Sept. 6 - Arrived in Mumbai. Abhishek took a while to pick me up (in a tuk tuk of all things). Took a while because I couldn't find a pay phone. People hardly spoke English. People staring, glaring. I remembered and practiced what Abhishek taught me, "act like your own the place." Nobody bothered me, because I pwned the place.
On the next following days I met Abhishek's family, his fiance, and Rajeev, aka. "Visionary Dubey Baba G." These were good times. Very hot and humid, but good times.
Monday, Sept. 9 - Fly into Delhi, first night's lodging @ Hotel Perfect. Nobody picked me up at the Delhi airport. Lots of miscommunication going on. So far this whole trip is nothing but miscommunication and feeling like I'm getting haggled. Met the Indian guide. He is surprisingly tall, wearing cowboy boots, with a curly moustache, like Captain Hook.
Sept. 10 - Drive to Jaipur with team. Ate breakfast first. The price of the breakfast was extra from the hotel cost - nobody knew to pay for it, of course we all did though. First person I met on the team was Angela. She introduces herself to me, and i think my initial response in my mind was something like: "Who...what....how....huh?".
Sept. 11 - In Jaipur the lodging was at Hotel Bissau Palace. A very splendid property. Spending 2 nights here. Jaipur is a very prosperous city. Sites to see here: City Palace, Hawa Mahal, the marketplace, Amber Fort.
Sept. 12 - After Jaipur we took another private coach to Agra. Here we stayed at Hotel Bhoomi Residency. I totally forget this lodging. I hope I have some photos to refresh my memory. Agra is home of the infamous Taj Mahal. Although the story is nice, the whole story is less than idea.
Sept. 13 - We arrived in Orchha, a Hindu pilgrimage location, by train. We stayed in decent tents at the Orchha Resort. This place is extremely hot and humid. Be prepared to sweat bucket loads. Drink water frequently and often. Saw an old mural of the Hindu's theory of evolution, essentially, depicting the lineage of Vishnu's reincarnations in the Orchha Palace complexes royal King's chamber. Interesting history. A shame it was only used for only 1 day.
Sept. 14 - Overnight train to Jhansi/Varanasi. The train stations in India can be scary, if you don't act like you own the place. My teammates were surrounded by the locals. It looked like a scene of lions surrounded a back of water buffalo protecting their young. I was walking around, acting like I own the place. Even the dogs and the cows sleep in the middle of roads and even in the middle of the train tracks - literally, everybody and everything acts as though they own the place. Because there is not much room (for certain bunks), I took the liberty of stretching my legs out on the top bunk across the isle (since i was on the top bunk).
Sept. 15 - At Varanasi we stayed at Hotel City Inn for a couple of nights. Varanasi is the place where Hindus go to cremate, if they are rich enough to do so. The Ganges River is said to be legendary, healing, life-giving, and god in its own right. We sailed up and down the Ganges and witnessed some prayer ceremony. The Chai tea here is good, as well as the typical street vendor foods (like popped rice sprinkled with sand).
Sept. 16 - After final day in Varanasi we head off for Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha. We see the birthplace of the old temple and the sacred tree where Buddha supposedly achieved his enlightenment. It is very hot and humid here. Drink lots of water.
Sept. 18 - Chitwan, Nepal. We spend a couple of nights in a charming village lodge, the Sapana Village Lodge. Here I learn to drink Gin and Tonic for its anti-mosquito properties (i'm the only one not taking malaria pills). Here we do canoe rides, hikes in the jungle, safaris, elephant safaris, elephant baths, and lots of good food and drinks. On lucky mornings we see glimpses of the Himalayas in the distant horizon, hiding behind thick clouds.
Sept. 20 - Pokhara is like San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. You've got your activities for the adrenaline-tempered tourists, a good range of restaurants adapted to the western palate, and the bars and clubs for those thirsty for loud, tacky music and familiar and exotic drinks. It's just like San Pedro. I swear. Here we stayed at Hotel Bougainvillea. During safari we get caught in a monsoon. We had to turn back so we could get our rain jackets, though it was mostly too late since we were all incredibly soaked.
Sept. 21 - I'm running out of money of none of the ATM machines are working (for me). I had to sell my books for 150 Nepalese Rupees, which I considered a lot! I'm eating my last breakfast here (eggs and hash) when I notice somebody very familiar. It turns out its the same person I met back at home (Seattle) during a Nepal travel presentation a few weeks before the trip. She said she'd be hiring a local Sherpa to do some trekking. What a small world. Honestly.
Sept. 22 - We arrive in Kathmandu after the bumpiest ride in your entire life. We check into Fuji Hotel. Kathmandu is nothing like what I had expected. I've added a few books on my "To Read" list. Let's see if I can remember them: Everest, Into Thin Air. I stayed in Kathmandu for a few days. Did additional hiking. This place is gorgeous.
I spent one additional day in Delhi and did a bicycle tour (DelhibyCycle). This was awesome. And by awesome, I mean crazy.
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