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Published: January 22nd 2009
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So day 6 in Bundi, we have stayed here a few days longer then anticipated because we were invited (well rather we invited ourselves) to have dinner with the family of this Indian artist we met here. His name is Yug and he was very excited to have his sister cook for us. So we extended our stay and decided to do a little relaxing while we were here. Bundi is an amazing little town, which doesn't see alot of tourists so it was terrific insight into Indian culture, full of the friendliest and most inviting people I have met. No hagglers yelling "my friend my friend, come see my shop!"
WE stayed the first night at R.N. Haveli a cheap little guest house highly recommended in lonely planet. It seemed cheap enough and the room had the biggest bed I have ever seen so we all three could fit there, knocking down the price quite a bit. We didn't look it over too well, however and when we returned that night we were a little taken back by the level of uncleanliness, which in Indian terms is pretty disgusting. There were crackers and hair on the unwashed bed sheets, the
pillows were caked in dirt and sweat, the extra large mattress was a little damp (God knows from what), the hot water didn't work (actually none of the water in our bathroom worked), we saw a mouse in the room which chewed on the wall near our heads all night, oh and did I mention there was a little left over poop in the toilet from the guests before us. Needless to say we stayed one night and booked it out of there so quick the next morning!
The rest of the trip has been amazing here though, we met a Swiss couple who we at dinner with two nights and explored the enormous Bundi fort with. They have been traveling for 2 years and crossed overland from Switzerland to India by land. They were incredible people and we had a wonderful time with them. The day they left we met a Brazilian kid who was also traveling for 2 years -Long term travel seems to be the norm, with the shortest time someone has been traveling that we met being 13 months. Now that I am in this lifestyle I understand why. I am beginning to realize how much
there is to see in the world and how the sense of freedom with being able to see any of it brings up the most profound emotion I have ever felt. Its as though the entire world is grabbing at your heart, tearing it to pieces, and filling it back up with experiences you never could have imagined. - Anyways we hung out with Thiago, the Brazilian for the rest of our time here, and also had an amazing time. Saying goodbye to these people, who we have known for two days, but shared such intimate memories and stories, is truly incredible. We pass each other, making lasting impressions, wishing each other well and probably never seeing each other again. It is strange but truly incredible.
We had dinner last night with Yug and his family. His 17 year old sister made dinner for us, playing early 90's American music, such as the Macarena and Shakira, and practiced her English for 2 hours. Her mother helped her cook and when Yug got off work and their father got home we ate, while we watched the Discovery channel dubbed in Hindi. Mahi, the sister, and their mother didn't eat, a custom
in India which I find really absurd. They feed all of us and then eat... maybe after? I am not sure when they eat actually because I haven't seen any of them do it, besides the few in restaurants. But it was such an awesome experience, they were all so excited that we came and shared a meal, they had never had American guests over and kept saying it was a party. I am sure I will never forget the looks on their faces as we were saying goodbye and they couldn't find the word to say how happy they were; we couldn't either so we just looked into each others eyes and spoke without talking. Such a simple meal made such a lasting difference on all of our lives.
We are leaving Bundi tonight to head to Orccha and then to Agra to see the Taj. Bundi has been magic for me, much more than I can write on this blog, but I haven't felt so alive in years. I wish you all the best and I hope life back home is great
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