Jaipur to Palolem

Two days In Jaipur- wow back to the big city. We spend the first afternoon doing some shopping the in the bazaars - shirts, pants ect. The bazaars are kind of like the mall plus every aisle of home depot and a dollar store separated into separate little shops. Need house paint, buckets , tires, a shawl dyed to match your pants anything you could think of. All sold "at special price .... Just for you "  The city it self is quite gorgeous all red sandstone.  The next day we headed out to the old city and Fort and place just outside the city nestled up in the hills. We rode an elephant up the long hill to the gates of the palace. We were a bit hesitant to ride the elephants as we weren't to sure about how they were treated. After talking with our rider however we felt much better - our elephants name was Ronny- she was 35 years old, loved bananas and had been his elephant for 15 years they only get ridden for 3 hours in the morning so they don't get too tired.  The place was huge and extravagant.  it had this one section called the hall of mirrors and it was all Marble and little bits of mirrored glass. It was gorgeous. We then headed out of to the mountains to a monkey temple. It was nestled in the hills by a stream- very old temple with a pool for bathers and tons of monkeys... Kinda cool just because it was these gorgeous old buildings pretty much built in a canyon.  After this we headed back to the hotel for the afternoon for a much needed break from the heat and to enjoy the hotel.  Next morning we headed out on a four hour drive to our next city.  On the way we stopped at a old Fort/palace/temple that one of the Mhogal rulers had built it was kinda cool just in that it was almost Chinese in style but made in all the red sandstone materials of the the surrounding regions. There was  also amazing carvings in the stone through out the entire complex.  From there we headed to the city of Agra.  Most familiarly known for the Taj Mahal.  We headed there around 4 o'clock. The crowd are horrendous but if you just ignore everyone around you the sight of it is super overwhelming. It's simply huge , entirely symmetrical , glossy white and incredibly carved. It's part of a complex that also contains a mosque, the 4 minarets , a guesthouse and huge gardens. We spent about 2 hours there in the late evening light.  Next day we told our guide we were skipping seeing the Fort in that town ( we are abit done seeing old buildings ). Instead we went to the other side of the river across from the Taj ( which is closed on Fridays ) we walked a dusty trail down to the rivers edge and from behind barbed wire, through the haze and watched over by army guys we enjoyed the greatness of the mausoleum which was built as a monument of love. On our walk back we came across a group of kids playing cricket. we watched for a while and then I joined in. They were super excited and happy to have me play. I actually surprised myself and hit it 3 out of the 4 pitches.   From here we headed out towards dehli. Stopping to watch people who were doing massive amounts of laundry along the side of the river.  

Once we got to dehli we checked into our hotel and then went off to the home of the manager of the tour company who arranged our driver ect   He and his wife hosted is for dinner.  

Saturday am we made our way to the airport once more and boarded a small flight bound for the small seaside state of Goa. We arrived mid afternoon and immediately felt the difference from the dry desert air to the humid coastal heat. We took a car to our bed and breakfast. It was an eccentric place- an old resorted Portuguese home run by a British brother and sister on a residential street in Majora Beach.  We had a lovely room with a outdoor shower. There was a courtyard with a pool and broad porches on which to read. We felt a little like we were staying at the "best exotic marigold hotel " with all the British  retirees who inhabited the place.  But was great.  There were rattley rusty bikes which we explored on that afternoon - ending up down by the beach to watch the sunset. The beach here was long, white sand, not developed with any places to stay but some beachy cafes and gorgeous warm water.   FYI biking on the wrong side of the road takes significant concentration.  Sunday was pretty chill as well - early morning devos on the porch, mid morning on the beach and afternoon by the pool.  More biking excursions in the evening.  Today we packed up and left Majora beach and headed further south to Palaloem. Here the beach is pretty developed but had a laid back hippy feel to it.  We are definitely at the tail end of the tourist season and are thankful for that. We are staying in these amazing beach front "huts". Huts as not really a hut but the walls are woven and the roof is thatched. .... Besides that it has a nice porch, electricity, and a bed.  Not much on the agenda for the next week except beaching and exploring around here. Pretty excited to not have to pack up again tomorrow.   

Much love to everyone!! Missing you all. 

Journeys in Rajesthan

The morning in Udaipur we quickly walked through the winding streets to the textile shop we had visited the day before. The door was open but it was dark inside. We wandered in and a round and then asked a man passing by if it was open ... He seemed shocked to see us there but said he would tell someone we were there , within a few minutes men came to the shop. You could tell they were breathless from running.We wheeled and dealed and in a 1/2 hour had a package full of pillowcases, blankets and purses ready to be shipped to Canada.  It is almost impossible to choose on places like this. There are literally 100's of everything and each so unique and gorgeous. All colour, embroidery, glass and patterns. We then met up with our driver Ram and drove onward to Rhoten. It was about a 4 hour drive through a mix of farms, desert mountains and desert.  Brightly garbed women herding cows or sweeping stoops broke up the brown dustiness of the landscape. Every so often a field would be green and we could see oxen going round and round a water wheel to pump water for irrigation. In the mountains there were also some very curious monkeys.  We arrived about 330 at Rhoten. We drove in a dirt road into a village. We stopped at a gate and when we walked through it was into paradise. - a huge courtyard with grass, trees and flowers.  Huge sandstone buildings rimmed the court yard. It was the property that had belonged to the ruling family of the feudal village. It had been in the family since 1622- but partially converted to a hotel in 1990. Our room used to be the court room. We relaxed in the gardens for a while and then set out to explore the village. A local shop keeper attached himself to us as our guide. The people here were friendly and joyful. We chatted with women sitting on the stoops peeling garlic, men shooting the breeze on porches. Our guide's father was a shoemaker and we went to his shop and watched him make gorgeous handmade leather shoes. We also got pulled into a pre wedding  celebration - dancing, henna and lots of photos and questions. The bride was gorgeous , everything so colourful and joyous. We headed back to the hotel for dinner on the rooftop and then back to the village for a bit more time at the wedding and to give a gift to the bride.  We weer up early the next morning had breakfast and then headed out for a jeep safari. We drove around the countryside seeing some antelope and the visiting some local people - in and brahma caste village we watched a traditional opium ceremony and learned the traditions behind it. We also visited a local potter who did amazing work all on a hand spin wheel.  Then it was back to the hotel where Ram picked us up again and we headed out for about a 2 hour drive to Mavar Camp. We had lunch at the main place and the once again headed out jeeps- here the landscape was desert interspersed with small areas where herdsmen live and farm during the monsoon. We drove the fields and up and down sand dunes stopping for a small herd of wild camels and to visit a local blacksmith. We ended up at the Camp. It was pretty much straight out of a movie. A row of white tents in the desert - they had little porches with chairs and then through a flap into huge room and then a full luxury stone washroom at the back. It was fabulous. We chilled on the porch for a bit and then got on camels for a sunset camel ride. The camels were awesome- they are all individually owned by their  owners and they are just on a list that is rotated through as needed  It is kind of a competition and pride thing for the owners to see how decked out their camels are - they had glitter, flower garlands, and all sorts of decorations on them.  It was amazing. You sit so high and it has a very swinging gait. We rode from the camp across some fields and up to the top of a dune to see the sun go down. Cows, peacocks, and farms dotted the landscape.  Back at the camp there was a expression of culture through music and dance. The Rajasthani people are so colourful and culturally rich -life here is preserved as it has been for centuries.  In the morning waking up in the desert was gorgeous- the air crisp, the birds singing and the sun warm.  We had spent the day before in some of the same activities as a lovely couple from Denmark who even though they had been married for 12 years had never had honeymoon so that morning I did a bit of a photo shoot for them to have some nice pics to remember their time together. After breakfast we got back in the car and went onwards to Jodhpur- I know I simply say driving... But that in itself is an adventure - driving is on the other side here, lanes are suggestions, and if drivers are not enough the COWS!!!!!! Oh my -in the city it's not too bad because there are not to many but everywhere else it's crazy they are very placid and chill but also don't move very fast- are no respecters of roads intersections or car horns.  Our driver is skilled but even then sometimes you pass a big truck up a hill and around a corner and then comes oncoming traffic and WHAT there a cow in your lane!!!  We got to Jodphur checked into our hotel and then headed out with our guide. He wAs an older man who was well educated had a farm and guided part time. We headed out to the crematorium/cemetery for the royal family of the town - gorgeous marble place on a hill over looking the town. Then headed up to the Fort - we are all about experiencing the local not so much the buildings so we just walked around the outside- we had to convince our guide we didn't want the 2 hour tour- our guides I think are used to a older crowd who want to hear every detail history and take pic of every plac.. Instead we walked down the steep cobbled hill to the streets of Jodphur- It is called the blue city as many of the homes are painted blue- simply indigo dye in water. - it keeps the homes cool, repels Mosquitos and is the colour of the Brahma Cast.  We wandered the narrow twisted streets ending up at the local market. If you need anything it is here. One of the biggest wholesale markets in the province. Here there are sellers of every thing you could possibly imagine. The crowded twisted streets are somewhat sorted according to product - there are vegesellers, copper sellers, rice vendors ,Muslim textile streets, Hindu textile shops, and Sari stores crowded with women and looking like the colour wheel exploded. Tables stacked high with sparkling bangles competed with the vibrant colours of the women selling them. We bartered for second hand sari scarfs and dodged cows chewing their cud as we wove deeper into the fray. Smells of frying samosa, popcorn and chai saturated the senses almost drowning out the smoke and exhaust fumes that cling to everything .  As we walked the vege street aromas of garlic, onions, spinach and oranges filled the air. The carrots here are bright red here. Open air barbers calmly cut hair and shaved chins beside the roadside motorcycle repair stand. We stopped a stand to try pan- a leaf layered with multiple spices, bitterroot and sugar and then folded up -  Local men watched our expressions and laughed as we put the entire thing in our mouth and did our best to chew and chew and chew. Then it was climbing three floors up in the wholesale textile market- heaps and heaps of blankets shawls and throws filled it from floor to ceiling. We fingered gorgeous scarves made of yak and camel wool. We jumped a bit as mouse too stopped by to enjoy the display. Then it was back out the door down the street to the spice seller- the store smelled of baking and cooking heaven. The seller was a women, whose father had started the store with a vision of selling quality spices world wide. We drank chai as we debated the merits of madras curries versus South Indian curries, saw the difference between fake and real saffron and smelled amazing tea. We then wove back through the crowds to the centre clock tower. We took a horse drawn carriage back to the hotel. We stopped at an Atm on the way back. I can sincerely tell you I the the first time I took a horse to the bank lol. 

We rose early this morning and as I wrote this we are on a train to Jaipur. It is a about an 5 hour journey and we should be there by 11.  The train is okay we are in second class so have assigned seats. Jenn tells me the bathrooms are horrid- I am hoping I don't have to go. The landscape what I can see though the soot stained windows is arid- dry with scraggly trees.  I will post this once I get to the hotel In Jaipur. Internet here is not being very cooperative with pictures but i will do my best.  Take care ...

Eta we are staying at the most posh place ever... The Hilton - we had to through security- full mirrors under the car and airport scanners to go in - rainfall showers and sweeping views of the city.  We get to stay here two nights !!

Dehli

They respect their elders here lol

The Complex of tombs in Delhi

A few pics from the slow internet

Our first first view of dehli out of our hotel room once the sun came out.

Quatar minaret and the pillers in the complex surrounding it

Delhi Udaipur

We landed in Delhi yesterday afternoon after about 24 hours of traveling. We were met by our local representative and brought to our hotel. The streets of dehli were still pretty busy irregardless of the time. We slept for several hours and we we went off to see some of the sights. The weather is warm but with a lovely breeze.  The Quatar Minera is the tallest brick minaret in the world. ... It even has a slight "Pisa" lean to it.  We also saw the tomb which the Taj Majal is fashioned after.  The afternoon we ventured into the crowded jammed pack streets of Old Delhi - road on a bike rickshaw and did a little shopping. The crowed streets are teeming with people.  A wedding procession also made its way through the streets drums and pipes flaming fire and dancers. Here are a few phone shots from the day I've been using most of my big camera but trying to remember to take some mobile ones as well. Today then we went to the airport at 330 and flew to Udaipur. We got there around 7 and then drove to our amazing lake side hotel. It is a restored building from the 17th century in the old part of the city with amazing views from the roof and rooms towards the lake and the palaces on islands on the lake. We had breakfast and then did some exploring on our own. A colleague of ours is also currently in India and amazingly we ran in to her on the street. We then met up with our guide and visited a temple , the amazing palace of the king of the city and had a boat ride on the lake. Currently we are back at the hotel having a big of well needed down time after the wirlwind past few days . 

Okay so Internet is *++ slow so pics not at this time. 

This is a test .... I repeat. This is a test ... Can I blog(with pictures because really that's what people want)  from my phone ??? If I can updates from India coming to a computer near you soon!!! T + 14 hours till my flight leaves.

Okay... Slightly laborious but by adding a Google app I think it will be possible!!!


Photo credit Larissa of Lavender Pier Photography

January 2015

Seeing how this is turning out to be a travel blog which will hopefully soon be update from afar I will shall do a wee post from January. Pics are a mix of iphone(forgive the red shadow in the corner of EVERY picture) and a few straight out of camera... I have a lack of ambition to do any editing lately...  January was a month of quick nights away and local adventures
  I started 2015 on the Island with a dear friend.  We drank tea, read books and enjoyed the sunshine. We spend the New Year's Day up on Sombrio Beach.... 6 hours of reading,reflection  and sunshine


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We spent a lot of time building a fire only to have it burn oh so quick

 The first sunset of 2015 over the Olympic Peninsula was pretty spectacular

 My contract with First Nations Health was cancelled in January and I did take another one.. choosing instead to work and adventure locally and be able to book tickets to visit family in Alberta
I walked lots at the river and did some  paddle boarding..

Had a wonderful day exploring with a dear old friend.  I introduced to some favorite little places.. Flood Falls and Jones Lake.  The rain fell and the skies were stormy but we walked, talked, drank tea and explored. 

 Jones Lake was icy and cold

Ben and I braved the rain one Friday afternoon and checked out the new suspension bridge at Cascade Falls

 The last week in January- My mom, dad, sister and her baby and I headed out to Fort Mac out for my Opa's 80th Birthday!!!! We had a lovely weekend there.. seeing family and staying with my sister and her family.
Getting out in the uncharacteristic warm Alberta sunshine

 The ice was not as thick as it looked... just saying

 Lots of fun looking through old albums

 Visiting friends on farms

 Rounded out the month with another gorgeous paddle up on Cultus