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Published: February 23rd 2007
Udaipur
Sunset Over Lake PalaceFirstly made it to Mumbai ok on a 14 hour bus ride and now my time in India has come to an end and the 15 days here have just flown by.
Now looking at it I would have like to stay for longer and head up north to Kashmir as I think Im just finally starting to get into the swing of things over here in this wonderful place. If there is a next time back here Ill be a lot more prepared!!
Nothing in the world could have braced me for the India delivers you when you first arrive in this place. The first couple of days I was just in shock I think of the poverty, theway people were living, the animals everywhere, the rubbish and the general smell of the place.
Im glad so say that after 15 days here nothing really shocks me anymore and there have been some weird thighs Ive seen. Some just funny as well like in the main Bazzar in Jodphur a camel with a couple of tourists on the back trying to mount a cow! It was hilarious!
Of course when traveling alone I have felt quite lonely when there
Udaipur
Doing The Morning Business is know one to have a decent conversation with for a couple of days also lying awake at night because of the tablets Im taking, they give you the weirdest nightmares, for malaria thinking about how good a Sunday roast would be, at the pub with my mates, it kinda gets ya down. I think getting home sickness is sometimes good because that is when you really appreciate home your family and friends and really start to notice the difference about the two places.
It is impossible to escape the poverty, rubbish and beggars that are everywhere but now it doesn bother me as much, it does bother me but you just have to get used to it over here or just have to leave I guess.
I think that Ive become kinda rude as well but seem to be the only way sometimes. When walking in a market I stood out like every other tourist and the stall keepers must just rub there hands together and think here we go.. The first thing they say is "hello my friend" and if you even blink an eye in there direction next thing "which country?" obviously they guess England or Australia
Udaipur
The Lady’s Really Brighten The Place Up and if say Australia they follow you 100 yards saying everything you didn want or need to know about cricket and there stall! I soon got used to ignoring everyone after the first market otherwise I would never get out! It also hard but have to ignore the kids that come up and ask for money wearing worn out clothes placing there hand up to there mouth asking for 1 Rupee. Your not supposed to do it because it encourages them to keep going to every tourist.. Once I saw a beggar with his hand out asking for money and then his mobile phone rang in his pocket! I though what going on here?
Words and signs that I needed to know before I arrived.. "Chelo" means go away and saying that firm and direct always get them away, very very good work to learn. Tilting your head to one side and kinda winking a eye means "yeah what ever", very good when trying to get a price down, do that and start to walk away and will always go cheaper! When Indians tilt there head side to side quickly that means yes! I had know idea what was going
Udaipur
A Holyman On the Way To Udaipur on when everyone started doing this! I just got dizzy watching them all the time.
The things I loved about this place would firstly be the general public and the kids (not people in tourist trade exp rickshaw drivers they are always trying to rip you off). They are all so friendly and will always help in any way possible to make it easy. The kids are awesome and love to go and have a hit of cricket or a water fight or something.
Also Ive never felt in danger over here which surprised me a bit. Didn think for a minute that someone was trying to take my stuff on a train or bus and was traveling on local transport most of the time. So the people are brilliant!
Next the food is just amazing.. It really is the land of curry and spice over here. It is lucky that I like it all because I think I had my fair share! Wasn worried about getting sick, although it did happen, I don’t think its the food that much just the personal hygiene of the people cooking. I started to eat of the streets after a week and was
Udaipur
A Lady With The Donkeys Walking Around Udaipur fine as long as it was deep fried, boiled or hot out of the kitchen, I didn worry! The sweets are really sweet over here as well, really recommend having a few different ones. My favorite drinks would have to be banana lassi and the traditional Chai Tea. It is sold everywhere and everyone drinks it all the time.
The last thing would have to be learning about the history of the place, well trying to there is just so much. The forts that overlook a city are huge some of them and the stories that go with each individual one are good listening. In one there was a war for 10-12 years and in the end the males in the fort just walked out because they had no food or water and were killed and the lady’s killed themselves so didn have to become slaves! Just the history and stories like that are incredible!
The photos are from Udaipur but was only there for a night so didn get to have a good look around. The city though seems to be very nice with a lake going through the middle and hills completly surrounding it.
Well thats about it
Udaipur
Monkeys Along The Way To Udaipur. Waiting For Food To Be Dropped.. from India Ive had an awsome time and learnt loads about myself and this country even though I only sampled a tiny part and heading to Egypt in a few hours so write when there I guess. Not sure how long though because going into desert for a week or so.
Another thing to prove that this world is shrinking... In Jaisalmer I spend a day with a couple from Switzerland about 6 days ago and here in Mumbai I bump into them!! Just crazy.. There is only around 1 billion people here!!
See yas
slugger
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Arnab
Armand
"which country?"
poverty is too much in India..can't help it....there are just so many people here...they cheat Indian tourists too but for foreigner tourists they get the feeln of one scapegoat comn straight at em.... dont pay or pay extra money... ya food is cheap and good... India is very passionate about cricket and most people indulge themselves in the game.hence when see Australian or British they try to intimate! for they thrash India in cricket so badly!