Back in Delhi

After our last over night train we arrive back in Delhi.  Somehow it seems anti-climatic.  I think we're all starting to think about where we are going after we leave Delhi.  Some are continuing with their travels while some of us are heading home.  Since I have been gone since Dec. 19th I am ready to head back.

It is Holy Festival and this is the day of the colours.  Everyone will be throwing colours on everyone and anyone that ventures in to the streets.  Anjali advises that we should not go out.  They are going to be hosting a party at our hotel in the rooftop restaurant for people that are travelling with Intrepid.  They are coming from other hotels and will celebrate here.  Our group discusses this option but we feel it won't be the true Holy Festival.  It will just be a bunch of tourists partying amongst themselves.  We feel that if we go out early in the day we shouldn't get in to any trouble.

I think that we have actually gone out too early because there's not much happening at all.  We get a few water balloons thrown at us, water guns from rooftops and lots of powder colors smeared on our faces and everywhere else.

Danita

 

Vaughan and Sarah

Some of the supplies that you can purchase on the street.

Vaughan is such a character!  So much fun!

Connor making a big purchase...I think it was spray paint!

Local law enforcement was happy to pose for a picture but definitely no colours thrown on them!

It's a lot of fun...wishing everyone Happy Holy.  Eventually we are sated and we decide to head back to the hotel and clean up.  What a mess!!

We want to venture out to do a little last minute shopping but it's tricky because people are still trying to get you with the colours.  I have to buy a small suitcase to put some of my stuff in.  I manage to pick one up for 300 rupees ($6) and head back to pack and get ready to head home.  Cathryn, Leanne and I all go in one car at 11 p.m.  My flight doesn't go until 3:15 a.m.

Pauline and I dressed in our new India outfits

Cathryn and Leanne are waiting at the gate across the hall from me and Cathryn comes over to tell me that she heard that they don't announce overhead when your flight is boarding and she has noticed that sure enough my flight has started to board and I didn't even notice.  Wouldn't be funny if I missed my flight while sitting right there!  Weird. 

We land in Amsterdam at Schiphol Airport.  I have a five hour layover here and the first thing I want to do is buy licorice!  It's the best.  I do a little shopping and then decide to visit the KLM Premium Lounge.  I'm pretty sure it's just for Business Class and I am just flying economy but thought I might be able to pay to go in.  On the way there I notice a man on his own heading to the lounge and I strike up a conversation with him about the lounge.  He offers to bring me in as his guest!  How nice is that?  But when he goes to check in we are told that it is extremely busy at this time and guests are not able to come in until later.  The lady gives me a 15 euro gift card to Starbucks and tells me to come back later.  I say goodbye to my nice fellow and go to Starbucks. 

15 Euros gets me enough for breakfast.  Sweet!

I wander around and then return to the lounge at 10:30 and since I've been preapproved I go in to the lounge no problem.  It's great.  So comfortable.  Lots of food.  Anything you could ask for and it's all complimentary.  There is also a self serve bar with wine and hard liquor.  Just help yourself.

I try not to overdo it.  I have a nice hot lunch and then finish it off with a glass of wine and a sweet.  Half hour before I have to be at the gate I leave the lounge fed and refreshed.

My expression says it all!  Smug and satisfied that I was able to enjoy the lounge.  I really was meant to fly first class...my budget just doesn't support it!

I board the flight and I'll be home in a few hours.  What an adventure!  Until the next one......

 

 

Varanasi

We arrive in Varanasi around 10:00 a.m.  We transfer to our hotel by tuc tuc and the traffic is bad.  We are on the 3rd floor and there aren't any elevators.  Thank heaven for porters helping with the luggage.  I'm done with lugging my suitcase up and down stairs.  For 100 rupees ($2) they look after it.  So worth it.

We have lunch at the hotel and a little down time then a walk at 4 p.m. ending with a river cruise and dinner.  We walk along the Ganges which is close to our hotel. 

The application of colours is already happening for the Holy Festival...Vaughan is the first to succumb...what a good sport!

 

The river cruise took us down the Ganges to where they are cremating someone.  They do this 365 days a year.  It becomes the norm to see wrapped bodies waiting to be cremated.

We witness people praying, bathing and preparing the funeral pyre.  There is also an electric crematorium.

 

Serving Masala Chai to everyone...this fellow is so agile...hopping from boat to boat!

 

We return and go for dinner at a pizza place which is on the bank of the river.  They specialize in apple pie and ice cream!  How weird is that but it's delicious!  We return to the hotel and actually have a sleep in the next day.  Much needed.  We find a restaurant close by called The Back Door which is absolutely fantastic for breakfast.  Great coffee!

After breakfast Pauline and I set out to find an ATM that's working.  A rickshaw driver offers to take us for 60 rupees.  He's great.  So friendly.  We try 5 or 6 machines before we get money.  He then takes us to a friend's small store to get change and I find a perfect red tunic and another pair of pants!  Later that day we walk the Ganges banks again but it's so hot! 

Barbers working their magic in the streets!

 

 

We finally reach the sinking temple and turn off in to a maze of small streets. 

 

Sinking temple

 

 

 

 

Such a crowd...you could get lost so easily here.

 

 

We go for lassi but my chocolate and coconut is too rich and I can't finish it. 

We then go to a silk shop but nothing stands out and it's quite expensive.  No purchases.






That evening we go for dinner at a hotel across town.  Over 30 minutes by tuc tuc but the food is good.  It's Nikki's birthday and we've had a bit of a celebration. 

 

 

 

Back to the hotel as we have to be up early tomorrow.  At 5:40 a.m. we leave for our sunrise cruise down the Ganges to witness morning prayer and bathing.

It's a true experience watching the sun rise on the Ganges.  After we go for coffee at the Back Door but the power goes out and we have a bit of a wait but it's worth it.  We do get our coffee!

 

We have to pack up and vacate our rooms but we keep two rooms to put the luggage in until we leave at 5:30 p.m. for the train station.  We kill time by going to Sarnath which is an ancient ruin where there is a large Buddha statue.  It's hot and it's not well layed out.  It's a disappointment and I think we're done.  Hot and dusty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we get back to the hotel we have a rushed dinner and then it's off to the train station by tuc tuc.  We're heading back to Delhi.  The Holy festival starts tomorrow and already you can see the congestion. 

I'm so ready to come home.

 

Agra

This morning we pile into our van for the two hour/60 km journey to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri.  Of course of main goal while in Agra is to visit the Taj Mahal.  The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz.

But first things first....we go to visit a place where they make hand made carpets. 

Beautiful carpets and I fully respect the work that goes in to each carpet but none of us are in the market for a carpet. 

Such precise repetitive work...I don't know how they can do this all day!

It's rather awkward as they serve us Masala tea and go to great lengths to tell us about the carpets.  You almost feel like you need to make a purchase just to make them feel better but too much money at this point in our trip.  We check in to our hotel and have a quick lunch. 

We then head off to see Agra Fort which is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. 

Built in 1565 by Emperor Akbar it was originally constructed to be a military structure. 

 

The Fort is amazing.  Only 30% is open to the public but that is huge.  We have a guide who is very informative.

We leave the Fort and go for dinner.  It's another rooftop restaurant which is very nice.  It's off to bed early as we are going to see the Taj Mahal for sunrise.

We arrive at 6:00 a.m. but it's still dark.  6:30 the gates open but it's misty out, foggy with pollution so it's not great for pictures.  Here is the whole group posing for an iconic picture in front of the Taj Mahal.  What a great group we were!

Later on around 9:00 a.m. with the sun out the air clears and it's better for pictures.  Lots of pictures as this is a beautiful structure.  By 10:00 we're done and it's off to have coffee.  It's delicious.  Coffee has become a luxury.

Fueled by coffee Vaughan is trying out the tuc tuc....possible new occupation?

We go back to the hotel to pack our things as we are leaving on the overnight train to Varanasi tonight.  We have time to kill so Alanna, Danita and myself decide to go to the gardens that are located behind the Taj.  It's very hot out and the tuc tuc ride is long.  The driver did not understand where we wanted to go so we have been driving around and basically getting no closer to where we wanted to go.  We finally get to the gardens but at this time of the year there's not much to see.  Must have been beautiful back in the day. 

The view across the water of the Taj Mahal is worth the visit. 

They are doing an archeological dig at this site.  These women carry the dirt they are removing.  No wheelbarrows here.  No matter what the women are doing they are always colorfully dressed.

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 We head back to the hotel and Anjali joins us to find "the milkshake" place.  So good!  $7 though

 

 

 

We go back to the hotel for dinner then to the train station.

 

 

The train is late but by 9:00 p.m. we are finding our compartment.  We are due in Varanasi by 10:00 in the morning.