Jaipur... Pink City

Back to the city after a lovely stay by the lake. We fly to Jaipur and enjoy a really nice stay at Hotel Bissau Palace. A regal place with a nice pool and mint condition old car we book for a night drive around town.

We enjoyed a lot of different things here. We rode an elephant up to Amber Fort, did a cooking class and went to a really nice food market for dinner.  The city itself is an interesting open market and a sight to see. We didn't do any shopping here but there's plenty to see.

Amber Fort was as crowded as I was expecting and of course we get hassled (a lot) from the photographer who took a bunch of pics we didn't ask for. Obviously karma for being up there in the first place... you learn to say no thank you... again and again and again. You do get better at it but you have to keep your wits about. Any dropping of your guard and they're in.

After the Fort visit, we enjoy our cooking class by Raveena at her home. We're there with 6 other people from Romania, and as we're learning to cook her family are all home. Kids, grandparents and all. We make paneer curry, chapati bread and rice pudding along with a potato and pea curry. The meal was delicious.

We drive back to Delhi to catch a flight to Goa that afternoon. 2 weeks on the beach is calling us.

K

My India... Jaipur... Any journey around this town ain't complete without a mile an hour, smile a minute chug along down to Pink City. Famous for being well, you guessed it... a little gold. This places rocks harder than a jungle, book me in. What a facade to streak past, like bacon in a pan. It's pretty flash. Oink. (kf2024)

Lakes and Palaces

We drove to Udaipur and spent a couple of nights in this beautiful, peaceful setting. Alongside the lake are stunning rooftop restaurants to enjoy. We hired a rickshaw driver for the day to show us around. The rest of the time we spent at a restaurant, overlooking the lake.

We visited City Palace and went for a boat ride on the lake.  It's a romantic vibe here, with the reflections and the water. The architecture in the palace is very beautiful.

It's a cool place to start relaxing. We've learnt that travel isn't always about rushing around.

Enjoying the sunset.

K

My India... Udaipur... Up and over the pass, dodging everything from a monkeys ear to a running herd... this spine crushing ride blends well with the land. Honk Honk. Rearing up the hill, swerving past ladies in red, motorbikes full, side elephant, trunking its way to the field. What a rush. Hitting town with a flourish, enjoying this tranquil pond. A watered down version of before. Living it up. Feeling like home. (kf2024)

Blue City Jodhpur

The road from Jaisalmer to Jodphur was one of the best. A wide open and smooth motorway for much of the drive. There's lots to see on the road... goats and cows walking, a few camels and every mode of transportation possible. The extra loud bollywood soundtrack was catchy. We arrive into the city of Jodphur around lunch time. It's busy, and the narrow streets are clogged.

We're staying in the blue city area near Mehrangarh Fort in the colourful Heritage Gouri Haveli Hotel, In a room that's 250 years old. It's colourful and interesting and the staff are super friendly. The view of the Fort from the rooftop is awesome, especially at sunset when the lights go on.

The walk around town is inspiring. The street markets are busy and we spend a lot of time here just wandering the streets.

The Mehrangarh Fort is the grandest and nicest Fort we've seen. The amount of detail here is divine.

The streets set out on the tourist walk are all clean and colourful and it's easy to walk around here. A few streets either direction and you'll see cows wandering, horses in sheds, piles of rubbish and lots of dogs.  The gutters and state of the road could do with some work. But that's normal everywhere you go here. It's a dusty place, and very hot.

Enjoying the moment. Next stop, Udaipur.

K

My India... Jodhpur... put on your shades, there's more blue in here than a paint tin mooving down Cow Avenue. How Bazar comes to mine, as we wander through vegetable bins amid colourful sari's... it's not too late to say. One country. Sipping mango lassi and hitting the roof. Sky... a birds eye view for these empty nesters. Duck, pigeons incoming. (kf2024)

Jaisalmer... Desert Sands

Wicked, what an awesome place Jaisalmer is. We flew from Delhi into this vast, arid landscape. It felt like we'd landed in the middle of nowhere. Bit eerie at first.

The giant sandcastle type fort is so incredible to see up close and we stay at Tokyo Palace, right by it. It feels like a scene from Lawrence of Arabia or something, it's very cool. We'd love to go camel trekking but it's windy tomorrow so we walk around instead.

The fort is incredible... an entire village of houses and cars are inside, selling everything. I think we're getting into the spirit now, traveling really is quite addictive.

Quite inspired here.

K

My India... Jaisalmer... One look around here and I'm at the beach again, spilling buckets of sand over another Tequila sunrise. Salt, lemon, heaven, scent by the Piper with the eternal gold. Watch, as cars rake over patterns of old, while goats chew on, bangles, toes, they're on their way for a milking over there. Over the hump. Bucket list. Tick (kf2024)

Road to Varanasi

I can't really describe this place... its the kind you've gotta see to believe. Varanasi is a crazy mixture... its very grungy, somewhat peaceful and incredibly moving. Basically a large open crematorium in some places with a strip of shops at the back, with a tonne of steep steps, all leading down to the Ganges River. 

We spent 3 nights here, having reached here on the overnight train. That was an experience not to be missed, or done again. We took a boat ride on the river, a serene, positive experience we found.

As the bells rang out over the morning air, we're transported in time. Just the sound is incredible, and we board the boat.

There's a lot here and we wonder what we'll see. Our guide points out the burning ghats (one that burns 200 bodies a day)... 

...we go closer, but I'm not photographing what I see. The soles of 2 feet... and I look away. However, through all of that, it is silent. I ask why no one is screaming and crying... 'they're not allowed to' he says. 'Women aren't allowed there... they have soft hearts' he says. "Oh OK... why... don't men cry?" I ask...  ...'not here, it's a holy place...' (his voice drifts off and I think about what he's saying... and realise how free we live, emotions and all).

We follow the boat ride with a walk through the old Town.

A very eclectic vibe here. The narrow streets and little doorways are cool, as is all the colour. Around the corner a cow eating rubbish, on thd step a pair of jeans with dog poo on top, along the road a pile of wood, and just in here, an aromatherapy shop. I buy something for stress... it'll make a good perfume as it's pretty hot here.

I feel we saw a lot here, all different sides to Varanasi and we upgraded to a really nice hotel across the river. That was a treat.

K

My India... Varanasi... How can they sleep here in this place, where fire brews and gurus snooze. A melting pot of ingredients mixes live cable with cocktails into a smoking slurry paste. Step on down, the Dream Genie gives back to the river a giGanges amount of DNA, to be sifted by the hanky chief Master of Spin. Working hard or hardly working. No sweat Dahl (kf2024)

Taj Mahal Magic

I'd travel to India just to see the Taj Mahal itself, it's the highlight of the trip for us really.  Leaving Dehli, we arrive in Agra in the afternoon by train.

The Taj Mahal is stunning. Everything I'd hoped it would be and more. It's elegant, and grand. We arrive st sunrise.

Just down the road is Agra Fort and it's equally as interesting as the Taj.

There's not much to do in Agra itself and for the numbers of tourists it's quite surprising there's not more going on. But it is interesting to see the town and everyday life.

Two nights here was more than enough. I'd recommend staying close by and getting there early. That way you get the place almost to yourselves. 

K

My India... Agra... Surrounding White Stone Mountain, a circular array of park like grounds await the monkeys, playing hookie with anything that moves. A maze of bricks and mortar lead our packs past doorways of Chai tea. This tastes great man, so damn fine this Tai chi is (when I think about it), it chops sand into blocks, marbling at the incredible beauty of Taj. 

Eyes... too expensive for Mahal to afort. Shut the gate, the suns arrived. Peace (kf2024)

India... Days in Dehli

February - March 2024. Duration 5 weeks.

The time has come, we're off on another hop. I have a bit of anxiety about this trip, but I know it's gonna be life changing.

Flying into Dehli is epic. You can't see a thing from the plane, so no idea when you're gonna land. Weird feeling for me.  Getting through customs was a breeze and we're told to look out for the driver with a yellow sign. Nice.

We booked a place near the train station called Hari Piorko Hotel... great location, nice place, friendly staff. We'll nickname that Harry Porker, that'll help us remember it lol.

Waking up the next day in the middle of all this chaos and... yeah, let's just say it's different than we were expecting. Last night the street was jammed, this morning it's empty... except for the rubbish, the dogs and a guy selling something out of a pot.

Not sure where to start, we book a taxi driver from the tour desk to show us around. He was so good, we payed him a second day. I don't know what he was thinking, but it was great. We paid him well and got our bearings.

He took us everywhere, we saw so much the first day we wondered what was left. The next day we visited Red Fort and took a cycle rickshaw through Old Dehli. Pretty cool, very chock-full of everything and the great thing about having a guide is we got hassled less.

For a first glimpse of India... pretty ideal.

I'm inspired already, how do I describe.

K

My India... Dehli... Its like playing a game of 'where's Dili' while Rick shores up his wheels for a dusty chilli cough down Oriface Lane.  On pavement and in full view of market, life is happening. A ferris wheel of rupees in every hand, waving deal after deal for us to shout, while we hail a cab on the whey from Rue Besh curd.  Not skipping a beat, the adventure continues as we're tuk tuk away to our hotel in a dusty sneeze. Petrol head heaven. Exhale, it's monumMental! (kf2024) 

Road to Saigon

Was a good idea to fly to Nha Trang. The time and convenience won us over. We booked a place overlooking the sea, and we weren't disappointed. The air was fresh, the sky blue, and the temperature was rising.

We spent a few days here snorkeling and walking on the beach. Found a nice little rooftop cocktail bar down the road and enjoyed a candlelight dinner at a beautiful home restaurant. 

Time to go, we caught another train, rolling into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for our last few days... not before escaping up into the mountains at Dalat. The drive there was worth it  even if a little scary. Life on the road.

The Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels and a night scooter food tour we enjoyed, before stopping off for a few days in Singapore on the way home.

A great little taste of travel. And learning.

We'll be back again someday.

Goodnight Vietnam

K

Coastal Vietnam

Hue, the old, ancient capital is a mixed bag. We enjoyed the best pool here at Dreamers Homestay, that was a highlight. And saw the craziest 'wet' market we've ever seen... complete with meowing kitten in tied up plastic bag hanging from a hook... we talked about it, and I'd like to think its a pet... but.

There's lots to do in this part of Vietnam. We stay in Hue a few nights before going to Denang and Hoi An. Denang was interesting... walking past fish tanks on the street. Is it a restaurant or an aquarium?... probably best not to Google how they prepare the live shark. Might put you off your appetite.

A trip up to the Ba Na Mountains is on the cards as is a journey out to see the ruins at My Son. First time we've seen ancient ruins before and they're amazing.

Hoi An is the treasure here... what a quaint, colourful, tourist place. So full of life. We hired bikes, we walked the streets, shopped and dined out here. I could stay here, just for the happy hour. And at night, it comes alive.

But, we've a flight to catch.

K