December 2012
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“Stop planning. Stop wanting. Stop hoping. Just do.”
– Me to Me (via sonofafieldnegro)
November 2012
22 posts
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i feel like “the best exotic marigold hotel” (almost) perfectly depicts rajasthan. please watch for a view of my life.
the raja just told me i could stay for free in his haveli as long as i want and to cancel my flight. the RAJA. he was serious too.
omg
the raja of bhadrajun is in udaipur. and i saw my drivers and singhji. my life is complete, now im ready for my flights home.
last full day
it’s the morning of my last full day in udaipur - tomorrow i fly out to delhi with a 9 hr layover until my flights to hong kong/chicago. i was originally booked for an overnight train to delhi tonight, but apparently i lost my adventurousness this past week. probably because of the large amounts of tourists here.. it makes it easy to be “comfortable.” since it’s my last...
horses
just stayed the night & went horse back riding at a “ranch” in india. i feel like this is one of the sketchiest things ive done…
blah
right now it’s the “diwali festival” - hindu festival of lights, and it’s basically as big as Christmas. where everything’s closed, schools out, etc. everyone paints their front steps, puts candles in every room, hangs up lights and decorations, wears their best outfits, shoots off fireworks. and of course during this joyous time of year i get sick with a stomach bug...
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udaipur life
im finally all settled in to my life in udaipur. ive been in udaipur over a week, but this is my 6th day at the house im staying at. i live with a family of 4 generations - a great-grandma, a grandma/grandpa, a son & his wife, and their 2 daughters (7 yrs & 1 yr). i usually eat breakfast there before i go volunteer at animal aid for the day - whatever they prepare, which is always always...
bittersweet
every day so far in india has been the best day ever, but so so especially happy today. i finally got to visit animal aid, the hospital/shelter ill be volunteering at for (at least) the next 2 weeks and i absolutely loved it. and arun (one of our drivers) took me out saree shopping durrrr of course im happy. i got a frackin beautiful saree that i wore tonight, our last shabang before everyone...
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wide eyed dreamer
i think my life is complete. finally rode a motorbike side-saddle like a proper indian woman.
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namaste
again, i haven’t had internet in like a week lol. highlights include: swimming in the arabian sea, climbing almost 4000 steps to a Jain temple - a Jain pilgrimage (fml im not even jaini), and arriving in UDAIPUR! this is my last stop and im not positive yet how long ill be staying. i just got here and i love absolutely everything about it except the large amount of white people.
October 2012
44 posts
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big cats!
after countless safaris in kenya & tanzania, i see my first wild leopard(s) on my first safari in INDIA! i went on safari in the gir wildlife sanctuary/national park today and saw both of the big cats i was looking for: 2 leopards (mother & cub) and 2 asiatic lions! this national park is the only place in the world that still holds a population of asiatic lions, only around 400. so so...
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sasan gir
i’m currently in sasin gir (in the *dry* state of gujurat). we’re staying at a really really nice safari lodge, in a “tented” accommodation. despite it being “tented,” i think it’s the nicest room i’ve had thus far lol. tomorrow we’re going on safari, and hopefully i’ll spot an asiatic lion or two - the last of their kind! can not...
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ooookay i haven’t had internet in over a week and last night i tried updating my blog a couple of times and it didn’t work so im giving up. it’s super hard to find time to update, especially bc im doing so so much, and it’s frustrating bc id rather not be stuck on the internet. ill keep posting (or trying to post) pictures, and details as i can, but don’t expect long posts from here on out -...
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we’re on our way to our next stop, a small village, and have wifi at the restaurant we’re at for lunch so just updating that im alive and will send more details later!
“This is indeed India! The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and...”
– Mark Twain
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tourist problems
drove to agra today, home to the world famous Taj Mahal. hopefully you’ve at least heard about the taj, but it’s basically a huge palace that was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his “favorite wife” Mumtaj Mahal. the main part that is most familiar is the marble tomb where the couple is buried in the basement. we had a guide to take us around and show us the...
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birdssssss
today we drove to our next destination, bharatpur (maybe a 3 or 4 hr drive). the drive seemed strikingly familiar to me - everything here is SO similar to what i experienced in rural east africa: the roadside stalls/shacks selling fruits and snacks, the beautiful traditional fabrics all of the women wear, the overall rundown look of everything with people just generally milling about, pastoralists...
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a different world
i survived my first full day in Delhi! (well my hotel is actually in gurgaon, but close..) im traveling with a tour group because ive never been to india before, and from what i have experienced thus far, i think you’d have to be one brave soul to travel here on your own your first time here (plus im a female). our tour itinerary didn’t officially start today, but i was able to meet 5 of the 7...
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duh
not much to say. all ive been doing is shopping, duh. oh, and finally made it to hong kong island today - went to “the peak” which gives an awesome view of the city (especially when it’s not covered in smog). another tourist destination. and then shopped in central for a little (the “downtown” of hong kong island) aka expensive.
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