Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Agra, Jaipur and back to Delhi


Hi from Delhi! Here are some photos from the last few days!! I'm feeling a little better. no more sore throat. but now i have a very stuffy nose. I'm taking it easy today hoping i will finally get rid of it! Headed to Dharmasala tonight!


On the train to Agra


from the train


colorful trash taken from the train


In Agra we were greeted by our friendly autorickshaw-wallah, Ali.


entrance to the Agra Fort


Again everyone wanted a photograph with us. so we exchanged. This was the daughter of a couple who took a picture with Honora and I.


i <3>

A group of ladies came and spoke with us for a little bit. The women are so curious and SOO nice!


Photo exchange! We gave these guys ample chance to take our photo and then we walked away. Thinking they had gotten a good shot. but no. they followed us around for a while. From here in we decided no photos for men. Only women and families.


Agra Fort


Honora being my model! Agra Fort


The highlight of my day was sitting in the grass next to a family. There were two little boys in the family and they kept running up to us and smiling and laughing hysterically! and talking to us. A man nearby translated a little. One boy was fascinated with Honora and exclaimed, "Your face is TOO white!!" and "You're too long!!!" He then cracked up and ran off only later to repeat the process.

Dru. They wanted us to take photos of them and for some reason thought they had to get real low. Sometimes they would put their heads so low for the photo that they fell over.

Their father.


They taught me some words in Hindi. Like Gotah which means dog!


Rahit.


Dru's mother and sister.


Ali was our official autorickshaw-wallah for the whole day! And was extremely kind.


From the rickshaw.


From the autorickshaw.


Streets of Agra


The next few shots were taken on a bridge built by the British in 1904. It was just wide enough for a couple of regular sized cars. The concrete had disintegrated along the edges and you could see about 70 feet down to sand below. The bridge was so crowded that there was hardly a square foot that wasn't being used. Horns honked and people yelled and everyone's trying to get across at the same time: autorickshaws, bicycles, bicycle rickshaws, motorcycles, cars, ox carts, cars. It takes about 5 minutes to get across and it is indeed an adrenaline rush!



One of my favorite photos. passing a market.


market.


on the streets of Agra


The mini Taj Mahal as Ali called it. A mauseoleum.

Honora at the mauseoleum
boy at the mauseoleum

These guys were sawing and selling pieces of marble.


Agra street


behind the Taj Mahal

There used to be the huge beautiful Yamuna River. Now it looks like a stream. Scary. You can walk across.

Behind the Taj Mahal.


Lizzie and the back of the Taj.


Kids behind the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal and sunset


We saw the sunset at the Oberoi Amar Vilas. A very fancy pants hotel. It was absolutely beautiful, however but very strange. The staff was following us around when we went to the bathroom. Also the staff is required to wear 19th century Indian attire.


The next day we went to the Taj Mahal. Saw this dog on the way.

Cecilia, our new Australian friend, got there at 5:30 and was going to watch it all day long. We got there around 6:15 but i had to take a book and a pen to the locker areas that were about half a kilometer away because they weren't allowed in. so we ended up getting in well after sunrise. around 6:45. But still enjoyed it immensely!


Lizzie from the direction of the Taj.

Honora and Lizzie

Looking out at the river (where we were the day before) from the Taj.


Honora!

Honora!


Lizzie


Honora! with the Taj Mahal in her sunglasses.

A shady lane on the grounds of the Taj.


Agra street.

the only photo of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
I started getting a sore throat on the bus to Jaipur. I missed most of the city because i wanted to nip whatever sickness i was developing in the bud. So i spent most of my time sleeping and reading at the hotel.

On the train to Delhi.


From the train. a rural scene.


On the train to Delhi.

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Photos from Day 1 and 2: Dehli!

Lizzie on the plane. Keeping herself busy.

Hello All! I am too tired to recount the days events. In brief, we walked all over old and new Dehli, saw extreme luxury and poverty within inches of each other (no surprise here but always overwhelming to witness), got stared at all day, got treated like movie stars, but also received stares of disdain, saw the Red Fort, and heard singing in the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargha mosque, where we got scolded for not having long enough skirts and for having our elbows exposed a little under our shawls which we purchased earlier from all the men staring at our bare, sexy shoulders. Oh and i got my butt grabbed. check that off the list. I have never in my life wanted to put MORE clothes on in 95 degree weather until now. I felt extremely exposed all day. I'm excited to share my thoughts on all of the days experiences and will hopefully have time to type them tomorrow on the train to Agra. yep. gotta hit up the taj mahal. get it out of the way and then continue north where it's cool. I only peed twice all day cause we sweat so much under our shawls!! anyway, Dehli is a fascinating and curious place! Enjoy the photos!

Also, if anyone knows how to write the html to be able to have part of the blog on the main page and the rest in another place accessed by a link, could you please teach me? That way you won't have through half a page of images to get to the previous post! Thanks!


Honora engrossed by "Marley and Me".


Looking for stuff. and stretching! 14hour plane ride!


Look at how far we went!


First impressions! the ride home from the airport!


Rock-carrying truck
so awesome.


Shnazzy hotel Imperial. Stopped there for breakfast. Where Honora's parents stayed on their pre-honeymoon.


Honora, Jeff, our amazing host, and I


Bike


Marigolds in the tree.


Honora on the Promenade near Presidential Palace.


Jeff. Recuperating in the shade.


Entrance to Red Fort


If your wondering which one is Honora just look for her sexy exposed stems!


Red Fort


Red Fort


Everyone wanted a photo with us. So i told them they could have a photo if we could get one too.




Indian Tourists


Red Fort


Strangely enough there were a few hawks at the Red Fort, which is still very much in the city. I imagine between the squirrels and pigeons they're able to survive.


Red Fort graffitti


Honora at the fort!


Maybe they have good intentions but they have a LONG way to go.


On the rickshaw, Honora holds on for dear life!


At a restaurant in Nizamuddin


The crowded narrow streets of the Nizamuddin neighborhood eventually land you at the mosque in the center where ceromonial singing can be heard every thursday night. Amazing!!

At the market leading to the mosque.
my view inside the mosque under a tent!

Wandering the streets after.



Jeff and I. Me in my makeshift traditional attire.

Almost full moon in a neighborhood in Nizamuddin.

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

New Dehli!!!

Hello all!! i love exclamation points because they help me express my excitement when i have no physical energy to express it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We arrived in Dehli a couple of hours ago and sped towards our host's home in GK Enclave 1 in New Dehli. I still don't know what that means or where I am.

People drive like maniacs here. More so, than in any other country i've been to. There are lines on the road but lanes don't seem to exist. People swerve in and out of lanes and drive over the highway lines and so close to the walls of the highway. People nonchalantly plunge themselves into traffic and miraculously come out unscathed while gusts of wind from the speeding taxis and motos toussled their long sleeved button up shirts. Honora, who got a real night's sleep on the plane (I opted for the stay up as late as possible till i couldn't keep my eyes open and then pass out for three hours so i could (and will) sleep the night through in New Dehli), cheerfully chatted up the taxi driver and he delightfully expressed himself using all 15 or so English words in his vocabulary. I helped her interpret but mostly spent the ride observing the tiny busses packed like an unorderly can of sardines (too tired to think of a more interesting simile). Unfortunately our directions were a little unclear and he promptly got really pissed off after about the 5th time he had to get out of the car and ask directions. In fact he led us to a house with the same address and tried to pass us off to an older Indian couple and their daughter. They wouldn't take us. and thankfully gave us proper directions and we eventually arrived at our (my new) friend Jeff's house. We were scolded by the taxi driver for not giving him a better tip (which was about a 60% btw) and hurried inside to avoid any more drama.

So here we are in GK Enclave 1 chillin with the most amazing host in the world, Jeffeng! (that's his stage name). and his awesome roommates. He greeted us with a box of Indian sweets and we've got a plan for tomorrow! i will also be posting some photos tomorrow! so yay! already been an adventure! can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!!!

Monday, 4 May 2009

Preparing!!!


So, it's my last day in town! i've got about 300 things to do.

so i feel like this!

i know! looks awful huh!

Well, I'm looking forward to being thrown into the cocktail shaker of sounds, smells, and sights of Dehli and shaken around real good till i can't tell which way is up and then poured into a martini glass with an olive. But a dirty martini. with weird spices and a renewed sense of humility.

I would list all the things I have to do right now. but i know some of you wouldn't appreciate it.
bye!

Sunday, 3 May 2009

New Song

A not too sad song about parting:

www.myspace.com/lizziewrightsuperspaceship/

look for "today still seems strange"

Friday, 1 May 2009

Special Passenger Party

The captain had his cap on and the stewardesses their hair. The staff buzzed around putting the finishing touches on the decor of the S.S. Passenger, a light bulb replacement here, a blow up crab there. The room hummed with excitement as we all waited for the first passengers to board! Once the guests began to arrive we launched the ship smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull (aka Annie blew a train whistle) and we were off on a 5 hour adventure into the musical madness of special passengerdom.
Please enjoy these photos of the evening!!! Videos to come later!!
Nicole

The Magnificent Emily Baker


Hunter accompanying the magnificent Emily Baker

Swashbuckling sailors!


Chris Wheeler opened the night with a catchy acoustic set, a tambourine strapped to his foot and some floaties.


DJ Swingset kept us all entertained inbetween sets and helped with sound for the bands as seen here.