We are in Manali...Finally!

But I first I will tell you how we got here.
On Sunday night we had one of our biggest India adventures, we took an overnight train. It takes alot of organization to transport 80 people through the train station in Delhi, get us settled in our proper spots safely. We had to carry our luggage so that was the first issue. We had to go up and down stairs so if you couldn't handle your luggage they hired a couple of the porters and piled the luggage on their carts. They just got it strapped down when about  6 porters started fighting, pushing, shoving, yelling. We just watched until they worked it out and then we were lead through the bustling train station, up and down stairs, through crowds of people to the spot where our train was arriving. Sapna said, this is where it gets crazy! We were all given our car and seat number and when the train arrived it was crazy, everyone trying to find their spot with all their luggage in tow. Somehow it all worked out, and with a few adjustments everyone had a place to sleep. They gave us a boxed dinner, after which we found out they threw the garbage off the train when we were done. This country has a serious problem with garbage. Sleeping on the train was an interesting experience...the berths are very tiny, you care barely turn over. We got about as much sleep as we did on the airplane.
I have some pictures, but this computer won't let me load them...maybe I can fix that by tomorrow.
Anne

Agra

Friday -(I think!) and we are in Agra. I am in a little internet cafe below a textile shop in downtown Agra, there is a fan going so it is cool, and internet is cheap here! Yahoo!
I think my impression was that Delhi would be crazy full of people (which it was) and that Jaipur and Agra would be smaller places. 3.5 million is not small and it is just as crazy here.
We had a wonderful visit to the Taj Mahal yesterday. There are no words to describe the beauty of the place, it really is the most beautiful building in the world. After being in such busy, bustling places it was lovely to sit on a bench alone, contemplate this beautiful place, surrounded by parrots singing in the trees, and we even saw a few monkey hopping the buildings.
Here are a few pictures:

Here are a few pictures of a rocking party we had at Sapna's Uncle's place in Delhi (earlier in the week). Wonderful food, dancing in the driveway.

A few of us took a side trip to the Monkey Temple, 5,000 monkeys live there. We got there too late in the evening so we couldn't stay long, but we probably saw about 50 monkeys, feed them some peanuts. Great experience.

That is all for now. Later today we drive to Delhi and pick up about 30 more people and head north for the wedding.

Will write again soon.

Anne

Adventures in Jaipur

We have been busy! Too busy to write...there has literally been no time. We leave early in the morning for adventures, come home late in the evening for dinner and fall exhausted into bed! I am staying up WAY past my bedtime to write this tonight. I will pay for it tomorrow.
You know how it is with holidays, you don't know what day it is or what happened two days ago. Since we haven't been able to update the blog for a few days, I am going to skip over those days and just concentrate on today.
We had an adventure! We are in Jaipur, a city of 3.5 million. We were on the bus early in the morning and headed to the Amber Fort, where we had a chance of life time, we had an elephant ride up to the fort.
You have to line up for the elephants, it is very popular and they only do 4 runs up the mountain. So when we arrived we had to wait in a line up and that was the perfect time for the hawkers to attack! Until we got on the elephant we were harassed to buy hats, chess set, wooden statues, umbrellas....they don't leave you alone and no doesn't work. So we were grateful when we were out of the hot sun (yes, it is very hot here, we have forgotten about snow!) and it was our chance to ride the elephant.

The elephant ride was amazing and we all have picture that were taken of us on the way up and sold to us later, so we will make sure you see them. We had a wonder tour of the Amber Fort and a cool jeep ride back down to the bus.
We then toured a textile market and many of us picked out our saris for the wedding, with help from Sapna and her Mom. This shopping experience was a little less stressful than the markets we have been in. We have managed to buy a few things but spend most of our time saying no and trying to get away from vendors!
Well, I have beautiful pictures that this computer will not upload. Hopefully the next computer will be more helpful.
We are all well, no one has been sick yet. Tomorrow morning we leave for Agra and hopefully better internet connects and we will write again.
Anne

We are here - most of us!

We just had a wonderful India buffet dinner at the hotel - meeting family and friends as they stagger in, bleary eyed from 24+ hours on the plane.
I was on the same Air India flight as Blair and Louise and we had no problems. Not much sleep for Louise and I, but Blair had 5 hours sleep - how can you do that on an airplane!

The ride into the hotel from the airport was amazing - we saw a troop of monkeys, lots of cows wandering, people selling things at every corner, and lots of traffic. It is warm, smells tropical, and I can't wait to go onto the street tomorrow to explore!

Anne

Jeff and I were two of those bleary eyed travellers this morning - after 24 hours of travel time and less than 6 hours sleep, we got up and spent all day walking around beautiful places in Delhi! First was the Red Fort - palace of a Mughal emperor, full of beautiful gardens and detailed buildings. Lunch was a feast in a well hidden part of Old Delhi. It all started with a small piece of cheese. Then a small chicken sausage. Then a tiny piece of roasted chicken. Then plate after plate of curries, lentil dishes, bread and rice. We were all well fed, to say the least.
Post lunch adventures were even more impressive - Humayun's tomb is just magnificent. It inspired the Taj mahal, is full of intricate jalis and marble. After the tomb, when I thought it couldn't get much better - we went to Qutub Minar. Oh wow. A thousand year old minaret that rises so high and is so detailed - standing at the bottom and looking up is a experience that won't be forgotten.
And anything you may have heard about driving in India, has been confirmed true. Day one and we had three very close calls. No rules. It was an exciting day!!
Laura and Jeff

Whoo - hoo - Kathmandu two

Airplanes
What a civilized way to get around. The flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu costs $60.00 and takes 30 minutes. The bus cost $12.00 and takes 8 hours - or so I am told. I was also told the bus from Kathmandu to Chitwan was 5 hours and it took 7.5. I was told the bus from Chitwan to Pokhara was 4 hours and it took 6. "Que garve" they say here(what happens). I took the flight and was in Kathmandu in time for lunch.

I poked around the shops for a bit and then met Sudesh for lunch at the New Orleans. He sent me on with his well-wishes and the promise to visit Owen Sound when he comes to Canada.

Tomorrow - off to Delhi.

Pokhara - God on High

When I wanted to leave Sarangkot I was accosted by the expected cadre of young men offering to guide me back down the mountain. They are not as persistent here as in Kathmandu but still irritating. I sat down in the shade to eat the bag breakfast the hotel prepared for me. A guy came over from the group and started into his pitch. I told him to sit beside me on the bench. I looked straight into his eyes and said, "Last week I killed a man. I am in Nepal to get close to God and make penance. I need to do this alone." He left me and went over to the gang of guides. For the rest of my breakfast there were furtive glances my way but I was left alone in peace.

Speaking of Peace. I made the climb to the World Peace Pagoda this afternoon. I crossed Lake Phewa in a canoe paddled by an 80 year old woman with only half a face. God shows his sense of humour by placing his most holy sites on top of high things. I climbed straight up for about 1.5 hours and, exhausted, said my prayers and meditations while walking around this massive stupa barefoot. If some god doesn't hear my prayers through the pain in my legs and feet we are lost. I walked down by another path that took 4 hours through a beautiful Sal forest. I encountered a troop of about 100 monkeys foraging and so I just sat down and snapped photos until they had passed on.

I have discovered that stinging nettles feel pretty much the same in Nepal as they do in Spain.

Back to Kathmandu in the morning.

Blessings
Scott

Scott's Adventures continued...

I don't much like the roller coaster type rides at Disney or Can. Wonderland. I like my feet on the ground. A bus ride across the mountains of Nepal is much like a Disney ride without the benefit of quality testing and safety features. Six hours of soul-wrenching chasm jumping with 40 other passengers in a bus that must have been built in the 1950's but has been recently blessed with many manifestations of various Hindu gods got me to Chitwan National Park. My accommodations are great - a cabin all to myself. There were only two other residents of the resort at the time and the three of us were treated to a late afternoon jungle walk. We headed across the river into tiger and rhino country with our trusty guides Goudam and Azim secure in the protection of their walking sticks. We came upon a rhino wallowing in a mud hole and Goudam was about to evacuate us but a safari elephant showed up just then. Apparently the rhinos will allow the humans to approach closer if there is an elephant in the neighbourhood.

The next morning was a sunrise dug-out canoe trip for a couple of hours down the Rapti River. Mucho bird sightings and few Samba deer. In the afternoon we had our own elephant safari. I got situated at the back facing backwards so I have many wonderful pictures of the Nepali jungle over the rump of an elephant. I saw many more birds for the list including peacocks. There were barking deer and spotted deer (which I can see anytime I want at Harriston Park in Owen Sound).

Yesterday was another joy-tourist-bus expedition - 6 hours to travel the 180 km to Pokhara. A young kid hung out the door the whole way trying to coax more passengers on despite the fact that we were full already. I was offered the opportunity to sit on the roof. I am interested in experiencing local colour as long as it keeps me out of the mortuary. I was reminded of Weird Al Yancovic's song, "Another One Rides the Bus" - "and another comes on and another comes on, another one rides the bus"

Pokhara is beautiful - kind of what Bala is to Toronto. I took a 5:30 AM taxi to the top of Sarankot and caught the sunrise on the Himilayas. The walk down has taken me about 3 hours so I'm chillin' in an internet cafe with Nepali coffee.

More to come.
Scott