Blogs from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 75

i am now writing on a very sticky keyboard in jodhpur. Travelling with a driver so far has been both a blessing and a curse. First, the positives - we have a level of accessibility into indian culture. We have dined at roadside dhabas together, visited hindu temples, and had a helpful interpreter at the tailor's and when we met tribal people on the road to bikaner. he also got us into a crumbling haveli in the village of Fatehpur and interpreted for us with the guard of the home. Being in a car means that you can go anywhere you want, stop whenever you want, and be able to get away if needed. but for the same reason, we have not had the opportunity to explore on our own the streets of the cities, the ... read more

Hey Guys, please sit back, take a break from your daily office grind and read up on our latest update in India! Indian Body Language... Everywhere we go, the locals have gone out of their way to help us out, from the Train station to bus stop directions, even when to get off or where to find our way back. Every conversation/ question we are faced with a head wobble at the end of it. We think it means no, but we've now figured out that it means yes and that all things are good!! They also shake their heads to mean No which made it very confusing at the beginning. They never nod their heads like we do in Australia to mean yes. I've become an expert at the head wobble myself just so they ... read more

All things required for the nine week journey are now strewn upon the dining table; sleeping bag, water pills, quick drying clothes, safety pins, needles, thread, waterbottle, purification tablets, dental hygiene products, first aid stuff, books to read and hand sanitizer, etc, etc, etc. With great anticipation and holding my breath, I hope it all fits with room to spare. Things will be left behind ... but what ... oh the decisions, the decisions, the decisions .... once on the plane the trip will be in motion, worries will be left behind and new ones will be confronted. At this writing Christmas dinner is on top of the to-do-list; M&M ordurvees, cheeseballs covered in nuts, liver dumpling soup, duck not goose, red cabbage, basmati rice, a myriad of home baked cookies, Viennese coffee, eggnog spiked ... read more

We made it! Thanh and I have arrived safely in South India. Yes that is correct, even in this mess of a country we are still in one piece and in good health after our 3rd day!! Everyday so far has been a little adventure for us.... Chill Mate, This is South India... On our first night here, we arrived at a surprisingly well behaved airport! All those nightmares about Indian men touching me, harrassing me, stealing my things... its just a myth! (Touch wood). No one harrased us at all and we caught a taxi to the "Chennai Guest House", compliments of Thanh's excellent organisational skills (She booked a place over the Internet). Man, even the Taxi driver has never heard of the Guest House...Where is this place?? A local guy helped us out ... read more

We are now in the 6th week of our travels and we have packed so much in. We've been enthusiastically welcomed, harrassed, scammed, amazed and enthralled by the sights we've seen, ecstatically happy, chilled out, constantly stared at and stressed in India; felt like we were in a European holiday resort in Bangkok; had aching limbs after trekking in the jungles in Chiang Mai (Thailand) for 3 days; and feel we are somewhat experts in Thai cooking after an intensive 3 day cooking course, also in Chiang Mai. India highs: Golden Temple in Amritsar in the Punjab amazing work ethic - very humbling India lows: people trying to constantly scam you seeing graffiti on the Taj Mahal Thailand highs: Trekking in the jungle with a fantastic group of people and a brilliant guide named Coco Learning ... read more