Here we are again! This time hot and sweaty in Goa, and with around 35 degrees we enjoy the beachlife and the warm sea.With a lack of time and proper internett, the post is a bit late, but we hope it will please you after the long wait.
Jaipur
After Agra we went by buss to Jaipur, the city where elephants, camels and horses are almost just as normal as a tuk tuk in the caotic streets. We saw an amazing fort - Amber Fort - that we strongly recommend. Like walking in a labyrinth\computer game.
We were taken to a textile factory where an exteptionally intense salesman were crying out "Look at the work! See the work! Feel the fabric" for every piece of clothing he showed us.
And we've seen a real bollywood movie in one of Indias most fancy cinemas. "Patiala House" which was a positive surprise. It's about cricket, and now were both very fascinated by this sport. We'll start a team when we go back to Norway.
Pushkar
This was a small village in the middle of nowhere. So Astrid felt really at home after growing up under the same conditions. We had a very fancy hotel and we found ourselves locked out on the top terrace with crazy pigeons. Strangly enough, we didn't experience pigeon poo until Mumbai. The best experience was camel safari! We rode through the village at sunset and out in a desert on our very own camel. By nightfall we had traditional food and gypsies dancing for us. And I (Astrid) saw a shooting star all by myself . We are very fond of camels and in India you say a camel symbolizes love because "if you can love a camel, you can love anyone". Several of the group members are still having a "camel ass".
On the second day we experienced a beautiful sunset by the holy Pushkar Lake. Hippies of all ages and nationalities were playing their flutes and dancing. Pushkar is one of the most holy places of India.Udaipur
After Pushkar we spent 6 hours on a local train, entertaining our fellow passengers with our pale skin. Udaipur is said to be the most romantic city in India. We saw miniature painting, a real city palace and we attended a cultural evning - including a fat woman balancing 10 pots on her head. We got our own regular place to hang out: Lotus Cafe, having lots of good backpacker atmosphere.
We all went on a boatride sunday morning and to a Kama Sutra (sex) temple in the afternoon. The day was ended on the roof top with a view over the city and fireworks..
Ranakpur
After buses and trains it was time for a jeep-ride! We were 10 people in 1 jeep and we got to play word-games. We also saw a fascinating tree full of bats.
This was also a place in the middle of nowhere, but it luckily with a pool! Randi spent the afternoon on her balcony while Astrid was doing indian mountain hiking. Another night with local dancing and a big bonfire - cause this part of India is freezing after sunset..Train
We spent one day and a night in a train. It was an interesting experience. The train was full of local salesmen and beggars wanting "biscuts!". After a day of surviving on chocolate we were overjoyed when our guide CP took us to McDonalds. It's our best McDonalds, not to say, food experience - ever!
It was amazing having familiar food and clean toilets (with paper!) in one place after starving for 8 hours. One of fellow travellers expressed her joy by dancing inside the restaurant.
Sleeping in a train was interesting. The creepy part was: sleeping next to an old guy whispering something to us in hindi. Yet we felt quite safe having 3 huge norwegian guys next to us.
Mumbai
We arrived in Mumbai after travelling for 24 hours and after sightseeing we decided to go the Elephanta Caves outside of the city. What a tourist trap! We felt it was a bit overrated and the only action was the crazy monkeys. We were attacked by them twice - to the amusement of local indians. This is is the biggest and most polluted city we've ever been to.. When we were on the boat trip to the caves, all we could see of the ciy was fog..And we weren't dirty enough from walking the streets of Mumbai - we've been shitted on 3 times. Hopefully by pigeons?Now, were in Goa and working on our tan. Our group trip is sadly over tomorrow and then we're officially backpackers on our own. Tonight is the farwell party on the beach and we're looking forward to dancing with the indians.
Hope all is well with YOU.
(pictures on the way!)
