Delhi: Jan 7: This is the entrance to one of the Temples in New Delhi.  I can't believe the incredible attention to detail these carvers used.  This was our first day sightseeing.

Delhi: Jan 8: Together at last.  Ayako (my friend from Japan) joined Aw and me in Delhi.  We were going to to go the Taj Mahal together but Ayako had terrible food poisoning that hit her shortly after this photo was taken and she had to lay low for the next day.

Agra: Jan 11-12: I know it's a cliché to visit the Taj but there's a reason everyone does.  It truly is the most beautiful building I have ever seen.  And it really does look like the postcards; only better.

Jaipur: Jan12-15: As we walked around Jaipur we happened upon this elephant.  He was just walking around downtown.  The driver wanted 100 rupees for me to take this photo.  We gave him 30.

Jaisalmer Jan 16-21: Hello from the Desert Safari near the Pakistan border.

Udaipur: Jan 22-25:This is the kind if Sari a woman wears to a festival or a wedding.  I hope you're looking at the background Mom.  You said you wanted me to bring you back a sari.

Pushkar: Jan 26-Feb3: After our 'Nirvana Negotiation' (see my Blog), we came upon a huge flock of pigeons on the marble steps to the lake.  It was magical to watch them swoop around her and jump up to receive the grain.

Amritsar: Feb4-5: Okay, I just don't look good in hats.  I was very moved to be here. I have studied the Sikh religion enough to know that this is a noble culture.  And it was a rule of the Founder, Guru Nanak that no one was to pay to visit here.  The Golden Temple is free for all people to enjoy. 

Dharamsala: Feb 5-9: We walk up the lane from our Guesthouse to the Seat of Spiritual Power for Tibetan Buddhism; The Temple of The Dalai Lama.  And he is at his residence today.  

Rishikesh: Feb 10-13: This is our last full day in Rishikesh so we headed literally to the End of the Road where we found this sign.  See where it says: "Beatle's Ashram 100 m" ?  We stopped for a banana milkshake at the 'Last Chance Cafe' and then bribed a guard at the entrance to the Ashram so we could look inside.

 

Bangalore: Feb 15-17: Two young women used block printing to put this henna on Aw's hands. They charged her twenty rupees per hand.  Unfortunately, they used different colors for each.

 

TrichyFeb 18-19: For twenty rupees you can go up here to the roof-top terrace of complex. From here you can get an idea of how it's all laid out. We find that the Temple is extraordinary to look at but not that interesting inside.

 

Kanyakumari Feb 20-21: There is a Rock Island just off shore from the Cape. Swami Vivekananda is revered in India as a man who brought brave new thinking to the spiritual practices of India. He came to this Island many years ago to meditate for three days. Just like Gandhi, he loved this place. The Indian government have built a shrine here in his honor and they have ten minute ferry rides to and from the Island all day long. You can really see how wild the waves are here. I told Aw it was perfectly safe but one of the other foreigners told me that every few months this place is in the News when a ferry capsizes.

 

Varkala Feb 21-25: We woke up, stumbled out of our room and looked over to see this enormous elephant lying on the ground nearby. It is a surrealistic experience to see something so enormous just laying here on the ground. Today is a Hindu Festival day. We're heading to town later to see the parade.

 

Alleppey Feb 25-28: Here is a view of our boat as we are docked for the night. We spend a lot of time in the front section on the main deck but the upper area, where Aw is now, is a great place to relax in seclusion.

Goa (Palolem)Mar 1-10: This is Ram. He was the first one we saw this morning on the beach. He found us a guest hut and found a place for us to sit down to a nice breakfast.  Then he brought the catch of the day by for us to see. 

Ram is from Nepal but only goes home for one month a year to see his wife and children. This is a very common situation in India.

Mumbai Mar 10-12: This is India Gate. And Bombay (now Mumbai) is considered the official entrance to the country. The British built it in 1924, only to abandon it when then left the country in 1947.

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