Wednesday, April 07, 2010

India Trip

Norman took so many great pictures in India that it’s hard to choose just a few to show you here. But here’s an idea of what we saw on our trip.

This picture from Varanasi shows the temple grounds where Hindus burn their dead. Like other tourists, we watched some of the ceremonies from a boat in the Ganges. Most boats are small, with one man rowing and three passengers. But I saw some boatmen rowing up to fifteen people. They must be strong.








A little later in the evening you can see some of the boats and the lights along the shore.













Here are women getting ready to bathe in the Ganges. They wear their saris. The men strip to bathing trunks.













Not the usual view of the Taj Mahal. Instead, we’re across the river in a beautiful garden, early in the morning.











This truck driver’s got a problem. He’s transporting an elephant, but it won’t clear the overpass. I guess they had to unload her or go around.











Visitors to the Ranthambore Tiger Preserve. Sadly, we didn’t see any tigers. But when we arrived at the Ranthambore train station, there were special greeters wandering around–-black pigs. And as we headed for the parking lot, I saw a cow going into the waiting room.










This is one of the small towns we drove through on the road between Ranthambore and Jaipur. There were lots of camels pulling carts. Lots of dogs. Cows wandering at will. Trucks. Motor scooters. Total chaos.










And here I am with a snake charmer. I may be smiling, but I wasn’t too happy to be sitting a few feet from a cobra. Norman urged me onto the blanket, though.












Here I am with Norman riding an elephant at the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Remind me that I don’t have to do it again. Twice is definitely enough. (The first time was in Thailand.)










I like this girl because you can see her face painting.













One of the highlights of our trip was when Norman, Patricia Rosemoor and I had dinner with a family in Jaipur. Their extended family lived in one house, built around a lovely courtyard. The living room and dining room were open to the interior court. The house was on an ordinary street in the Pink City, but as soon as you walked up the alley and through their front door, you were in another world.







Five people on a motor scooter was not an unusual sight.













Lunch in the courtyard of a restaurant in Jodhpur. Again, you could never tell from the street what was hidden behind high walls.











On the road between Jodhpur and Udaipur. This was part of a Jain temple complex.



















Our fabulous hotel in Udaipur. The Lake Palace, built on an island. Norman, Patricia and I ate dinner on the rooftop restaurant, where we could look across the water at the Maharajah's palace. The food was western-style, for a change. The service was excellent, and the view was spectacular. A very memorable evening.








Outside the hotel coffee shop after breakfast. India is a country of such contrasts. Luxury hotels and people sleeping on the streets



















And here’s a road repair crew.















What a fantastic trip. I’d love to go back. I just wish India weren’t so far away.

16 comments:

Lizzie said...

Fabulous pictures, Ruth. Good for you! Specially love that shot of the Taj Mahal. Elegant.

Nancy Naigle said...

I can't believe you were THAT close to that snake! EEEEK And then riding an elephant, too. You looked like a natural. You faked it good. You ARE America's Next Top Model ;0

It looks like you had the opportunity to really get a look at the diversity in that country.

Thanks for sharing. I like visits that don't require 20 hour plane trips.
Nancy

Ann Ambrosio said...

What fantastic pictures. My grand-daughter was there last year and said she'd like to go back, also.
Thanks for showing these to us.
Ann Ambrosio

EllenToo said...

Wonderful pictures....thanks so much for sharing.

Cecelia Dowdy said...

What wonderful pictures! I'm glad you shared those with us, Ruth!

LaVerne said...

These are fantastic pictures, Ruth. Looks like you had a great time. Makes me want to visit.

LaVerne

michellewillingham said...

Loved seeing your pictures, Ruth! My favorite is the Taj Mahal.

Teresa Reasor said...

Ruth:
The pictures were unbelievable!!! I'm so glad you had such a spectacular time. I loved the painted elephant. And the Taz Mahal was glorious. I have to teach architecture at school and that's one of my favorite buildings to use.

Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Teresa Reasor

Jamie Michele said...

What a fantastic trip! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a fabulous trip! Did you go with a tour group or just plan it all yourself?

Julie Miller said...

Wow! Such beautiful pictures--and it's all so colorful.

I loved the island hotel. What a great setting.

Sounds as though you had a marvelous trip!

Rebecca York said...

Thanks for the comments. We found a company that would plan a custom tour for us. They had guides and drivers at every city. The same drivers were with us for more than half the trip.

I like the freedom of doing what I want. (Sometimes Norman went out on tour and Patricia and I stayed at the pool.)

Rebecca

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful picures. Thanks for sharing!

Ann

Janet Mullany said...

Great pics, but I'd expect no less! Looks like a wonderful trip.

Nancy Baggett said...

I, too, recoiled at the very thought of the cobra. I also loved the Taj pic--stunning place.

Karin Shah said...

Fantastic pictures! Have you gotten over your jet lag?

Loved the elephant pictures! My husband said, "Later." so naturally we never got a chance. :-(