Blogs from Gujarat, India, Asia - page 20

Najzad uspevamo da se dokopamo do voza koji ce nas veceras voziti za Udajpur, ura!!! Docekuju nas opet kao filmske zvezde, vec malo smoreni od treceg ...dabada zaredom, ocekujemo slican provod, ali danas smo proveli sasvim drugciji dan. Dolazimo do Swaminarayan templa. U centru grada, muk. Gomila celavih (al sa repicima) svestenika obucenih u narandzste krpe, se izlezava na tremu koji okruzuje hram. Par minuta kasnije prilazi nam jedan ekstremno ljubazan dekica koji je zaduzen za turiste. Prvo nas je upoznao sa idolima i sa time sta koji predstavlja. u pauzama izmedju klanjanja sa ostalim vernicima nam sluze voce a posto klekli ispred starijeg svestenika sa terminator naocarama dobili smo i njegov bless. Posle nas je odveo na caj i cigaricu, male neke sto svi puse (donecemo kuci) i svo to vreme nam propovedao i davao ... read more

Hello friends! I was on tour of Rann Utsav-biggest festival celebrated by Gujarat Government at Dhordo-Kutch where I was appointed as a Tourist Guide to support tourist from Rotary International Students. They were 50 people in our group we spent most wonderful time in Dhordo. First day we took part in Inauguration of Scalton of Whale, found in Kutch, in Hill Garden Bhuj. That evening we had chance to see dance groups who have taken part in Kutch Carnival which is celebrated for the last 2 years in Bhuj. More than 40 groups taken part with various subject, dresses, music, and that was so splendid! even I could not stop myself from dancing with some of the groups ;-) Next day we went Kalo Dungar" Blake Hill-Highest hill in Kutch from where you can view great ... read more

The city: Gir is the last remaining refuge of the Asiatic lion(about 300 left), the only lions found outside of Africa. The Asiatic species is different from their African cousins in that they don't have prides, the male lion has a less luxuriant mane and hunts for himself. These lions once roamed all over northern India up to Iran and the Indian national emblem features 4 Asiatic Lions. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these elusive beasts on an open jeep safari. The Adventure: After we finished our morning safari my guide told me that it was possible to walk into the lion sanctuary in the afternoon when the lions are lazing around. I was skeptical at first but decided to check it out anyways, and after a monetary "tip" to the park ... read more

Nicky: That beautiful meal overlooking the lake wasnt so beautiful for long as it kept me up all night, on the train, while I was being sick. I am not going to go into detail just to say that it wasn't pleasant, I am trying not to remember much of it, but I do have vague recollections of launching myself kamakazee style from the top bunk where i was sleeping still wrapped in my sleeping bag, one handed and half shuffling, half running the 50 yards to the toilet (which was barely nice enough to wee in let alone anything else) several times in the night. My bad stomach continued until we arrived in Ahmedabad at 5.30am, while we waited for our next train, all through the journey to Mumbai - which was in what I ... read more

The City:Junagadh is a maze of crowded allies and old buildings, atop a hill north of the city lies the Uperkot Fort, which is where Junagadh was first established. Riddled with secret passageways and underground caves the old city seems like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, some passageways are rumored to even lead to Pakistan! My Guide: As I was exploring the city I ran into an intoxicated guy among some bushes, which was surprising since Gujarat is a dry state(no alcohol). A local of Junagadh he enthusiastically showed me around, including the "punishment door" which is a doorway that leads to a 200 foot drop, where in earlier times outlaws were made to walk the plank. Aptly, I got a picture of the guy at the door.... read more