Advertisement
Published: August 26th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Hello! Sorry I have not posted an entry in a while, but we have been deep, DEEP under the cultural water and are just now coming up for air. Since there is so much to catch up on, let me just give you a brief rundown:
Rangu’s wedding: Crazy. We went for the engagement ceremony the night before (about 4hrs) and the wedding ceremony at 8am the next morning (5hrs). Both were accompanied by this music that sounded like a beatnik improve session. Loud, squeaky horns with no apparent melody and drums too. Lots of incense, flowers everywhere, chanting, even a fire on the stage where no less than about 50 family members were gathered around them. A completely unique experience for us and I remember thinking my subconscious was absorbing great material for years and years of weird dreams to come. The reception that evening was basically a long receiving line and the outside of the wedding hall looked like a movie premiere with traffic backed up down the street. During the reception (more loud music, incense) Amanda, Sundeep and I decided to duck out for a quick drink at the very modern/tech style Park hotel down the street.
At the wedding
Indian clothing that Rangu's sister and cousin helped us pick out Call the driver, in the car, at the Park, then at the Park in the bar where we had a few drinks. I guess time got away from us because then we get a call from the groom asking where we are and that most people have left and he wants to eat with us, OOPS!!! So we quickly headed back and had yet another 20 item (literally) south Indian meal.
Delhi: Arrived late to Delhi on Friday since our flight was delayed. Exhausted from the heat and pollution we finally arrived at the hotel at about 9pm. Great view of Humayan’s tomb from the rooftop patio, but Amanda not feeling well this morning.
Agra: A four hour drive to Agra turned into a six hour drive due to traffic. The highlight was a rest area where a guy tried to get me to come out and take a picture with his pet monkey. “No, no thanks, that’s OK” then I tried to ignore him and looked out the other window. WUMP! Something hit the car and I turn to see the monkey inches from my face, hanging on the window! We were both speachless. Then the guy
Part of the wedding cermony
That's Rangu's dad standing on the left. There were a ton of people in here and they had a ceremonial fire on the stage but if I showed those pictures you wouldn't be able to see anyone. took the monkey away and we laughed for five minutes from the way that monkey and I were face to face.
In Agra: Amanda not feeling well so we check into the great Taj View hotel. I went out to tour the Red Fort and got some great pics along with a few of the Taj Mahal from a distance. We were only scheduled to be in Agra for the day, but since Amanda wasn’t feeling well I rearranged the trip to stay there another day. Next day Amanda managed to come with me to the Taj Mahal and man was it worth it! Spectacular, words really can’t describe it, you just can’t help but smile and stare.
We holed up at the hotel the rest of the day just resting and watching TV, which you just gotta do sometimes. But listening to the wailing calls to prayer from the mosque next door at 5pm and 5am, you really couldn’t forget where you were no matter how much bad American TV you watch.
Jaipur: We got up early and made a break for Jaipur, a 6 hour drive. We left at 6am to try and avoid some
traffic and made good time, Amanda powering through it like a champ. When we arrived in Jaipur the driver told me our hotel was outside the city, which I knew, but it was another hour and a half with traffic!!! Since we only had one day here after rearranging the plan, it was time to improvise. I called a hotel in the city that I had considered booking that was in the same hotel group called Samode Haveli. They were able to transfer the reservation and I’m glad it worked out this way…it was the coolest hotel I have ever seen. A vast, old, middle eastern looking hotel but you would never know the size. There were an endless number of narrow little passageways, stairways, courtyards, fountains and really cool old looking hobbit doors everywhere. Our suite was enormous (four rooms including the bathroom) and we were very happy. I headed out to tour the city and saw the Hawa Mahal (I think that’s what it’s called) the largest and very old observatory in the world with enormous sundials and astrological tools, all hundreds of years old. Amazing. Then toured the city palace, the Amber Palace overlooking the city on a hill and a really beautiful 500 year old hindu temple next door. Then back to the hotel and convinced Amanda to come out for some shopping which is good here.
Woke up at 4:45 this morning to catch a flight to Udaipur. The flight is only 1hr vs a 12-13 hr car ride. We’re on the plane now while I’m typing this, a little prop plane, wow.
In Udaipur now and Amanda is starting to feel better. She ate some rice last night and an omlette with toast this morning. Just finished some tours of the city palace here and Udaipur and it was great. The weather here is a little cooler which is welcome and the town has some hills and lakes which helps with the charm. More later!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.116s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 9; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0479s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Howard
non-member comment
Sweet
Yo. The trip looks amazing. And the blog is super funny.