Holi Sh*t!
Hi Guys,
First blog of the trip, and quite a trip it's already been!
We landed in New Delhi last Thursday, and were both absolutely buzzing! Got in a tuk tuk outside New Delhi rail station and were totally amazed at how busy, colourful, dirty and vibrant the city is. Our crazy adventure started when our tuk tuk driver took us to our hotel, were we were met with a military road block, the area we chose to stay had been closed off for Holi Festival (and riots). Our tuk tuk then took us to a tourist info place, where on route we were pelted with water bombs by the local youths. With nowhere to go or stay they saw us coming, and conned us into going on a rather expensive 4 day Golden Triangle tour so that we could get out of Delhi straight away.
Mr Nandu our driver arrived in his air conned (that he refused to use) taxi and off we went on what we thought would be our last ever car journey. We weaved our way mercilessly through the mental on coming traffic, cows, dogs and occasional camel. 12 lanes, for the first motorway, not that anyone paid attention to the lines. Shit scared 6 hours later we arrived in Jaipur, hanging after 35 hours travelling.
We woke up on Friday morning to the madness of our fellow hotel guests, drivers, hotel staff, total randoms throwing brightly coloured powders at each other, for Holi Festival. When we cant beat them, we joined them, letting them smear their powders over our fresh new t-shirts (subsequently ruined), faces and hair. We all then went down to a local alleyway, where men, children and tourists were getting smashed on neat whisky raving to house music at 10am. What an experience. Our hair is still pink, 6 washes later.
After two extensive showers leaving the bathroom looking like a hippy crime scene, we headed off to do a bit of site seeing.
After returning from a lovely afternoon, Mr Nandu took us for dinner at a local tourist trap (probably one of his mates) food was nice, we had a vegetable thali, pic below. We were sat next to a coach load of aussies that were on a saga style tour for the more mature guest. Their food order was definitely worth noting, 4 had roast chicken with roast potatoes, others had bowls of plain rice and then our personal favourites had minestrone soup and a gluten free, noodle less chicken chow mein... when in Rome and all that.
On Saturday we drove from Jaipur to Agra, a serene drive through the Rajasthan countryside, stopping for a lovely lunch of Kadai Paneer and vegetable biriyani. Early night as we were up on Sunday at the crack of dawn for a trip to the Taj Mahal. Our tour guide made us pose for some absolute beauts....
We had a drive around Agra that afternoon, watched a guy and his wife make a lovely spicy stuffed paratha from the side of the road and then prepared ourselves for our first taste of Indian railways for our journey that night.
The Golden Triangle wasn't exactly what we were expecting, but had some amazing highs amongst the terrifying lows. North India is a real baptism of fire for the rookie traveller but we're getting there slowly and touch wood the old 'delhi belly' hasn't caught us yet.
Next stop, Lucknow.
Luke and Lily
First blog of the trip, and quite a trip it's already been!
We landed in New Delhi last Thursday, and were both absolutely buzzing! Got in a tuk tuk outside New Delhi rail station and were totally amazed at how busy, colourful, dirty and vibrant the city is. Our crazy adventure started when our tuk tuk driver took us to our hotel, were we were met with a military road block, the area we chose to stay had been closed off for Holi Festival (and riots). Our tuk tuk then took us to a tourist info place, where on route we were pelted with water bombs by the local youths. With nowhere to go or stay they saw us coming, and conned us into going on a rather expensive 4 day Golden Triangle tour so that we could get out of Delhi straight away.
Mr Nandu our driver arrived in his air conned (that he refused to use) taxi and off we went on what we thought would be our last ever car journey. We weaved our way mercilessly through the mental on coming traffic, cows, dogs and occasional camel. 12 lanes, for the first motorway, not that anyone paid attention to the lines. Shit scared 6 hours later we arrived in Jaipur, hanging after 35 hours travelling.
After two extensive showers leaving the bathroom looking like a hippy crime scene, we headed off to do a bit of site seeing.
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| Amber Fort (view from the car) |
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| Amber Fort |
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| City Palace |
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| City Palace |
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| City Palace |
After returning from a lovely afternoon, Mr Nandu took us for dinner at a local tourist trap (probably one of his mates) food was nice, we had a vegetable thali, pic below. We were sat next to a coach load of aussies that were on a saga style tour for the more mature guest. Their food order was definitely worth noting, 4 had roast chicken with roast potatoes, others had bowls of plain rice and then our personal favourites had minestrone soup and a gluten free, noodle less chicken chow mein... when in Rome and all that.
On Saturday we drove from Jaipur to Agra, a serene drive through the Rajasthan countryside, stopping for a lovely lunch of Kadai Paneer and vegetable biriyani. Early night as we were up on Sunday at the crack of dawn for a trip to the Taj Mahal. Our tour guide made us pose for some absolute beauts....
We had a drive around Agra that afternoon, watched a guy and his wife make a lovely spicy stuffed paratha from the side of the road and then prepared ourselves for our first taste of Indian railways for our journey that night.
The Golden Triangle wasn't exactly what we were expecting, but had some amazing highs amongst the terrifying lows. North India is a real baptism of fire for the rookie traveller but we're getting there slowly and touch wood the old 'delhi belly' hasn't caught us yet.
Next stop, Lucknow.
Luke and Lily
wow Lily it looks amazing! I remember Becky and Tim being in Goa for Holi festival - they had a fantastic time! Great name for your next destination...! Nina xx
ReplyDeleteThat is a little too much blusher Luke!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Indeed... still stained my hair though!
Delete