Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

So some people were wondering when I was coming home? Well originally it was going to be the 25th of April but It’s changed. Long story short…. Having had a driver and spend more then I normally would on hotels I was worried I wouldn’t have enough money to stay to the 25th. I wanted to have mula when I got home. So I decided to wait until I got to Rishikesh to see how much things cost and if I could stay till then or leave a few days earlier. Well I waited longer then I should have to tell my travel agent when I wanted to leave so that by the time I got back to him it was only 4 days before I wanted to go home. He e-mailed me back saying that he didn’t have anything on the 20th that the best he could do was leave Delhi on the 17th. I would then fly to Singapore and have to spend 2 days there which I don’t think is so bad maybe after all as I thought. Anyway I would then fly to Taipai and then from there head to SF. Well Sunday mourning I decided that I either stay another 8 days in Rishikesh or I grab the 1pm bus to Delhi. So at the last minute chose option 2. The problem with waiting until the 25th was that I had 15 minutes between one of my connection and my agent couldn’t switch to later. This flight schedule he gave me was the best supposedly it got worse so I took it. I got the bus at 1:30pm. It was suppose to arrive in Delhi around 7:30. My flight to Singapore was that night at 12:15am. Ok this is the funny part. So the bus arrives late to delhi around 10:30pm or something. I catch a rikshaw driver to take me directly to the airport. It’s funny because I first I thought I would be waiting at the airport for a few hours now I was rushing to get there. So I ask how much and he says 300 Rupees. I say no way. He then says 2:50. I say ok Although using a meter taxi is better. So he takes me there and I’m constantly looking at my watch. I see that the meter he has is working and I realize that I was going to pay more then what the fair cost. So when we finally arrive it shows that the fair is less then 150 Rupees. The guy says to me so you pay me 250 and I say no I’m sorry but you were planning to charge me more then the fair actually cost . I said do you want me to get a policeman. He says no. I say I will pay you 150 more then the fare by a few ruppes or what ever and he’s trying to get me to pay 200. I say no way you were actually going to charge me double for the fair. I give him the amount and leave. My mistake to begin with is I should of just asked to use the meter from teh beginning. Luckely it was on and working.

So I rush through the airport and rush through customs thinking I had around 30 minutets or so until my flight left. After that I rush through security check cutting the line to catch my plane. So I finally get to the gate and am panting. I see the door that leads outside to a bus that drives you to the plane. 3 other people are waiting also. I figure we are the last people to get on board. Anyway two minutes later someone comes up to us to tell us the flights been delayed an hour and a half. Of course I had no Idea coming there but still to get there and then have to wait was so funny. We I’m in singapore now. It’s not cheap like the rest of SEA although it’s just like home. I did get a doorm room bead for 6 USD a night. Nice and clean in the section called little India. At the airport they at a tourist office that told me where to go to get cheap accomadations. Anyways I went to this supposed bazaar market thinking I was going to find more cheap clothing and I was wrong. It was shops but the prices were not like I’d hoped. They were mostly shops with jeans and shirts etc. So thought I would try a massage here if it was cheap but it’s not. 25 USD. Obviously it’s cheaper then home but not enought for me to get one.

The days half way over I arrived this mourning. I might go to the beach ort go to either the bird park or Batanical Gardens. Anyways I’m going to take a nap. I didn’t get to sleep last night until 3am as they served us drinks and then dinner. They then woke us up at 6 am or so to serve us breakfast. Well Its super hot.  See you soon. Oh boy in Tapai I get to spend almost all day waiting for my evening connection. I believe I arrive at 1pm from sing and then leave at 11pm to SF. Ok off to take a nap I’m tired. Over 8 hours on a bus yesterday and then my flight to here. Ciao

Well I just typed an epic tail and the computer lost internet connection so I lost all that I wrote.  I’m hungry and will say more in this post later.  I’m off to go get some Tali which a cheap way to eat and good.  It’s a platter of  different vegi dishes for real cheap.  I had already explained this before but as I lost all my work…  Well off to eat I’m hungry ciao

Ok so I’m back.  I was very witty yesterday I don’t know If I can be twice in a row. Anyway You can view my pictures on the Kodak website.  The new ones that I up loaded are available.  I checked for myself and saw them.  As we speak more are being put onto my site.  I would like to say specifically to the people in LA who’ve converted to Judaism that the pictures are on the site.  The only thing I can think of is that it’s human error or that the Kodak site was experiencing some technical problems.  You decide who’s at fault.  He he. 

So yesterday I took my first yoga class.  I wanted to join a week long intensive course but as I arrived monday night it was to late.  Also these course are more expiensive.  The yoga instructer is nice and the class last for 1 1/2 hour plus a little extra for meditation.  He’s teaching Hath Yoga.  The class only cost $2 USD.  It’s a little less then that actually.  If I sign up for more then one it’s even cheaper which I will do.  Yesterday I just wanted to try the class out before I paid for a bunch of classes.  Some of the positions are hard to hold for a long time.  It’s no secret that I’m not very limber.  One of the positions which I don’t remember teh name reguires you to lay on your stomach.  After that you grab your legs with your arms and then arch your stomach.  Your suppose to then stretch and rock back and forth.  It’s like a basket.  With time I will get better I hope.  I could grab my legs but I couldn’t lift myself off the ground.  Someday I will be able to lift my stomach off the floor like a pro.  I haven’t taken todays class yet but it will some of the same positins with some new ones.  The thing is remembering them but more specifically where exactly to put your legs ie what angle and your sholders etc.  I’t won’t kill you but performing the moves incorrectly is not good.  Hopefully after a few classes some of the positions will sink into my brain. With practice and more classes I will start to remember more positions.

So Rishikesh is nice but it’s a little to touristy.  I was hoping it would be more tranquil.  I suppose if I was at one of the ashrams that was a little more secluded it would be better.   Rishikesh has a few different sections of town along the Ganga River.  I’m in the section called Laxmanjula.  Anyway the main street is full of tourist shops and restaurants.  I was a little sad about this.  It’s suppose to be a holy city which it is but it just doesn’t feel like it.  The mountains are really lovely to look at as we are up in the mountains near the Himalayians.  Perhaps I will catch a bus up the mountain to check out the scenery.  The Ganga River is nice to the touch it is nice and cold.  Unfortunatly the river itself is not clean.  The people consider very holy yet they don’t treat it as being so.  Trash is thrown right next to the river and of course falls into it.  Also our septic water flows directly into the Ganga.  I would like to swim in the water and perhaps perform a puja but not here.  If I did this I would go further up near the head waters where it’s cleaner.  People go in it daily as they do in Varansi another holy city.  If you want you can get free Ganga water at this one restaurant probably all places offer it but for me I will stick to my bottled water.

So I know you like to hear about the food I’m eating so I will tell you.  For breakfast the last three days I’ve had this Parvati meal.  It’s basically Grilled potatos, mixed fruit, 2 pieces of whole wheat bread and tea.  For about $1.50.  It’s a great deal and its good.  The first time I saw the potatos it reminded me of Joshua Tree and the Easter when we had grilled potatos.  Easter happened or is going to happen this weekend right?  Anyways for a moment I got nastalgic.  So another thing I just discovered that is super cheap is these meals called Tali.  It’s basically 5 different vegi dishes.  Normally it includes rice, Lentels, mixed Veg’s, Rice pudding or something like that and something else like Alu Gobi.  At each restaurant it’s different slightly.  It also includes at least to pieces of Chapati which is baked Wheat bread similar to Nan.  I just discovered this the other day when the Austrian girl I told you about clued me in.  I’d seen it listed before but never asked what it was.  I paid only 25 rupes for this meal wich is a little more then half a dollar.  The exchange rate is around 43 rupes to the dollar.  So at 1pm I’m going to go with this girl I was talking to yesterday who’s in my hotel to a prayer/ meditation thing.  Its at some ashram.  Well I can’t think of much more to say except its nice here other then all these tourist. Oh ya something interesting is their are alot of young people from Isreal.  Especially young men.  After they do two years of required  military service they travel around India.  Practically every person I hear speaking is speaking Hebrew.  I think their are more people from Isreal then their are Indians and other tourists combined.

Speaking of Isreal etc.  I was carrying around with me this book by ? Smith on the Great Religions of the World.  while in Thailand I tried to read the section on Buddhism but couldn’t I had to put it down and read something more fun.  Finally while traveling through Rajasthan I picke dit up and startedto read the section on Hinduism.  Was very interesting.  After that I read the section on Islam, Judaism and Now Christianity.  Although I’d heard this fact before that these last three religions have more in common then not it sank in more reading it first hand. It was very insightful to read about Islam and Judaism.  I didn’t realize this but both religions were born of the same father Abraham.  I’m sure you guys know the story.  Abraham had 2 boys from different wives.  The one wife got mad and told her husband to send the other wife and son away.  He did.  the one boy who stayed in Jerusalam started Judaism and the one who went to mecca helped put the seeds done for Islam.  Well enought fo now. Hey do you think the papayrus scrools they found near Egypt are real.  Supposedly they say that Judah was asked by Jesus to give him up to the Romans.  To me it makes since I guess because they were good friends no but hey what do I know Im just hypothosing.  Anyway Jesus was Jewish no why would another jew give him up.  Food for thought.  Gotta go ciao  

So I will try and give you a recount of what happened in the other cities I visited. Every place I have been to either has a fort and a palace or a temple. So the last place I wrote from was Jodhpur. It had a fort on the hilltop that I wrote about already. While there at the hotel I stayed I got my Palm read. One of the owners said he went to school and studied Palmastry and Astrology. I don’t know if he was telling the truth or not but it was only $6 USD. He seemed to look like he new what he was doing but that could all be b.s. Maybe I will have another reading to see if the other person says similar things. Just for fun. Back home it would be very expensive. So after there I went to Jaiper. Ah yes I already wrote about that place and how I did a night in the desert on a camal etc. Again the town was a surrounded by a fort. Actually most of the town is down below the fort which is on a hilltop. Lovely fort with Jain and Hindu temples. For those who don’t know about jains they are a religious group who don’t believe in killing things such as animals and bugs. During the mansoon seans they don’t travel at all because they don’t want to kills any of the bugs that are on the ground or in the air. They walk around with a mask over their face to protect them from flying bugs. A certain sect of this group doesn’t wear any clothes. They walk around naked. Anyways their is more to their religion. The one thing that is very impressive with Jains is the temples they build. They are temples of pure marble with intricate designs. I don’t know if I have any pictures of the inside of these temples because you had to pay to take pictures. Take my word for it they are lovelier then the fountains and sculptures of Italy. Hugetemples of pure white marble with maybe some grey or black combo marble. Raj is known for it’s marbe and if you had the money you could buy it. On the way from one town to the next we would pass these marble shops with huge blocks of marble waiting to be sold or carved.

Ok so I got side tracked. After the Camal town I went to Udaipur I believe. I have torn pages out of an Indian guide book and after I visted a particular city I was throwing the pages away. I threw away the map I had of Raj. I should remember the names of the places but to many with similar names. Jadpur,Jodhpur, udaipur etc. So again another town with a palace right next to a lake. This town was called the white city because it had mostly white buildings. All the temples or palaces etc I’ve visted are huge and amazing with room after room. What you can build with money! Udaipur is where the friendly hotel manager sold me a cheap train seat and then charged me $45 USD. So far its the only thing stolen or cheated from me. What upset me was he was supper friendly to me but whatever. I’m in Rishikesh a holy city and here I’m suppose to be more mindful and forgive people. Right? I will try.

So while in that city I saw a Hindu temple the palace and a boat ride out on the lake. After that we drove to the next city which I beliebe was Pushkar. Oh ya Mom would remember this perhaps but not only is Udapur known for its palace but also for being in James Bond movie Octopussy. Sorry wrong spelling. In the movie bond is chasing or being chased by bad people in a rikshaw. You can go to some of the cafes and they play the movie. So Pushkar is another holy city. The place I stayed at had a nice pool that was just freshwater without chemicals. I stayed there 2 days. A lot of the time it seemed we would leave in the morning and arrive at our new destination see the fort or temple and then the next day head on to another city. I always tried to get my driver to leave early so that I could spend more time in whatever city we were headed to. He wanted 9AM I always wanted to leave at 7am when it took more then 3 hours. Compromise was 8am. I’m paying him to drive me he should understand while I want to leave at that time but he was always saying it’s to early. So I lounged at teh pool went to the lake saw the famous Brahman temple where supposedly Brahma laid down a lotus petal. I forget but something like that. Oh Ya I remeber the name for these Merchant houses. They are called Havalas. Which probably means merchant in hindi or something. Some of these are really nice to look at as they had money to.

In Pushkar they had lots of silk items for sale at real cheap prices. Most of it was silk dresses or shirts etc. May tourist shops that went on and on. I have to say I bought a few items as they were around $2 or $3 USD. Its not top silk quality I’m sure but still.

So after Pushkar we went to Jadpur which is called the pink city because of the pink buildings. Again this town had a palace where some Majaraja lived and some temples etc. Again very lovely. We drove out of town for 5 minutes or so and saw another fort Palace on a hillside. This is where I’m going to confess something that I shouldn’t. So I walk up the hill to get to the entrance. I finally get in and start walking around. I feel that I’m going to need to go to the bathroom. When I see a guard I ask him where the bathroom is. He starts to take me up the stairs into the palace/fort. I figure it will be an actual toilet up nope. So he takes me into a small room behind a wall and points to a hole in the ground. At this point I had to go number 2 so bad it was either there or in my pants. I unfortunatly choice the first options. The guard was waiting outside and after wanted money. I feel bad that I went toilet there but he shouldn’t of brought me to that spot. I can’t believe they wouldn’t have an actual toiet there. Most major forts do considering the amount of tourists that visit. He probably thought I had to go number 1. Oh well. So I saw the temples and forts etc. Its a huge city so the charm of a small town is gone. The touristy things are nice to see but traffic is not that great.

So we stay a day or two there and then head to a small village near Agra that has a National Park called Kealodes or something like that. I was hoping to see a Tiger but no luck there. They are known for mostly the bird wildlife and some dear and other animals. During winter the park is full of migratory birds. I still saw a good amount it was nice and peaceful there even though the park is small. The weather in that area was supper hot and my fan room was just blowing around hot air. After one night there we drove to my final stop Agra. Most people go there fir the Taj and the Red Fort. I saw both and as I said before the Taj is this huge marble Moseleum. They found ruins across the river that show the raj was planning on building a black taj but never did. The Taj was aligned perfectly with all the building around it. It had 22 round domes indicating it took 22 years to build. Pictures don’t capture the beauty of it. You have to see it to comprehend its awsomeness. All pure marble except the side buildings.

So I got mad at my driver. I was told by his company that If I want I tip him $10 USD. Now maybe he meant per week. Anyways My driver wanted to leave on the 14th day instead of the 15th. Tecnically I had him for 14 nights/ 15 days. I figured he would take me to the train station the next day. Well he asked to leave that night in Agra. I couldn’t say no so I did. I went to go give him 16 USD and he said that he couldn’t except it because it wasn’t enough. First off a tip is not required. I was going to give him money. Talking to other travelers who had drivers they said $10 or $20 USD is fine. I figured what I gave him was ok. Maybe it wasn’t considering he took me all around Raj. Ok well so I gave him another more which equaled to about $25 USD. He actually wanted more. Was I in the wrong? Another reason I was mad at my driver is he took me to 2 textile shops that had everything a tourist could want. He knows that I was on a budget and these two shops were very expiensive shops. I had already purchased other items to take home such as silk shawls etc and was really only interested in some silver earings. So I go into the first shop and look at the silver but every pair of earings has a stone or stones in it. Not cheap althought they tried to tell me it was cheap. Maybe not a bad price but not what I was looking for. So I leave like 3 minute later. Next shop same thing. My driver then says to me why did you go into this shop if you didn’t have any money. I tell him that I was looking for a silver earings and that neither shop had plain ones. First off he offered to take me. Second these shops were designed for the mass tour companies not budget travelers. Se la Ve.

Ok my stomach is growling I need to go get food. So Im in Rishikesh a holy city. I shall sign up for some Yaga classes at one of the many Ashram centers or hotels. Yoga and other meditative classes are available daily. Ok so I changed my train ticket in Agra and left to the train station at 7:15am to try and get a non reserved seat on a train to Delhi. I did and it was crowded but a nice Indian guy offered me a seat. In terms of getting a seat it a dog eat dog race. From Delhi to here I had a confermed seat in the AC section. I could of gone Fan but actually the seats were plush and really nice. At first I was sitting in the fan section because I had gotton on the wrong section of train. Finally a train conductor came by and told me where to go. I had to walk through 6 or so coaches to get there. I tried not to hit anyone with my bag but with a small aisles not possible. Well It’s nice here and I’m at hotel. I was going to stay at an ashram but they wanted the same price for a room without my own bathroom. I decided to stay back at teh same hotel I had stayed last night. When I got off the train I ran into two other travelers from Italy and Austria who were also headed here. We shared at Taxi together. When we arrived last night it was late. By the time we found a room it was 12AM we ended up sharing a room. They brought in an extra bed. Nice people. Well now I have my own room and I shall find somewhere to take Yoga classes. Many styles to choose from. Well hunger is upon me. Will write later. Yes the phots are uploaded finally all 120 of them Ciao.

Ok sorry folks.  I haven’t been near a Internet shop in a while.  Well I’m alive.  The weather has been hot around 35 degrees which is 9? in celicius.  I have to leave now to have my rikshaw driver take me back to my driver.  Each city I’ve been to has some fort or other to see.  I just saw the taj wjich is amazing as its one of the 7 wonders of the world.  Hopefully when I get back to the hotel I can find an internet shop.  This one is next to the Taj.  So this really friendly hotel manager sold me a cheap seat on a train.  I paid him $45 in ruppes.  So far thats all thats been taken so I’m counting my blessings.  I’ve upgraded my ticket to an actual sleeper bed.  I’m going to Rishikesh which is a holy city and will hopefully stay at an Ashram which are yoga places etc.  Gotta go will write more.  I was annoyed and upset at first with this guy but after I thought about I can’t do anything to change it unless we were to have driven back the 5 hoursa to that city.  He needs it nmore I guess.  Anyways Namaste.  Will write soon if not today the day after tomorrow when I get to Rishikesh.  Ciao Liliana.  Sorry no pictures yet as it takes time.

So I’d like to make another correction. Although some people may smoke hash the drug of choice in Raj is opium. Some Maharajas traded it. I was thinking the answer was Caspian Sea but the brit and I were wondering is it a sea or a lake. Because Rajasthan is in the Thar Desert they do military nuke testing. It is right next to Pakistan. While driving to Jodphur I heard a loud noice like something went off. We were passing military bases. I said to my driver jokenly that we were just infected with nuclear fallout. So I’m in the blue city or sun city as its called. Sun city perhaps because it’s very hot. Blue city because when they built the building they used sulphur to protect the outside. It’s a blue color and hince the name.

India is a lovely country but at the same time it is a dirty country. It is sad to look at all the trash on the streets. People don’t care and litter all the time. I had to stop my driver once from throwing 2 empty water bottles out the car window. While walking through the old city trash and cow dung was everywhere. The buildings were interesting but I had to watch were I walked. So today I went and saw the fort which is why people come here. It’s called Mehrangarth and was built 1459 AD. It’s this huge impressive fort on a hilltop overlooking the valley below. A wall is also surrounding the old city. What was nice is they had a audio tour available for people when they walked around. You can see Moghul art and design in the building. Until 1948 or so Rajasthan was seperate cities or regions with Kings as rulers. I forgot that the Chinese invented gun powder. I didn’t realize it was invented so early in 15? Perhaps earlier but that is when the king of this city decided to use it instead of Swords etc which he thought more honorable. One of the daggers would be thrust into your body and then open up like sissers. How discusting but hey it worked.

It’s hot very hot. This hotel I’m at is nice. THe only problem is they don’t give you a towel or tp. I have tp but have been using the pillow sheet from the extra pillow to dry myself off. It’s so hot that it dries fast anyway. In the beginning both were provider but this hotel and the one before didn’t. Hopefully this won’t happen anymore but more then likely it will. So After the fort we went to see a ceonotypth for a dead king that was made out of marble. So beautiful they say it’s next to godliness like the Taj. In an hour I will go see another building palace. Tomorrow we leave for another city. I will stay one day there and then head to Pushkar. Ciao. P.S. I will not be uploading any pictures now because my batteries are dead and the guy wants to charge me 100 rupes. That’s like $2.25. I will hopefully do it somewhere where it doesn’t cost extra.

So first I would like to make a correction I told you that the main character in the book PI last name was Kumar.  It’s not but another character in the books name is.  So I left Bikaner yesterday and saw the big fort that is there.  It was huge and amazing to walk around in.  Likewise the fort I’m in right now is also lovely.  So we left early yesterday because it’s a 6 hour drive.  We were driving through desert and it was beautiful to look at.  The road the whole way was nice except in the beginning.  When we arrived we drove directly to this small village where people do camal trecks.  I did just one night.  The camal ride didn’t leave until 4:30.  We ended up waiting there for over 2 hours.  Had I known my driver and I could of left later that mourning but he didn’t tell me this bit of information. 

Everyday cost money so the sooner I’m in a city the more I can see of it.  Anyway slowely but surely tourist started to arrive.  I believe there was about 11 of us.  Each group got to go by themselves with a camal.  Since it was just me my camal driver took me on my own after following this raod to an Indian village.  This small village is inside the Thar Desert which goes through Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran I believe.  I will need to look at a world map.  If someone can tell me the answer that would be great.  Also what is the largest lake in the world?  Don’t ask why.  Actually last night two other tourist and I plus their driver went to go sleep out under the stars.  While going out on the chart we were asking each other riddles and questions. The one girl was saying ask the guy from england anything he’s smart.  So I did and my question was whats the largest lake in the world.  No one new the answer much less me.  If you can find out what it is please let me know.  I was thinking a lake in Russia?  The one guy is from Chambridge England and the girl is from Wales.

Anyway riding the camal was a challange.  You definately had to get use to the up and down of the camal.  I tried to become one with the camal. Some people do 2 or 3 day trecks.  So for about 3 hours we trecked with the camal.  We went up onto the Thar dunes and waited for the sun to set.  We had about an hour so my guide and I took a nap.  It was quit nice I have to say.  It was very lovely to see the sunet.  After that we went back and had dinner.  I was supper hungry waiting fo rthe food but they had rice chips or something for us to snack on.  What was nice this time was that all the drivers ate with us.  Normally my driver would eat I guess back with the workers of the hotel or what not.  The food was very good.  Most dishes are some type of potato dish with vegis.  They also had some tpe of Naan bread although it wasn’t naan but similar.  After dinner  everyone who wanted to went to sleep out under the stars.

I had a choose to either sleep i a hut room or under stars.  I didn’t come all this way to sleep somewhere other then the desert.  I ended up going with the 2 British people and their driver.  It was very fun.  We were joking and asking each other ridddles.  I started to ask the one about a boy and a father taking a sunday driver etc.  Boy needs surgery.  They already new that one.  We started to laugh.  When we got out some distance from the village lights the camal guide made us beds on cots.  The sky night in the Thar desert is the best I’ve seen so far in my life and i’ve seen some really beautiful ones.  We chatted  until 11:30 or so and then fell asleep under the stars.  I luckely had my fleece sweatshirt and my silk sleeper which is a sleepig bag liner.  Even though we had a blanket I was cold.  I get cold easily and the desert at night can get freezing.  When I was sleeping I didn’t notice it except when I moved.

The mourning sky in the desrt was quit nice. We got up at around 7am.  We were of course not the only ones out there but they were far enough away to not be a bother.  In the mourning their were other people on the ridges heading back to the village.  So we got up and headed back.  We had toast and tea or coffee after that I left to go to Jaisalmer.  I’m in a hotel outside the fort.  So far I’m letting my driver take me to hotels.  They are around $10 Usd or slightly more.  I can pick my own but at least this way I know they have a place for tourist drivers to sleep.  I was able to get this one for $9.  This is a lot more expiensive then when I was in SEA.  I guess not really but before I was splitting the cost of a room with people sometimes.  My daily budget is alot more then I had hoped but traveling to each town by myself would of been just as much.  I’t will definatly be well worth it. 

The city fort is where 2/3 of the people live.  The fort is lovely but it is taken over by the locals trying to sell you crafts etc.  The fort is small enough that you can walk around without worring about getting lost.  The streets can be narrow at times and cow crap is everywhere along with cows and flies.  I hope the site is up and runing now and if so I will load up more pictures.  If not I will try later.  The women and men of Raj are lovely people to look at.  Of course not all people but the saris that they where are these amazing colors of yellow, red, green, blue etc mixed.  I have some pictures.  The men wear these orange or bright pink turbans.  This fort was built in 1156 AD.  Thats all for now Ciao.

So I left yesterday around 8am with my driver to head to the state of Rajasthan for a 15 day tour.  The first port of call was a town called Mandaw.  Parts of the road getting to there were not that great but compared to Cambodia it was not that bad.  Other times the road was nice and smooth.  Getting out of Delhi took around an hour as mourning traffic was not great.  I thought it was only going to take 4 hours but I was wrong and we didn’t arrive until 5 Pm I believe.  I stayed there only one night. Ok  so guess what the name of my driver is?  Krishna!  And guess what his last name is?  Kumar.  Now if you remeber I told you I’m readin ght ebook life of PI.  Well the character in the books last name is Kumar also and the book is about god.  I’m sure the name Kumar is common but I just think it’s kinda funny.  Sometime I believe in quencidences.  Sorry no spell check. 

Ok So the roads go directly through the towns so you’ll be going fast and then youll have to slow down because theirs traffic or cows etc.  The drivers in India are crazy especially the bus drivers.  They don’t slow down for nothing.  My driver Krishna is a hindu from a small village near Agra I believe.  He’s been driving for this company for the last year but says he’s been a driver for around 5.  He’s 27 and lives with 2 other guys in Delhi.  He’s nice and says to me your funny or what not.  So this village that I stayed at was like a blast from the past.  At least the merchant buildings were.  Their is a special name for them but I forget.  Raj state was known for trading silk and other items like Hash.  They still smoke it quite a bit.  Right on the streets. 

 Last night at dinner which was over priced but what chose did I have.  The village is so small my driver said eat at the restaurant.  I payed 7 USD almost half of what it cost for my room.  But sinse only a few hotels exist I was stuck.  I couldn’t get  single dish I had to pay for a course meal oh well.  So At dinner they had two singers, a woman with a baby and then her husband most likely who played som esort of harp like instrument.  After we had this guy and two others do a puppet show with traditional dolls of Raj.  It was fun to watch but of course both were doing this for free not payed by the hotel so we had to tip.  I hate that.  After the musicians played he stood there waiting.  I gave him about .60  Of course then the puppet maker wanted money and also for you to buy some of his hand made puppets.  They were lovely but I don’t need more stuff to carry around. 

So now I’m in Bikaner and its really beautiful.  I forgot to mention but Raj is a hot and desert state.  Tomorrow I will go to the town that is known for camal safaris.  The landscape while driving here was very lovely.  Many camals on the road with drivers.  No pictures yet of camels but I will later.  I have a few pictures of India so please look.  I need to head back to the hotel to go see the forts of the town which this city is known for.  The woman in the state still wear traditional clothing.  I will try and take more pictures of this.  The men also.  To them Delhi is far away even though they are next door.  This is still a traditional state and thats why I think it is one of the most touristed next to the Taj.  Well ciao for now

So if you didn’t already know I decided a few weeks ago to skip going to Nepal.  Reasons being time and the mini Maoist problem.  Never the less on my way to Delhi I still had to fly to Nepal.  So I catch my flight to Nepal on Thai Airlines and 3 hours later arrive in kathmandu.  My flight from there didn’t leave for another 3 or 4 hours.  Luckely I didn’t have to go through customs.  I found someone to help me and they took me into this nice waitng room with couches.  They went and got someone from Air Sahara to help re Issue my ticket.  I had to pay $10 USD because I change of flight day.  It was already confermed but it didn’t matter.  So about an 45minutes before my flight is to leave I decided to go out and wait in the main waiting area.  Normally glihjts start boarding 30 minutes or so before take off.  So I went out into the main room and it was quite noisy.  Being in teh other room hidden from the outside waiting room was really great.  I sat and was reading the Life of Pi.  Good book.  I actually laid down on the couch.

Ok so once in the main terminal I see peolekl going through another check point for passengers.  I decide to go through the security check point because my flight will be boarding soon.  They had one line for women and one line for men.  Once my bag went through a scanner I had to take it over to someone who actually looked inside all my bags.  I had to unlock everything.  Very annoying if the scanner does that job for them but I had no choice.  So I then walk down the planks to another room that says Air Sahara.  Now you can probably guess that the Nepal airport is not like other airports in that it has seperate gates for each airline.  So I go into the second waiting and wait.  10 or so minutes later perhaps 20 they finally call our flight and take us into another waiting room.  There we wait around 5 minutes for a bus that will bring us out to our plane.  When it arrives we all jam pack in and head out to our plane.  Once there we get out and wait in line again for people to check our bags again.  We are already late for take off.  This process seems like it’s taking for ever.  Didn’t they already do this! Please someone donate some scanning machines to them.  So I finally get on board and can rest.  We arrive and driver from the hotel I’m staying at was waitng for an hour.  Nothing I could do about it.  30 minutes later we get to the hotel.  I ordered room service as it was already 9pm and I was hungry.  I had Naan bread and Alu Gobi for dinner.  This is a potato and cauliflower dish.  My favorite back home.  I think it was curry flavored woth jasmine seeds. 

Well thats it so far.  Right now I’m figuring out the prices to hire a personal driver that will take me around Rajasthan area.  It’s costing more then I thought.  It won’t be cheap but if I consider taking trains and buses it probably equals out the same.  I got a quote for $445 USD for 15 days.  They would then drop me off at Agra where I would then take a night train to Varanasi.  Second class Sleeper AC.  4 beds to a room.  Two on each side.  Can you visualize?  Well I’m going to go now.  I will leave most likely tomorrow as today as already passed and each day I have a driver it cost me.  Ciao

I’m sorry I don’t think thats how its spelled but since I don’t have my book on me it will have to do. Before I forget I uploaded todays pictures in the Thailand album since we are in Thailand. Ok so I ran into Ethel the girl from England again. She had a flight from the capital so on the day I left via bus she took a bus the other way. Anyway we ended up going today on a one day tour of the River Kwai etc. It was quit interesting and of course we’ve all seen the movie On the River Kwai. Anyway we first went and saw the graves of the solders who had lost their lives building the death train as its called from Thailand to Burma/ Myamar. Japan had POW’s working in both dirrections building the tracks sometimes 18 hours a day. So from Burma POW’s worked and also from Katchanburi Thailand to meet in the middle. Katchanburi is where the River Kwai is.

The memorial housed Allied forces from England, Australia, Holland? I believe and other Commwealth countries. Also Indian POW’s. After that we went to see the war museum which housed artifacts from ww2. They would have these white dummies basically nude with a loin cloth over their parts skinny and bleeding from building the bridge and train tracks. It was quite discusting to look at. They did a good job of replicating the men. It was an ok museum. They had some photos of the Japanese and also some of the POW’s. They also had lots of rifles from WW2. Ok so then we went a few minutes down teh block to actually walk on teh bridge itself. Train tracks go over it. It was bombed by allies and has since been repaired. If my memory serves me it took a little over 1 1/2 years to build the bridge. While near the city of Katchanburi working conditions were not that bad considering. Locals snuck food into the Pow camp and also the local mayor at the time sent radios and other supplies like money so they could buy nicotine.

So while on the bridge a train came. It stopped before it went onto the bridge and all teh tourist were able to get onto platforms made especially for this. It was no big deal except the having to wait for the train to get goin and then cross the bridge. Side bar. I don’t know why this is but whenever I spell the word “THE” I spell it teh. I guess the finger that presses the letter e is faster then the one that presses the letter h. Anyways back to my story. So after that they took us to get on a train and experience an hour of riding on the tracks made by the pow’s. We then drove to a elephant park to go riding on a an elephant which was sad. We went on the elephant sitting on a basket like seat. The boy drivers had metal hook like things that they used when necessary to control the elephants. I felt sad about it because sometimes the boy used it to hi the elephant. I’m hoping it wasn’t the pointy side. Ok so after that we went to eat some ok food and then take a mini river raft ride down the Kwai. The water felt quit nice when I put my feet in. the weather is really hot as it’s warming up over hear in SEA. Ok after the nice river ride we spent 30 minutes at a mini waterfall. We then went back to Bangkok.

So This is my last night in Bangkok. I’m off to Delhi India. So Ethel was in India about a month or so ago. She gave me some tips. On of which is to book a hotel before I arrive. So last night I did through worldhostel.com. Anyway the reason for booking the hotel is so that you get airport pickup. My hotel said it had airport pickup but I guess I didn’t see the majic word free pickup. Oh well so I have to spend $8 USD. My room is around $18 but at least I won’t have to brave the delhi madness. I’m also going to book a driver as that’s what i’ve heard you can do and she did it also. I will book a driver for Rajasthan area which I plan to spend about 2-3 weeks in. I can get a train easily enough to Risikesh which is a holy city in the mountains. Sorry thats not how its spelled. The beatles visited this place. I’m hoping to spend maybe 5 days or so and take some yoga meditation classes. They have many. I also want to try and go to Varanasi another hoy city. We shall see. HOw long I book a driver depends. I will be in India for a month. I want to expierence the trains at least once. They actually have compartments specifically for females. Well I’m off. P.S. So I could of gotten a mini bus to the airport for $2 USD but I waited until teh last minute so i’m goin gto have to pay for a taxi which will cost me $7. See what happens if you wait? Ok well I’m tired and I need to pack. Ciao

ok So yesterday i got up around 6:15 am to catch a bus at 7pm to go to Bangkok,Thailand. So there was traffic and the mini van was late. When it arrived it was around 8am give or take. So it takes abut 10 minutes for us all to load up because they have to fit our bags in the van along with us. This one guy from France had this huge Pierre Cardon Suitcase on wheels. It was the size of 2 big backpacks. To each his own I guess. So we sit dwn and then the guy tells us all to get out that he can’t fit all our bags and that he’s going to put them underneath our seats. Now first off let me tell you I was warned about taking the bus to the border. the road is supposedly one of the worst in south east asia. Well i had 3 options. 1. Take a flight which would of cost me $100 USD plus $25 USD departure tax. 2. Take a taxi for $40 USD or 3. take the bus for $12. Well I wasn’t going to pay for aplane ticket and i didn’t know anyone else who was leaving the next day so I decided to take the bus. It turns out its a mini van and not a regular sixed bus. The reason being a big bus on these roads is worse then if they use a small van. So at first I thought they were just transporting us to the bus termainal for a larger bus and then I find out that no we are all going in this small mini van to the border. 5 hours. Ok I think to myself. I can do that. It will be a challange. In the backrow four of us were crammed together with bags under our feet. They even had seats in the middle of the ailes for more of us to sit. So ww leave finally and end up going to pick up more tourists from other hotels. Just when you think you can’t fit anymore tourist they do. I think their was 21 of us jam packed in the van.

Somtimes the road was ok but most of the time the road was supper bad and as I was in the back with others we were coming out of our seats bouncing up and down. It was supper funny in a comical way. If you know what I mean. So maybe 1 1/2 hour into the ride we hear this grinding going on with the engine. The drivewr pulls over and I’m thinking shit. At first I thought this was going to be a fake brake down because on one of these routes over in SEA that is common. they then make you tired and take you to their hotel. Well unfortunately it was for real. It turns out the back axle was broke do to more people then the van could carry and the worst roads ever. They start to pull out stuff to try and fix it but they are not machanics. So we are waiting in the hot sun for 10 minutes when a couple people start to walk down the road to shade. A few minutes later I follow suit as we didn’t know hw long it was going to be.

The locals were really having fun staring at us like we were some special on Discovery or National Geographic. After 10 minutes or so of sitting in the shade at a bus stop under a canapy this Scotish guy pulls out cards. So for almost 2 or 3 hours we sit 4 of us and play different card games. I learned 2 new ones and taught them how to play bullshit. The Scotish guy was not good at bluffing his way neither really was his girlfriend. At one point he took 2 seconds or so to pick a card. Of course we all shouted bullshit. It was quite fun and we had 10 or so locals standing around us watching us play. I suppose nothing much happens around there. The van was so broken that they had to get another which ended up coming from the border. finally it arrived and we left. So guess what? i’m leading to the first climax in my story. I think. 30 minutes later if even the bus gets a flat. A flat. So we all get out and wait for them to change the flat. Maybe 20 minutes or later they finally get it fixed and we pack back in. So were going down the road again and maybe an hour or more later something else happens. We flat again. Yay. Hay but this flat is not as flat as the first. so we all get out and the guy luckely is able to burrow a tire from the back. The back tires had 2 per side. minutes later or maybe more who knows a van pulls over and we pry that it is for us. It is thank god. Two of us spot it as we were sitting where it was pulling over. the guy who spoke english then says I need 15 people to get in this van. Supposedly we are close to the border. Well I don’t wait. After the first flat as I mentioned we changed vans. 3 people decided to catch a truck instead of waiting. It turns out we had 21 people for 18 seats. So actually early when we started we had 24 people and not 21. Well it works out more or less I decide to go in last so I could sit on the bags as was mentioned. I end up sittin gin one of the fold out seats and it is horrible. Actually the seat itself is ok its the back part that was very uncomfortable. So I end up sitting with my back not touching it. To make it worse I had menstrual cramps and the road and position of my stomach didn’t help any. I didn’t have much leg room as a bag was at my feet plus that stupid French guys suitcase.

Anyway forword ahead to the third van and 20 minutes later we reach the border. the the bus that had flater got fixed and the rest of the people were in that. When we get there they put us on a nice big bus to take us to the official border check point. It was only 2 minutes down the road but man it was nice. So we get out grab our bags and head to the line for Cambodian customs and immigration. The french guy who’s actually nice I guess and I were the first to go through customs. A bus guide from Thailands side was there and told us to head on over to the Thailand Immigration. We do and then 20 minutes or so later we are on the other side. the guy tells us to walk straight and that we will see people ie other tourists who have been waiting for us. I spot some people sitting on some couches outside and realize they are the tourists who’ve been waiting for us. I smile and say have you been waiting long. They were not really happy but then again I would of been more happy waiting where they were with free cold drinks then what happened to us. the nice thing was that they had a bucket of free drinks. Most of it was soda and so i didn’t want any. I’ve been clean for 2 years. Anyway I found canned orange juice which was ok. It was cold and that was really nice. So after everyone arrives we get onto this tourist bus that is unbelieveable. It is two levels really nice. The bottom part was where we put our bags and next to that it had a toilet. Let me repeat myself a toilet. I was so happy. the seats upstairs were really and spacious. They had tv screens and everything. The difference between the two countries transportation system for tourists was amazing. Obviously thailand has more tourists so teh roads are great. Cambodia gets tourist but the $ supposeldy goes in teh pockets of a few. Our guide or what ever you want to call him was saying that thousands of tourists go to see Angor wat which is the ruins. most pay $40 USD for the 3 day pass. He was saying where does all that money go? Anyway I need to go.

So we arrived four hours later. supper nice bus and they drop us off at Kho San road which is the backpackers area. I decide t splurge on a hotel. I go to the D&D which i’d heard about before. They receptionist tells me a single is 550 baht which when I did the calculations was suppose to be $13 or so USD at 40 Baht a dollar. well I had no baht so the guy says that i can get an exchange rate of 36 baht per dollar. My change from a $20 is less then a dollar. I was so pissed off but it was after ten and I didn’t want to search. what ever breakfast was included and so was a swimming pull. Most of the time i’m spending $5 to $10 USD per night for rooms. Anyway today I went up to the pool had some lunch and then had a facial which i’ve never had. For $5 USD 1 hour they did 9 steps including using a machine to suck out my blackheads. quite nice then I went and had a little more food and had an aromotheropy massage with coconut oil and something else. This was only $7 USD. Again this was really nice. Well I deserved it after yesterday plus I could never afford this back home so i figure why not. Gotta go talk to you soon ciao I’m off on the 25 to India