Pushkar Lake

It wouldn't be right to talk about my time in Pushkar and not show a photo of the lake. Pushkar Lake, sacred to the Hindu people, is surrounded by over 50 ghats (steps for bathing) as the lake is said to have healing powers. I didn't bathe...but I did take this pretty photo...

Pushkar

5 AM comes early no matter which side of the globe you happen to be on. Our train left very, very early from the station in Delhi but we did get to see the sun rise on the way. The station was packed with people – families, beggars and businessmen. We boarded our rail car, which was surprisingly comfortable, and readied ourselves for the six hour ride. Tea and breakfast (a tasty Indian-style vegetable cutlet) were served and we spent our time relaxing or taking photos out the open rail car door, which was especially wonderful as we reached each new station along our route.

When we finally arrived at our destination – Ajmer – we were met by our drivers and a luxury coach (actually…more of a “short bus”) in which we would be touring around for the next two weeks. We drove for about an hour through Ajmer and over a mountain to reach our hotel in the Holy city of Pushkar, which would be our home base for the next five days.

As I mentioned, Pushkar is a Holy city – which means no meat and no alcohol. Fortunately, that didn’t also mean no fun. We were able to pack in a lot in between our days Volunteering in Ajmer (which I will cover in a separate post). Lots of shopping, great eating (I recommend “Little Italy” for thin crust pizza, espresso and “special” drinks served in tin-foil), sightseeing, photography and, of course, some truly random adventures.

A few of us crashed a “Gypsy Dance Party”  on our first night and were warmly welcomed with food, live music and spectacular dancing under the moonlight.

Another highlight was a camel safari – riding a few hours into the desert to watch the sunset, eat some delicious Indian food cooked by our guides on an open fire and some live entertainment by some local gypsies. This is a must-see for anyone visiting Pushkar.

Pushkar is also great for shopping. I struggled greatly with what to pack for my trip to India. Knowing that it is important to dress conservatively, with shoulders and knees covered…in the blazing heat of the sun. However, I now would highly recommend bringing a few basics but buying the rest on arrival. The clothes are extremely cheap and there are many cute Western-ish styles that work well. I quickly became addicted to the brightly coloured “ali-baba” style cotton pants which work well with a simple T-shirt and scarf. At only about $3 a pair, it’s a steal. And they are beyond comfortable and great in the heat. Also - you must please fill your backpack with the beautiful and affordable jewellery, colourful pashmina scarves and handmade shoes. I regret that I didn't ship a whole box of Indian jewellery back to Canada before I left. 
Here are some photos from the market in colourful Pushkar...Enjoy!

Incredible India

India will stop you in your tracks... but only for a moment. It is all the things you might expect - it’s beyond hot, chaotic, loud, poor, dirty and, yes, it kinda smells. But it is also so much more. It is the most colourful place you will ever see, with the loveliest children who always have a big smile and a twinkle in their eyes. It is a place with beauty in the details – the tiny flowers carved into a marble cornice, grand architecture imbedded with the smallest mosaics of semi-precious jewels, a garland of carnations around a goat's neck, and in the intricate henna designs on palms and feet. And, it is a spiritual place where centuries of ancient tradition, architecture and culture still exist in a way you can touch and feel, not just look at from behind a glass partition.  But, in spite of your initial observations, at some point, maybe a day or two after you have arrived, you’ll find yourself walking confidently on the traffic-crazed streets, dodging cows and gypsies, oblivious to the persistent honk of horns and enjoying the warm sun on your face. I could talk all day about how much I loved my experience in India and how it surprised me in so many ways but I think I’ll just get on with it and share some of the highlights of my incredible adventure there.

I arrived in Delhi to meet up with my fellow travelers as part of a unique G Adventures tour called “Voluntour in Rajasthan”, a 15 day tour to include some volunteering at a school along with visits to five major cities within the province of Rajasthan. Fortunately it turned out to be a small group with just 5 of us – an Aussie couple (Keith and Sharon), a German girl (Anne) and a Brit-expat Aussie (Eric) along with our awesome (and funny) local tour leader Binu. After a delicious first meal together (Butter chicken, Kashmiri Pulao, Garlic Naan and cold Kingfisher!) I was very certain that I was in for a very special and fun two weeks with this great group of people. And I couldn’t have been more right.

London Calling

By the time I arrived in London, my jet-lag had finally set in and I wasn't in the mood to fight it. After taking a very expensive taxi ride, I arrived at my hotel in Soho just after 10pm. My hotel - Hazlitt's - is a charming historical townhouse in the very heart of Soho on Frith Street. I was shown to my room through a maze of corridors and stairwells and was delighted when I reached my room - Sir William Ross. (They use names not numbers for their rooms.) The room itself was very cute with a huge wooden wardrobe and matching headboard, red velvet drapes, fireplace and claw foot tub. Like something from the set of some period costume drama. The most interesting part was that the floor was not level. And when I say not level, I mean it had about a difference of about 1 foot in height between my headboard and the desk on the opposite wall. I exaggerate, not. It was hard not to feel just a little drunk the entire time I was in the room. During this short visit to London I managed to cover quite a bit of territory - the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park - and enjoy quite a few decent (but pricey) meals.

On my last night, I met up with some friends who live in London for some dinner and then went out to see their band - TAT - perform at a rock club called Scala. They are an awesome band to see live. If you haven't heard of them, you must check them out. I stayed out way, way too late which made for a very lazy day before my overnight flight to Delhi. Good thing I caught a few winks on the plane because India was about to shake up my world.