I N DI A 2 0 1 6
Delhi
We arrive in Delhi.
Delhi
Fifu, our guide, greats us at the airport with transportation to our B & B in New Delhi. He helped make our trip wonderful.
Agra - Taj Mahal
Back row left to right: Todd Schweiger, Mike McNiff, Jennifer Martin, Fifu (our guide), Mont Richards. Front row left to right: Sandi McNiff, Betty Levitov, Carla Stormberg, Colleen Gail Thorson-Schweiger , Nan Schweiger.
Agra - Taj Mahal
If you look closely you wll see a reflection of the Taj Mahal in the sunglasses.
Agra
The Indian children are very friendly and like to practice their English with you.
Delhi
Some temples require you to cover your heads but they provide you with scarves as with this Sikh temple.
Delhi
Gurudwala Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple in Delhi
Delhi
The shopping district of Chandni Chowk has been in existence for hundreds of years.
Delhi
Shopping a the high end mall in Delhi.
Delhi
Entrance to the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. The hotel was opened in 1936, designed in mix of Victorian and colonial architecture with a hint of Art Deco style by architect, F.B. Blomfield.
Delhi
Grounds of the Imperial Hotel.
Delhi
Very nice gifts and book store at the Imperial Hotel.
Delhi
Cocktails were fun at the bar at the Imperial Hotel.
Delhi
The streets and markets in Delhi were crowded with people, cars, tuk-tuks and motorcyles.
Tiloniya
Barefoot College teaches women from all over the world trades they can take back to their villages. The college itself, spread over eight acres is entirely run on solar energy.
Tiloniya
Women learn how to make solar lanterns at the Barefoot College which can create a self-sufficient industry.
Tiloniya
One are of the college has women making sanitary napkins which help make the college self-sufficient.
Tiloniya
In the weaving section of the college a women is spinning thread.
Tiloniya
The college makes their own solar collectors along with solar ovens that they use to cook all the food for the campus.
Tiloniya
We visited the library at the campus.
Jaisalmer
Fifu, our guide for most of the trip, has a wonderful hotel that we stayed in. Mike is color coordinated for the stay.
Jaisalmer
Jennifer poses for a publicity photo of her publication on the roof top of Hotel Fifu. It had fabulous views of the old city where we had our meals and a comfy place to relax.
Jaisalmer
Ancient temples and hungry catfish in Gadisar Lake.
Jaisalmer
Did we mention the catfish?
Jaisalmer
Fifu’s brother-in-law poses for a Boulder County Kids photo opt.
Jaisalmer
Jennifer is happy to get off that camel!
Jaisalmer
Gadisar Lake.
Jaisalmer
Gypsy dancers entertain us after our camel ride.
Jaisalmer
David is fitted for his turban.
Jaisalmer
Todd gets fitted for his turban too. Nan finds some beautiful clothes.
Jaisalmer
Cathy is enjoying a little beverage after her camel ride.
Jaisalmer
It was tough saying goodbye to Fifu.
Pushkar
Pushkar is considered as sacred city as it is housed with 500 temples and hence Pushkar is popularly known as ‘Town of Temples’.
Pushkar
Todd making a point. Seventh Heaven Hotel. Notice the vines hanging from the center of the hotel.
Pushkar
Brahma Temple. Check your shoes at the bottom and be prepared for the holy men to bragain for as much money as they can get from you.
Pushkar
Brahma Temple.
Pushkar
Watching a wedding from a rooftop restaurant. The groom comes out on a white horse followed by the wife and family.
Pushkar
Weddings are loud as sometimes they set off firecrackers in the street and have loud music. They party it up!
Udaipur
We arrive at the Krishna Ranch.
Udaipur
David, Colleen and Mont are enjoying a nice boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur.
Udaipur
Breakfast is served on the rooftop.
Udaipur
Here’s Mont and the bungalows below our rooftop dining area.
Udaipur
We met these friendly kids on a walk. Several were playing with bike tires which they roll & guide with a stick. It made me smile thinking of the pictures I’ve seen of kids doing this long ago in the States.
Udaipur
More friendly kids giving us thumbs up.
Udaipur
This is the stable!
Udaipur
Left to right. Carla, Dinesh (owner of Krisna Ranch) and Betty at the stables. Dinesh was a handsome man!
Udaipur
One of the 20 equine residents. All the horses they raise are this breed. Aren’t the ears are the best!
Udaipur
One morning hay was delivered for the horses by camel.
Udaipur
We went for a horseback ride. This is Dinesh (who recently taught John C. Riley to ride for the movie Les Cowboy) & our own experienced horsewoman Sandi.
Udaipur
Mont’s ready for his second riding experience of the trip. They didn’t give us helmets for our camel ride & we were further off the ground!
Udaipur
We traveled through 3 villages which Dinesh described as being made up of middle class farmers. These families own their homes where their few animals safely spend the night and they own & work farmland which is outside the village.
Udaipur
One of the villages had this furniture “factory� where they build pieces & then cover them with gold or silver foil. About 6 or 7 guys were working there.
Udaipur
Here’s a small finished piece. Most of the in-progress work we saw was larger.
Udaipur
Decorations on trucks, tuk tuks & tractors are not unusual. Haven’t seen it so much on cars or motorcycles, but we did see stands along the highways selling these tinsel fringes. Most fields are small & they raise a variety of grains & vegetables.
Udaipur
Here’s a typical middle class village farmer’s house entrance with the courtyard beyond. The straw garland above the door is replaced every Diwali, which was recently.
Udaipur
Cow pies reshaped & drying in the sun. They’re stored for use as fire fuel during the rainy season.
Udaipur
During Diwali cows are often washed and the horns are reddened. This one even has a forehead decoration.
Udaipur
Udaipur has a large local market filled with sights & sounds (mostly honking). Our first stop was a spice vendor.
Udaipur
The colors and textures are wonderful. This country is not color shy!
Udaipur
These carrots have a pinkish orange tint & are really tasty.
Udaipur
The swastica has been a traditional Hindu symbol for centuries.
Udaipur
We’ve taken our shoes off many times, primarily at temples or religious locations. Locals take theirs off when they enter shops. It’s amusing to me how they often leave them smack in the middle of the entrance rather than tucked to the side.
Udaipur
Just outside the City Palace we found a working ATM! Colleen, Todd, myself & Carla couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get rupees.
Udaipur
We visited the City Palace terrace for sunset. It sits on the lake which is an important feature (as well as being center) of the town.
Udaipur
This is a small portion of the City Palace which was expanded by several rulers. It includes more than one building...& it’s beautiful.
Udaipur
Outside the major temple was this forlorn mailbox. It doesn’t inspire confidence.
Udaipur
In a weak moment we (well, I) purchased these Pringles for 300 rupees (that’s about $5!!) We don’t even buy them at home but they looked so good.
Udaipur
This egret was so fun to watch as he followed the woman hoeing... he was probably waiting for her to dig up bugs. When he got to close, she’d shoo him away.
Udaipur
Known for miniature painting & many families have done it for generations. Artists get paid by the day and the more detail & days it takes to complete a painting, the more they get for it. This is a typical artist work station.
Udaipur
Here’s an example of the detail.
Udaipur
Next time we will stay here.
Udaipur
An evening concert on the Gangaur Ghat.
Goa
Saturday night sunset drinks.
Goa
And more Saturday night sunset drinks.
Goa
Did we mention drinks?
Goa
And more drinks.
Goa
Fabulous rock formations on the Indian Ocean.
Goa
Todd is ready for a little nap.
Goa
These gals are ready for anything!
Goa
Colleen taking a swim in the Indian Ocean.
Goa
Betty with a new shirt and a Kingfisher beer at Heritage Inn, Panjim.
Goa
Cocktails on the beach! Oh yeah!