in it
That's all I can think of. I saw an elephant on the highway, face painted. I saw a billboard of Bear Grills (I don't even care enough to find out if that's how you spell his name) of the show Man Vs. Wild (this sentence was added for Kimber's benefit - everyone else can disregard).
I'm going to Jaipur tomorrow where the 3-day wedding will begin tomorrow night. I'll be sleeping in a palace and not paying for it - so that's kinda cool. The groom might come in on an elephant (or horse or camel).
Alright - I'm going to go now. I'm hot and tired and hungry, but we're waiting on Anil's friend to come in to the hostel any minute.
Tootles.
I'M EXHAUSTED! Two of the four things that we chose to do today were an equidistant 60 minute ride from each other and where everything else is. So we went to Jantar Mantar (a giant sundial [think 3 story building kinda big] and other building-sized instruments to measure calendar days and when eclipses should come made in early 1700's) and Laxmi Narayan Birla Mandir (a huge Hindu temple). Then a 60 minute ride in a rickshaw (think covered moped that comfortably sits 2 in the back - we sat 3 uncomfortably) to Qutb Minar (ruins of the first mosque in India and the minar (think of a cooler and smaller Washington Monument) which is still in tact and a pure iron thing [apparently no one knows how they got the thing so pure of iron as they did not have the tools that we now do - but really, it was just an iron thing jetting out of the ground]). Then a 60 minute uncomfortable rickshaw ride to the Baha'i Lotus Temple. This was AMAZING! It's a gigantic building in the shape of lotus flower. And, of all the temples I've been to so far, this one was by far the most peaceful. Absolutely fantastic. This experience was only hindered by the trip home afterwards. Apparently, the rickshaws outside this temple like to screw over the whiteys by asking way too much money and making you stop along the way at shopping centers (they get a gas card if they drop off whiteys). So we did a lot of haggling, yelled/spoke sternly to a few of them, got a little worried that we pissed all of them off, then couldn't find one to take us home. But just as we were about to go back and apologize, a nice rickshaw came along. Thank goodness we still have our pride in tact. :) That was a joke: please laugh. Then 60 minutes home and here I am.
Oh, and have you heard about the traffic here??? It's absolutely crazy! Apparently they are supposed to drive on the left side, and most of the time they do, but sometimes they don't actually care. Running red lights is also something to be expected. We have decided that when we get in a rickshaw, we just need to go limp and actively not worry about the traffic headed right for us - nothing we can do about it once we're in the tangled mess they call traffic.
Anyway, to give you a quick overview of the last few days:
We saw Old Delhi - really crowded, more than anywhere else
We toured the Red Fort - huge; made of red sandstone in the mid-1600's
We went to Humayun's Tomb - also huge; built in mid-1500's for the second Mughal emperor
Went to the Lodi garden - absolutely beautiful and huge garden with tombs scattered in it
That's all I can think of. I saw an elephant on the highway, face painted. I saw a billboard of Bear Grills (I don't even care enough to find out if that's how you spell his name) of the show Man Vs. Wild (this sentence was added for Kimber's benefit - everyone else can disregard).
I'm going to Jaipur tomorrow where the 3-day wedding will begin tomorrow night. I'll be sleeping in a palace and not paying for it - so that's kinda cool. The groom might come in on an elephant (or horse or camel).
Alright - I'm going to go now. I'm hot and tired and hungry, but we're waiting on Anil's friend to come in to the hostel any minute.
Tootles.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Getting to India
Hi all.
I'm in New Delhi! Very exciting. Everyone got here without a hitch. Well, I was the only one with 2 small speedbumps, but I'll tell you about that in just a bit. I'm here with two friends of Peace Corps Burkina: Anil and Tyler. For those of you in the know, Tyler is Tyeliah's boyfriend/finacee.
I flew out of Dulles (DC) and arrived in Heathrow (London) about 7-8 hours later. My seat really sucked as I was in the very last row next to the window. It stank of the bathrooms for about the first hour or two, until I got used to the smell. Because I was against the wall, my seat did not fully go back into a restful position. I got no sleep and was extremely tired by the time I landed. But hey, I got to watch 'He's Just Not That Into You', so that's a bonus (that was sarcasm for those of you who don't know the movie).
London was fantastic. This may seem strange, but I was most shocked at the English cars. I've seen them in movies (Bourne Identity) and thought that they used more modern cars now. Oh well. I was also shocked by their subway - DC subway is SO much better (discounting our latest accident). The Underground was so very slow, the lights kept on going out, and it has the seating capacity of about 1/4 of the DC metro.
Anyhow, I went to the Tower of London first. First built around 1000AD - prisoned, tortured, and killed many. Royalty in the past lived there. This is where Ann Boleyn was beheaded by King Henry VIII
Then I went off to St Paul's Cathedral. It is absolutely beautiful. Then went to Westminister Abbey which was less beautiful, but A LOT more dead people. In St Paul's, all the dead were down in the crypt, where one expects to find dead people. At Westminister, they are everywhere. And they are WAY more famous. Queen Mary I, Queen Elizabeth I, King Richard III... and also non-royalty famous people like Laurence Olivier, Lord Byron, and Handel. It was pretty freaking cool. Then I saw Big Ben and the Parlament and walked to Buckingham Palace. Picture are to come.
After this 10.5 mile trek through London (on no sleep, mind you), I was on my way back to India. This time I got a better seat and could sleep a little better, but I was probably out for about 2-3 hours. So this means 2-3 hours sleep in about 36 hours. I was also able to watch a better movie: Gran Torino.
I arrived in India around noon yesterday (June 26) and realized I had no money. This is the first hitch mentioned earlier. I spent all my cash in London (I was expecting to use my card everywhere) and I tried to withdraw from an ATM at Heathrow, but it didn't work. So I got to India and the first money exchange guy told me to try the ATMs just outside. This didn't work. I saw an American guy that had been on my plane and I begged 2 dollars off of him. Tried to get this exchanged along with the 1.5 pounds that I had left from London, but he wouldn't take it. He called his supervisor and got permission for someone else to take my credit card. So we had to go back inside the airport (after the money guy had to convince the armed guard to let me back in - those pesky AK-47s). It turned out fine and got enough money to last my trip.
Got in a pre-paid taxi and, of course, it turns out that the taxi driver (who said he knew where he was going), didn't know where he was going. 2 hours later, I arrived safely at the hotel. Tyler was already here - I took a shower and slept for about 6 hours. We woke around 8pm and headed out for a scrumptious authentic Indian meal. Came back and found Anil had arrived, then slept more.
And now here I am. It's 8:30am. I need breakfast. We're going to Old Delhi today and some temples and palaces tomorrow.
I've written enough. Hope everyone is well.
I'm in New Delhi! Very exciting. Everyone got here without a hitch. Well, I was the only one with 2 small speedbumps, but I'll tell you about that in just a bit. I'm here with two friends of Peace Corps Burkina: Anil and Tyler. For those of you in the know, Tyler is Tyeliah's boyfriend/finacee.
I flew out of Dulles (DC) and arrived in Heathrow (London) about 7-8 hours later. My seat really sucked as I was in the very last row next to the window. It stank of the bathrooms for about the first hour or two, until I got used to the smell. Because I was against the wall, my seat did not fully go back into a restful position. I got no sleep and was extremely tired by the time I landed. But hey, I got to watch 'He's Just Not That Into You', so that's a bonus (that was sarcasm for those of you who don't know the movie).
London was fantastic. This may seem strange, but I was most shocked at the English cars. I've seen them in movies (Bourne Identity) and thought that they used more modern cars now. Oh well. I was also shocked by their subway - DC subway is SO much better (discounting our latest accident). The Underground was so very slow, the lights kept on going out, and it has the seating capacity of about 1/4 of the DC metro.
Anyhow, I went to the Tower of London first. First built around 1000AD - prisoned, tortured, and killed many. Royalty in the past lived there. This is where Ann Boleyn was beheaded by King Henry VIII
Then I went off to St Paul's Cathedral. It is absolutely beautiful. Then went to Westminister Abbey which was less beautiful, but A LOT more dead people. In St Paul's, all the dead were down in the crypt, where one expects to find dead people. At Westminister, they are everywhere. And they are WAY more famous. Queen Mary I, Queen Elizabeth I, King Richard III... and also non-royalty famous people like Laurence Olivier, Lord Byron, and Handel. It was pretty freaking cool. Then I saw Big Ben and the Parlament and walked to Buckingham Palace. Picture are to come.
After this 10.5 mile trek through London (on no sleep, mind you), I was on my way back to India. This time I got a better seat and could sleep a little better, but I was probably out for about 2-3 hours. So this means 2-3 hours sleep in about 36 hours. I was also able to watch a better movie: Gran Torino.
I arrived in India around noon yesterday (June 26) and realized I had no money. This is the first hitch mentioned earlier. I spent all my cash in London (I was expecting to use my card everywhere) and I tried to withdraw from an ATM at Heathrow, but it didn't work. So I got to India and the first money exchange guy told me to try the ATMs just outside. This didn't work. I saw an American guy that had been on my plane and I begged 2 dollars off of him. Tried to get this exchanged along with the 1.5 pounds that I had left from London, but he wouldn't take it. He called his supervisor and got permission for someone else to take my credit card. So we had to go back inside the airport (after the money guy had to convince the armed guard to let me back in - those pesky AK-47s). It turned out fine and got enough money to last my trip.
Got in a pre-paid taxi and, of course, it turns out that the taxi driver (who said he knew where he was going), didn't know where he was going. 2 hours later, I arrived safely at the hotel. Tyler was already here - I took a shower and slept for about 6 hours. We woke around 8pm and headed out for a scrumptious authentic Indian meal. Came back and found Anil had arrived, then slept more.
And now here I am. It's 8:30am. I need breakfast. We're going to Old Delhi today and some temples and palaces tomorrow.
I've written enough. Hope everyone is well.
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