A Day in Jaipur

Today we visited the Amber Fort.

We got up the mountain to the fort on elephants.

We rode 2 to an elephant with the mahout (elephant trainer).

 

Oh my goodness, I have to tell you what we encountered before we got off the bus to go to the elephants - snake charmers!. Two of them - at first I thought one of the cobras was plastic but it snapped at the charmer and started rising. It was a little creepy, but they had their fangs removed. We saw them again up in the fort. The charmers play their flutes and the cobras rise and look around.

 

  Then we had encounters with the most aggressive vendors I've ever faced. Their attitudes were I don't care if you want it or not you're gonna buy it. I showed them! However, when we got to the local market area I went wild. Saw the Palace of the Winds and the Palace on the Lake.

Both very impressive, as well as the Amber Fort. The view of the area from the fort is spectacular. Jaipur is considered a wealthy city, but still looks like poverty - piles of dirt and all kinds of trash mixed in, people just squatting along the street to use the restroom.

Pollution is also bad. It has also rained a small amount both afternoons. Keep your fingers crossed that our Air India flight is still operating when we get to the airport tomorrow in Delhi. A lot of the flights to Asia have been cancelled, but our flight is considered VIP because it is going to the US. I'm ready for a trip to Scandinavia where it's much, much cooler!

Baby Taj to Jaipur

Thursday evening we saw what is called Baby Taj

and then went on to the Agra Fort (Red Fort)

. Both were pretty great. This morning (Friday) we headed to Jaipur with a stop at Fatenpur Sikri (outstanding palace ruins)

. We got to Jaipur and had a VERY risky walking tour. 26 people trying to cross two hectic streets with the help of two gentlemen stopping traffic for us - not to mention a lady with her baby trying to get money and several vendors with the merchandise. Jaipur is supposed to be a wealthy city - ummm OK, if you say so. Our hotel is great and I just had the best massage I've had in a long time. It was called the Bali. Well I'm off to eat my pommery chicken. The hotel is having wi-fi issues, so it appears my photographs did not upload.

Thursday in Agra

Well, I'm in what they call "Taj City." We saw a true wonder of the world this morning. The pictures don't do it justice. The most magnificant thing I've ever seen! And, oh, it's hot here! What was I thinking! Afterwards we saw how they carve the marble (like used on the Taj Mahal and inlay it with stones. Later this afternoon we will visit the "Baby Taj" and the Red Fort. Tomorrow we head for Jaipur - the "Pink City."

A Day in Delhi

On Wednesday we saw several attractions in New Delhi - the India Gate, the Parliament House, the President's Palace, and visited the Birla Temple. In Old Delhi we saw the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and visited the Jamma Masjid (India's largest mosque). Very hot here!!!! Later in the afternoon we headed for Agra. Sooooooo many people here. They're all in the streets. Traffic is a free for all.

Arrival in Delhi

We blasted off from JFK on schedule. Wonderful flight because the plane was only half full, so I got an entire middle section all to myself. Slept a lot of the flight. Arrived in Delhi about 2:20pm here- pretty warm. Am I back in Egypt?? The immigration officer even asked me "why did you come during Indian summer?" I didn't know what to say because I didn't think it was Indian summer. Delhi is home to 16 million people and at about 6:00pm you can certainly tell. We took a walking tour around Connaught Place - it's like China - you have to have the underground walkways to cross the street or be killed by a tuk tuk or motorcycle. I'm warning you in advance the photos are not the greatest - have makeup in my eyes from sleeping on the plane, they are out of a bus window, and some while walking and trying not to get lost.

Tomorrow we have our tour of Delhi and then on to Agra.