Well, we met Joy and Gibbs, who unfortunately had their bags lost. TII ( Daves phrase from Blood Diamond)- This is India!
We went out to the American Embassy where I had Ceasar Salad, Bourbon Steak, French Fries and a chocolate mousse...was very very excited as you can well imagine! Then we did a bit of sightseeing, and shopping in Delhi, was crazy expensive, but found a shop that sold French bread, Camembert cheese, Haribo gummi bears and sour strips...again we were very excited and have been enjoying our buys!
A short train brought us to Agra, and this morning we went to see the Taj Mahal..it was obviously really beautiful and worth the short stop over. We take another train tonight, getting us in to Jaipur which has some beautiful forts and I think great shopping! Another super nice thing is that mango season has just started...mmm!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
On the trains...Again!
After an all too short time in Ooty, 8 days, we packed up again and took the long bus/train journey back into the North. We are now in Delhi, which has, we were amazed to find, such things as Baskin Robins and Dominos pizza! We are staying with some of Daves friends who live in a beautiful house and are treating us royally, they are really hospitable. Joy and Gibbs come in to the airport in 2 hours and then we'll go out for dinner.
Tomorrow we head to Agra, to see the Taj and from there two weeks more travelling.
Possibly 4, we are not sure whether we can resist going to Nepal and Darjeeling when we are this close!
Tomorrow we head to Agra, to see the Taj and from there two weeks more travelling.
Possibly 4, we are not sure whether we can resist going to Nepal and Darjeeling when we are this close!
Quick stop in Ooty
After taking a series of trains, Jalsaimer to Jodhpur, Jodhpur to Ahemebad, Ahemebad to Mumbai the 24 hours from Mumbai to Calicut, then a bus, jeep, bus, rickshaw......we finally made it back to Ooty..where it seemed the monsoon hit early!
We took the scooters up to the new girls home one day to do a bit of demolition, meanwhile the rains had turned the only road going home, literally into a river. We had to ride down the hill in a foot of water, praying we didnt fall into a pot hole, which there are plenty. There was a total block of traffic so after a quick scout decided to take the scooter onto the shopfront walk. Rode a bit like maniacs for a while and then had to get it back onto the road. Dave made me get off and push, knee deep in freezing muddy water I might add, until we got the bike going again. It was only afterwards when I commented about my cold feet...and wern't his feet cold, that I found out he'd never even gotten into the water. Apparently he was 'supporting' the bike from the sidewalk!! Well needless to say, especially as Dave left his only two jumpers locked in the cottage at the top of the 'river', we both now have colds!
Another fun thing happened in Ooty- 40 teenagers from Hebron came to Farley on a field trip. We made 2 huge tubs of bread dough, each kid got some and wrapped it around the end of a stick, cooked it over the fire, then filled it with a number of tasty options. They loved it although I wish I had a taperecorder to play back some of the classic conversations about dying in the woods and how to act around girls!
The rain held off long enough to have dinner but the plan to sleep in the woods had to be scrapped. The next day, Dave and Travis and I led some games for them all. That was a ton of fun and we got invited back to the boys dorm that week to watch ManU play Liverpool.
Theres also talk of hanging out there more when we get back.
We took the scooters up to the new girls home one day to do a bit of demolition, meanwhile the rains had turned the only road going home, literally into a river. We had to ride down the hill in a foot of water, praying we didnt fall into a pot hole, which there are plenty. There was a total block of traffic so after a quick scout decided to take the scooter onto the shopfront walk. Rode a bit like maniacs for a while and then had to get it back onto the road. Dave made me get off and push, knee deep in freezing muddy water I might add, until we got the bike going again. It was only afterwards when I commented about my cold feet...and wern't his feet cold, that I found out he'd never even gotten into the water. Apparently he was 'supporting' the bike from the sidewalk!! Well needless to say, especially as Dave left his only two jumpers locked in the cottage at the top of the 'river', we both now have colds!
Another fun thing happened in Ooty- 40 teenagers from Hebron came to Farley on a field trip. We made 2 huge tubs of bread dough, each kid got some and wrapped it around the end of a stick, cooked it over the fire, then filled it with a number of tasty options. They loved it although I wish I had a taperecorder to play back some of the classic conversations about dying in the woods and how to act around girls!
The rain held off long enough to have dinner but the plan to sleep in the woods had to be scrapped. The next day, Dave and Travis and I led some games for them all. That was a ton of fun and we got invited back to the boys dorm that week to watch ManU play Liverpool.
Theres also talk of hanging out there more when we get back.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Jodhpur then into the Desert!
The fort was fantastic. Train. Jalsaimer. Here there is a fort, which is fully inhabited and then a small city spreading around the outside. This place looks like a giant sandcastle from the outside but the inside is full of ornate carving, temples and Havelis.
Travis, Dave and I went on a desert camel safari for the last two days. It was really beautiful. A mixture of dunes, scrub and rock. My camel was called Molly and arroused plenty of passion from the male camels..particularly Mr India, who every hour or so would stick out his tongue blow it up and waggle it, making a disgusting sound while slobbering everywhere in an attempt to win her affection.
We got adopted by a lost baby goat as we plodded along. It got so scared by the dogs in the night that it stayed under the covers with me and Dave...much to Daves chargrin...as the goat several times in the night crawled over him, bleated in his ear..and pooped in the bed..twice! I loved the sweet little thing!
Now we are back in the fort city and have two full days of shopping..also not so much for Daves enjoyment..although to be honest he has bought more than I have on this trip!
Then we take the long trip back to Ooty!
Travis, Dave and I went on a desert camel safari for the last two days. It was really beautiful. A mixture of dunes, scrub and rock. My camel was called Molly and arroused plenty of passion from the male camels..particularly Mr India, who every hour or so would stick out his tongue blow it up and waggle it, making a disgusting sound while slobbering everywhere in an attempt to win her affection.
We got adopted by a lost baby goat as we plodded along. It got so scared by the dogs in the night that it stayed under the covers with me and Dave...much to Daves chargrin...as the goat several times in the night crawled over him, bleated in his ear..and pooped in the bed..twice! I loved the sweet little thing!
Now we are back in the fort city and have two full days of shopping..also not so much for Daves enjoyment..although to be honest he has bought more than I have on this trip!
Then we take the long trip back to Ooty!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Into the North
Well the train journey went well... we arrived in Udaipur healthy and unscathed, our packs only slightly heavier from a bit of shopping done during our layover in Ahemedebad! Udaipur is a magical place with a beautiful lake and stunning architecture. We only had a few days there but managed to cram in a whole tonne. Dave and I did a miniature painting class... one of the main arts in the city..I painted an elephant and he a camel.
We took a cookery course and thouroughly enjoyed the results after. I learnt how to make leather journals and how to imprint and stain them, we took in some sights, went to the palace, and did plenty of shopping. And possibly one of the funnest things was an afternoon riding the most gorgeous Maharawi horses who were just ready to gallop..which we did. We passed through lots of little villages with all the children following us yelling Namaste and giving us their hands for high fives.
Then early this morning onto a bus ( which we had a double bed in, for a dollar more) and a six hour ride to Jodhpur, some lunch when we arrived and a trek through the busy market..Dave got head butted by a cow and I almost got ran over by a man pushing a cart..he just wouldnt stop even though I had nowhere to go! Crazy!
The buildings here again are just gorgeous and overlooking the town is a huge fort on a hill top..only once conquered in history...by two armies combined..who managed to hold it for all of two days! It is certainly formidable and we visit it tomorrow.
We took a cookery course and thouroughly enjoyed the results after. I learnt how to make leather journals and how to imprint and stain them, we took in some sights, went to the palace, and did plenty of shopping. And possibly one of the funnest things was an afternoon riding the most gorgeous Maharawi horses who were just ready to gallop..which we did. We passed through lots of little villages with all the children following us yelling Namaste and giving us their hands for high fives.
Then early this morning onto a bus ( which we had a double bed in, for a dollar more) and a six hour ride to Jodhpur, some lunch when we arrived and a trek through the busy market..Dave got head butted by a cow and I almost got ran over by a man pushing a cart..he just wouldnt stop even though I had nowhere to go! Crazy!
The buildings here again are just gorgeous and overlooking the town is a huge fort on a hill top..only once conquered in history...by two armies combined..who managed to hold it for all of two days! It is certainly formidable and we visit it tomorrow.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Rajasthan
The five of us are heading off for a small adventure into the north of India. Its a three day train ride to get there, and a three day train ride home..in between we are going to visit the historic desert cities of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. We hope to fit in some shopping, a desert camel trek and some good sights of forts etc. The whole trip should be about two weeks, weve been busy packing today and baking all kinds of sweet treats to take on the journey! Anyways hopefully we will have a really fun trip and be ready to tackle the new housing project when we get back to Ooty. Thats all for now
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)