Vicy's India Trip

My Trek in Manali Mountains with Tania Pics

2007-06-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

This is the story of the trek Tania and I did in one day in Manali. We set off at 7am and came back 12 hours later, tired, dehydrated, out of food and water (we had to resort to drinking from waterfalls!) but it was so worth it!! The photos start at the bottom and finish at the top!

And finally - making it down to base level where at least there were animals grazing! We managed to walk about 2 hours back to Manali along a cattle path!

And we walked for another few hours along the side of the peak of mountain - we ended up having to climb down this as it was late afternoon, and we were 3 hours away from Manali, believe me scrambling down 1000ft waterfall is not fun, and it's scary at best!

Ok so when we got to the top, it wasn't quite the top - we still had more climbing to do and managed to climb this vertical wall of rock with no equipment - yikes!

Tania and I, glad to be getting near the top!

If you can see an edge jutting out at the top in the center - that was the one I was sitting on looking down! Photo taken from path a small drop down mountain side.

Sitting on a ledge near the top of mountain - it's a long way down! You still can't even see half way down the mountain!

Close up of Mountains - really shanti

View from a bit further up

View of Old Manali - The start of the trek

मय ट्रेक इन मनाली विथ तानिया

2007-06-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Pics around the lake - Udaipur

2007-06-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

A typical Rajasthan moustache!!

The Monsoon Palace, abandoned when they discovered they could not pump any water up to it due to the height from water level. Now used by the government for aerial inputs etc

View From the Monsoon Palace over the lakes and Udaipur

Ramu the Elephant and it's owner - they are amazing animals :)

View of part of Udaipur and mountains in background

The Monsoon Palace at sunset, so romantic, almost heavenly!

The Roof Top Of the Shiva Temple next to my guesthouse

The City Palace (pics from inside to follow!)

A couple of thirsty camels at the lake side!

Mark grinning, standing next to the largest turban in the world!

The local laundry service (Dobhi Ghats) on the side of the lake

One of the Old Havelis - very beautiful buildings!

Another 7 Star hotel, this one acually floats on the lake, and you need a boat to get to it!

A lovely mural/painting done on the side of a wall

The 7 Star hotel I stayed on by the lake... Only kidding I heard it was 800 rupees for one cup of tea (10 Quid!) Nice though... maybe next time

You can see the monsoon palace on the mountain, and in front there is a hotel with a floating palace on the lake

Udaipur Photos

2007-06-10T03:23:00.001-07:00

Well, me, Mark, Kim and Phillipa went to a traditional folk night of dancing and pupeteering on my last night in Udaipur. It was fantastic, all the dancers were amazing and really impressive, and the puppet show was extremely amusing! Here are some of the photos from the night...

A traditional chimed religious dance.

Dancing with fire on their heads, now this was really impressive as the trumpeter played in the background

A puppet show - we were told that this puppet had magical moving body parts - I was keen to see what this could possibly mean lol...

A Traditional Veiled Rajasthani Dance

The dance in full swing, as they swirl around in circles

This lady is amazing, wish I had a video camera!! This is the start of her water dance (with no pots!)

6 water pots, and she has already completed tasks like removing a cloth from a glass of water on the floor with her teeth without tipping the pots off her head!

Eeek, pots on her head and now stamping and dancing on broken glass -whatever next!?! Respect!!!

This lady is walking calmly away after dancing on the broken glass with 9 pots on her head!

More Delhi!

2007-06-10T02:42:00.000-07:00

Safdarjung's Tomb at Lodi Gardens

I don't want to be a bore, but the architecture in here is fab!

The ornate walls of Safdarjung's Tomb

The roof dome of Safdarjung's tomb - beautifully decorated in detail

Inside Safdarjung's tomb

India Gate - Memorial dedicated to 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in WW1.

Rastrapati Bhavan - Where the President of India lives

Qutab Minar - a 5 story tower, built at Quwwat-ul Islam, the first mosque to be built in India.

The Gandhi Talisman - What wise words...

Lal Qila -The Red Fort and some tourists outside!

Purana Qila - The Old Fort from the boating lake

Laxmi Narayan Temple(Birla Mandir)
The Laxmi Narayan Temple - Dedicated to Laxmi Narayan, the main shrine has images of Lord Vishnu and Laxmi.

DELHI

2007-06-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm finally back home and caught up with some sleep - so here are some more pics to keep everyone entertained, but there are plenty more to come (just need to get them copied from my DVD onto CD and uploaded!)

Mango's!! And I love the way the older people dye their hair bright red with henna to hide the gray!! They love red heads in India!!

This kid was cute, he tried selling a garland of jasmine for 20 rupees, we mutually agreed on a cheeky sum of 10 rupees (I'm getting the tourist price!)

A rather friendly chappy, I'm going to miss all the fresh fruit and veg being sold on the streets, especially the lime soda vendors, fresh juice and sugar beet juice!

The Cycle Rickshaw! I always felt sorry for these guys when they have a family of 6 piled on the seat, but they have to make a living somehow...

These guys are great - when they are not trying to scam you and rip you off :) Hmm... never seen a female autorickshaw driver yet!

Back in Delhi

2007-06-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Delhi, managed to get a bus yesterday after hearing some of the roads were clear - had no problems. The bus was no AC lol, so felt like I was sitting opposite a hairdryer on it's hottest setting for about 7 hours!!

All is fine - I'm due to fly out of India tonight at 00.40 (about 20.30 uk time) should be home bout lunch time on Monday!

Bilka tik hai!!!! (I'm absolutely fine)

See you all soon, can't wait to catch up!!!

Vicy xxx

Rajasthan tense as Gujjars continue stir

2007-06-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 1, 2007 (Jaipur)
The situation in Rajasthan remains tense as the Gujjars continued their agitation demanding Schedule Tribe status. The turmoil that began four days ago has claimed 23 lives so far.There are concerns on the possibility of a caste war in the state with two people being killed in fresh clashes between groups of Gujjars and Meenas in Lalsot town of Dausa district. As many as 10,000 Meenas have gathered in Lalsot to oppose the demand of Gujjars from tribal status.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen MLAs belonging to the Meena tribe are meeting Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje now in a bid to convince that reservation for the Gujjars should not be shifted from OBC to tribal status.Road blockMajor arteries connecting the state are still blocked and travellers are suffering as both rail and road traffic is badly affected for the fourth consecutive day.

In all 40 trains have been affected and Section 144 has been imposed in parts of Dausa town.Thousands of Gujjars are still blocking the Jaipur-Agra segment of National Highway 11 between Peepalkheda and Patoli, keeping vigil over the bodies of six victims, who died in Tuesday's police firing. Traffic on the Jaipur-Kota and Jaipur-Delhi highway is badly hit. The army has now been deployed in seven districts of Rajasthan Kota, Boondi, Sawaimadhopur, Bharatpur, Karoli and Jhalawar.

The District Magistrate has given shoot at sight orders in Bayana district. Wary of their ST status, the Meenas, a dominant community in the desert state, too has got into a direct confrontation with the Gujjars. The Meenas had on Thursday evening threatened to remove the blockade on Agra-Jaipur highway if the Gujjars didn't relent.Membmers of the Meena community are coming from nearby villages to attend a Mahapanchayat in Nangal Pyaribaas, carrying lathis and iron rods.Unrest spreads.

The unrest in Rajasthan is spreading and its effects are being felt in the national capital. Gujjars are protesting in Faridabad, Haryana just outside Delhi. The police had to fire in the air to disperse crowds and according to reports a police vehicle was also torched.The Mehrauli Gurgaon road has also been blocked at Aaya Nagar, it is one of the main roads from Delhi to suburb Gurgaon.Standoff continues.

For now the standoff between the BJP state government and the Gujjars continues as late night talks between Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar leader Roop Singh broke down. Now the Rajasthan government has appealed for time till this afternoon to end the standoff. Earlier, Roop Singh, Gujjar community leader, had termed the talks as fruitful but inconclusive. ''We had fruitful talks with the state government. We came here to Jaipur for the talks to maintain peace and order.

The state government has asked time till afternoon to discuss over the matter,'' Singh said after the meeting on Thursday. ''There was a good response from the government and they have promised to give us a positive answer by afternoon. We are also leaving here to ask our people to maintain peace and order,'' he added.Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Governor had summoned Chief Minister Vasundhrara Raje late on Thursday night over the stalemate.

Rajasthan In Crisis - It's a wee bit scary (and volatile)

2007-06-01T04:47:00.000-07:00

Uh oh. Well after my last blog 2 days ago, such much has happened -and I'm amazed none of it has reached the UK!

A group called the Gurjjas have started riots all over Rajasthan, parts of Delhi and Agra, over 22 people have been killed, and they have blocked all the roads to Delhi and Agra from Jaipur.

Lucky me, I'm in Jaipur. And now all surrounding states are refusing to send any transport to rajasthan, all trains and buses are cancelled. So cant even get to Bikaner or Jodphur to go via through to Delhi. I was going to go to Pushkar, but they have started fighting there also.

It's been terrible, shops are closed down, tourist areas have been shut, and there has been no help or advice available to any travellers, so a lot of people are stuck here. People are starting fires everywhere, setting lorries and petrol tankers alight, and are blocking up the highways with their dead people, and taking up the train tracks.

The army have been given orders in over 7 districts to 'shoot on sight', so trying to stay in my hotel and stay off the roads.

Have been panicking because all the flights have been booked up to and I fly from Delhi on Sunday night - but have managed to sort things out thanks to Dad n Pearl.

It's been a worrying situation, but will be glad to leave a.s.a.p and am looking forward to getting home, will chat to you all when I get back to UK!

Been super busy, and slack on my blog!!

2007-05-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Hello :)

Just realised the other day that have not updated my blog in ages or put hardly any of the photos up from the last 4 weeks!! Sorry!

I left Goa and travelled up through Mumbai to Gujarat. I spent some time in a city called Ahmedabad - which is really old and has many beautiful havelis. The architecture is amazing, saw lots of old Mosques and temples there. Also found the people in Gugarat are so friendly!!I was really suprised, after the rumours about the pollution levels being so high that they have Oxygen masks on the streets - I found it to be quite a clean city!

After Gugarat I made my way to Rajasthan. First stop at a city called Udaipur - wow! It is set on the lakes, which contain many floating palaces, in the mountains. Visited the City and Monsoon Palaces, and many cultural museums and workshops, art schools and local families. Saw traditional dance shows etc tec. It is fab there - I recommend anyone travelling to india to take time out in Udaipur (as well as everywhere else!)

Am now in Jaipur (the Pink City), again there are many palaces, forts, and Jantar Mantar - a huge observatory with massive Sun Dials. Off to Agra tomorrow night and should get there Friday morning to see the Taj Mahal.

Oh - have seen so many elephants and camels here!!! It's fab!!!

Well - all i can say is I have a ton of photos to upload from Goa and all the other places I have been - but short on time as so busy sight seeing (only 4 days left!)

So will get them up prob when I get home!!

Hi! I'm still in paradise lol!

2007-05-17T23:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, it is so beautiful here! I was going to take time to see some more places down south, but because it is just about monsoon I have decided to stay in Goa another week or so.

I have done quite a bit this week. Arrived on Sunday and spent the day looking around and running down to the sea to take a lot of dips, spent Monday sunbathing also :) I'm still admiring the views when I wake up every morning.

My beach hut is facing the beach, so I take some time to chill out and lie in my hammock just watching the sea.

On Wednesday I hired a moped and drove up and down the coast near Palolem. I saw an old fort called Cabo de Rama, with very beautiful deserted beaches - they remind me of the Bounty adverts! It was great to see all the surrounding villages and towns, and the Goan way of life. There is a huge fishing industry here, and for that reason it is not a poor state. The Portugese in fluence still shows in all the villas and architecture!

Last night I saw the most amazing thing!! At about 1am a group of us were drinking in a bar, and someone came up and asked if we wanted to see something really cool. So we went to the sea and swam about until we were about half way between the beach and the island. It is new moon at the moment so it was very dark - was a bit cautious about the mini adventure.

But it was so worth it! They have a type of bioluminescence organisms called dinoflagellates living in the sea, and when it is disturbed it glows. So when you swim or move your hands or feet under the water the area around you lights up and sparkles like hundreds of little green stars in the water!! It was so amazing to see, I wish I could have taken a photo of it!

Well I'm off to sunbathe, lie under a palm tree and eat a coconut, I only have two and a half weeks left and will make the most of it. I'm planning to hire a car and drive to Panjim the Capital of Goa, as they have Saint Francis in the Basillica. Chat soon!

Palolem Beach in Goa :) So you gonna come for hols or what??

2007-05-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

Photos From Varanasi - At Last!

2007-05-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Bathing Ghats

2,000 Year Old Sunken Shiva Temple

View Down the Ganga Ghats

The Sunset Ceremony on the ghats of the Ganga

Pics From Sarnarth & Sarnarth Deer Park

2007-05-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

The Shrine at the temple.

The Buddhist Temple at Sarnarth

What Reindeers get up to when it's not xmas!! This one is laughing!!

The Bodhi Tree - exact place where Buddha taught his many lessons after gaining enlightenment.

Buddhist Stupa at Sarnarth, where monks used to walk round clockwise while praying. Over 2,000 years old.

No tow trucks in india!!

A Bike ride for 2..... or is it 3? Check the little one at the front!!

Pics From Simla

2007-05-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

Simla!

Simla Town Center - Very British!

Simla - Hill Top Station

Palolem Beach - Goa (paradise on earth)

2007-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

Bollywood was not as glamorous as I thought, they wanted me to stay a few weeks, but I only have 3 weeks left - so I kindly declined and have moved down to Goa.

I'm staying on Palolem Beach in Goa - it so so beautiful here!!! I have a beach hut in the palm trees facing the beach - complete with hammock on the deck outside!! The beach is clean, with fine white sand, the arabian sea is warm and bluey/green and hundreds of palm trees line the coast. Am going to see the lagoon tomorrow, so will get some pics up soon!! Promise!!

Thinking of staying here for 1 or 2 weeks!! Sigh... ok then, I'm off for another sea food BBQ on the beach!!!

Take care!!! (I have the biggest grin on my face - wish you were all here to share this with me!)

OK SO SEEING AS I AM HERE FOR 2 WEEKS - IF ANYONE IS FANCYING TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW, GET YOUR TICKETS BOOKED AND COME JOIN ME!!!!!! The airport is only half an hour away and about 4 pounds by taxi, accomodation is less than 2 pounds per night, and it is 30p for 2 bottles of beer. If that doesn't sell it to you, will put the pics up tomorrow!!! XXX

Dr Bombay, dr bombay!!!

2007-05-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello!! Mumbai/Bombay is really fab!!!

I have been staying in a tourist area called Colaba, and also in the Bollywood areas of Andheri and Bandra. It's been amazing and have met so many people here!!

Was planning to move on to Goa tomorrow but have been offered some work here, which I am going to take - will give you all the details in an email!!

I saw Elephanta Island where they have carbvings cut out from the stone in the caves - reminded me os the Medusa statues in the old Sinbad films!! Was amazing - pics to follow!

Hope you are all fine, missing all my friends and family very much!!!

Where have I been!!?? lol

2007-05-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hi!!

This is my third attempt to leave a post, I have tried in three different places in the last 2 weeks and each time there was either a power cut or the computer just switched off can you believe it!!??

After Manali I headed down to Simla which is a hill top station -was very nice there, but only stayed there for a couple of days before going back down to Delhi and then to Varanasi.

Varanasi was extremely hot -about 45-47 degrees C and humid also, so only stayed 4 days there!! Managed to get lots seen and done though. Went on boat trips along the ganges (Ganga) river. Varanasi is a holy place, and there is a lot going on there. On the river there are many Ghats, for different purposes.

I saw the sunset ceremonies, and also the burning Ghats where they hold open cremations of up to 300 people per day. I wont ever be able to forget the smell of the place, of the water of the river and the corpses, cremations etc.

I couldn't quite believe some of things I was seeing. People waiting to die in hospices, just so they die in Varanasi. Also the bathing in different areas of the Ganga. We saw (in this order!!) A burning Ghat, A sewage pipe, People washing their clothes, 20 Buffalo wading in the mud and water - and then... people bathing!!! AAAaargh!! Couldn't quite work that one out, opted out for taking a dip!!

Went to see the place where Buddha taught thousands of years ago, and also saw the Bodhi tree, the national deer park and the oldest Jain temple in the world. Was very peaceful in the gardens there, and saw my first elephant and peacocks in India!!!

I then spent 27 hours on the train to come to Mumbai to escape the heat - it's only 33 degrees here :)

Have loads of pics to post, so will get them up soon!!!!

Pictures From Manali!

2007-04-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Some of the friends I made in Manali

Store in New Manali

New Manali

The trees are so tall here!!

The dog that guided us on the trek! - Followed us round for 9 hours!

Me after trekking - feeling on top of the world!

View From Manali

Me at An ancient temple monument

Manali! Coming and going...

2007-04-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Manali! Wow what a beautiful place!

Got here early Monday morning - and it's flown past already! Have met a lot of people here and done a lot of things. Have visited the temples and did a one day hike, climbing a mountain and cliffs, and going down waterfalls for 9 hours! Resulted in severe sun burn - but nicely recovered now!

The scenery is amazing here, the mountains are all snow capped, and we are surrounded by huge alpine type trees! I am going down to Shimla tomorrow for one night, then on to Rickishesh!

Will post more photos soon!!!

Luv me -x-

Raindrops keep Falling On My Head...

2007-04-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hello :)

I was guttted today - found out that the Dalai Lama is not is residence - and that it was th 2nd guy giving the lecture today - so did not go. But am going to apply for permission to meet the Dalai Lama - something all foreigners have to do.

Last night we had a really big storm - there was thunder and lightning all night, and the rain was torrential - never seen anything like it before! We were stuck in an israeli restaurant unti 3am waiting for it to calm down a little.

It was like something from a film! Every time the lightning flashed the monkeys started screaming, and to add to it we then had a power cut lasting all night and this morning. It was pitch black last night, climbing up a mountain at 3am with a tiny flashlight - well it was hilarious!

News just in:

I was told last night not to walk alone, or try to avoid walking at all during the night as there are mountain leopards here. They don't tell tourists becuase they don't want to scare people! ha ha... been lucky enough not to bump into one yet!!

My guesthouse

2007-04-16T01:31:00.000-07:00

I am staying in a guest house in Mcloedganj - in Upper Dharamsala. It is away for all the fuss and hassle - surrounded my beautiful scenery and the air is so fresh!

It is close to the buddhist temples, and a lot of the monks live up here - it is so peaceful. Had a shock, after 2 weeks of only meeting one other foreigner - this place is awash with white people! Had a shock, after the crazy fortnight I have had!

So just to make you a litle jealous! Here is the view from the back of my guesthouse:

And this is the view from the front of my balcony:

I have been told that the Dalai Lama is attending a teaching with an audience, so I can go on Wednesday! I am very excited! Possibly going on a trek tomorrow, scaling a large mountain, the one in front of snow mountain! Chat soon!! -x-

Photos of Dharamsala

2007-04-16T01:18:00.000-07:00

View Of Snow Mountain, Upper Dharamsala

Mcleodganj, Upper Dharamsala Views

Tibetan Prayer Flags

Some cute friends outside my guesthouse!

Buddhist Temple Mcleodganj

The Aruveydic Beautician

2007-04-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would break up the photos with a short but true story - please keep the giggles down to a minimum!! lol...

When I was in Jammu, I got pulled into a beauty parlour ( a grotty shaving shop/barbers). this guy had noticed the 2 spots I had on my cheek (he said i was infested with pimples), and offered a face pack n massage for 300 rupees. No problem said me - it worked! They cooled down and my face was left looking refreshed and not spotty!

I noticed he had brown hair dye, in light and dark shades - now, I was planning to do this myself, but thought for the sake of 100 rupees - it would be easier to let him do it than dye my hotel bathroom!

So.. I picked the colour - and he was fine. He gave my hair a trim at the back - which was cool, it hasn't been cut in about 5 months. Then he went to trim my fringe - and chopped one side of my hair up to jaw level!!!! AAArgh!! I told him to sort it out, so he did the same to the other side.

By this point my patience was failing, in fear of a basin cut I told him to stop there!! So now I have two bangs/ chopped bits eiher side of my head. It looks like a cross between Abba and a mullet!!!

Now for the dye... I could see my hair getting lighter - so I said to wash it out, to see what on earth was going on.

The result?? Bright yellow hair with pink streaks! (As He described: Golden with burgundy shades). By now I was fuming!! He had bleached my hair and put bloody pink streaks in!! When I told him I wanted brown he explained to me that he couldn't do that because it didn't match my personality.

He said that hair should match personality and I am like sunrise - hence the yellow and pink colours!! Roooooaaaaarrr!!! I paid him and ran away before he did any more damage!!

THE MOTTO OF THE STORY IS, NEVER GO TO AN ARUVEYDIC HAIRDRESSER!!

Bus Journey Sringar to Jammu

2007-04-16T00:56:00.000-07:00

A Hindu Shrine

River at Jammu (prob the nicest thing there!)

The Kasmir Valleys

The Rally/road block that held us up for 2 1/2 hrs

View of mountains on my bus trip to Jammu!