April 18 - 20, 2013 - Getting to Nepal

April 18 - 20, 2013 - Getting to Nepal

Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 87 Nepal Rupees
Visa Fee: $40 and 2 photographs get you a 30 day visa

On the 18th I took the night train from Jaisalmer back to Jaipur.  The train reached Jaipur at 5am and by 5:30 I was back at Monty's place were I slept a few more hours.

That was another day of relaxing.  I caught up on my laundry and Monty cooked up a tasty lunch and dinner.

Early on the 20th I caught the train to Delhi were a driver was waiting to take me to the airport.

There I flew to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu I had arranged for the hostel to pick me up.  And when I finished with immigration there was a gentlemen standing outside with a sheet of paper with my name! Yess!  He also had a necklace of flowers to welcome me to Nepal!

However, on the way to town I realized that this was the guy from the trekking agency and not the guy from the hostel.  I didnt think they trekking company was picking me up since I was flying in a few days before my scheduled departure for the mountain.  BUT they dropped me off at my hostel nonetheless and we able to call the hostel driver to let him know I had already been picked up.

Look! There is a Mc Donald in town!

That night I joined another girl in my hostel to a traditional Nepali dinner and cultural performance.

What I have learned:
In Nepal its in appropriate to put your feet on anything other than shoes or floors.  No propping your feet up on the coffee table.  ooops!

April 16 - 17, 2013 - Jaisalmer, India - Camel Safari

April 16 - 17, 2013 - Jaisalmer, India - Camel Safari

Us 3 girls signed up for a 2 day/1 night camel safari in the Thar Desert. This is the highlight for a trip to Jaisalmer.  That and the legal special lassis. Haha.  The safari would include all meals and transportation as well as cots to sleep in out in the desert.

I was unbelievably excited about sleeping under the stars!

The day started at 7:30 and we were driven by jeep out to the middle of no where, as far as I could tell.  But there were 2 young men there with 4 camels.  They loaded up the camels with food, water, and then us.  Each of us girls got our own camel.  I rode around on lucky most of the time.  I rode rocket for a bit but I couldnt move my legs without him freaking out and starting to run.  Crazy camel!!

The first camel journey was about 2.5 hours where we unsaddled the camels, rested and had a simple lunch.  Food was homemade chapati and greens.  Yummy!  We then rode again for about 3 hours where we stopped for the afternoon/night to camp in the sand dunes.  Dinner was homemade curry, chapati, and rice.  Some other guys came by and I bought a round of pepsis for everyone.  Considering the lead camel driver said he only made about 1500 ($30US) rupees a month in salary, I think it was a treat for them.

I seem to have an ability to acquire nicknames.  On our one day trip I was Jordy, in Jodhpur I was baby, and now on the camel safari I have been named Hero?!?!?  That came from the fact that if I owned a camel that's what I would name it.

The guys set up our cots with blankets and pillows right on a sand dune! It was pretty awesome.  We stayed in the shade most of the day until it started cooling off in the evening.

After dinner we layed in the cots and watched a first the moon and then thousands of stars appeared.  In the middle of the night, after the moon went down, the starts were incredible.  I wish I had a camera capable of capturing the beauty but all I got was black with a little light here and there.  The stars were countless and bright! We literally slept in the middle of no where on a sand dune.  Amazing!

The next day I had camel leg.  haha, aches in my legs from riding the camels for so long.     We all had to take breaks that day to get off the camel, walk around and stretch.  We rode 3 hours that morning then stopped for lunch.  After lunch and a little rest in the shade the jeep picked us up and took us back to town.

What I have learned:
Camels are super weird animals.  As if the continual farting wasnt enough.  They have weird back legs, and humps, and they sit in a way that looks supremely uncomfortable.  They also have bad teeth and extra padded area on their chest for when they are sitting weirdly on the ground.   AND riding a camel is painful!

April 14, 2013 - Jodhpur, India

April 14, 2013 - Jodhpur, India

It's starting to get really really hot in India.  Within the next month or 2 temperatures will hit highs of 48-50C.  Thats something like 120F.  Fortunately, its sticking around 40C for us at the moment.

Yasmin, Sandra and I tuk tuked up to the fort.  I used my 7 year old student ID to get a discount ticket! Hehe, thats exactly why I have kept it all these years.  Thanks Texas A&M for not putting the dates of attendance on the ID.  Its worked magically!

With our ticket we got a free audio guide to take us through the fort and give additional information.  It took us about 2 hours 2 get through the fort and all its audio guide information.

We had a couple of hours to kill before our zipline tour through the fort.  We walked around the clock tower and market and had a "famous" lassi (similar to a milkshake, kinda).

We made our way back to the fort and to the Flying Fox office where we suited up for the zipline tour.  This was actually really cool.  I have ziplined several times but this offered GREAT views of the Blue City (Jodhpur) and the fort itself.  Our group consisted of us 3, a girl from Belgium, a guy from NY, and 2 Indian boys.  See the pics.
There were 6 different lines the longest being 300m long (1000ft)!!

We were some of the last people to leave the fort so we got to go out the little doors in the big doors!  I was so excited about this.

After the zipline we joined Justine, the Belgian, to watch the sunset behind the city.

She also joined us for dinner that night.  Where it took FOREVER to get our food and there was so little light that it was hard to see what you were eating.  But again, another night with travel friends is always welcomed.


What I learned:
Opium used to (and still does occasionally) play a role in some Indian Cultures.  The audio guide said it is still used for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, and parties.
Jodhpur is called the Blue City because of the number houses painted the same blue color.

April 13, 2013 - Udaipur to Jodhpur, India

April 13, 2013 - Udaipur to Jodhpur, India

Today was a long journey from Udaipur to Jodhpur.  It started out with a tuk tuk ride to the bus stop/travel company.  Here they checked our tickets and left us with just the stub.  Our stub said seats 23, 24, and 25.  When it comes time to get on the bus the seat numbers only go to number 19.  With our bags already loaded up in the luggage compartment we opted to just sit anywhere rather than get off and try to figure things out. Luckily, that worked.  We had a good laugh that our seats didnt even exist but that no one seemed to mind.

Ah, yes! I should mentioned I have signed on with 2 other young women traveling on their own as well.  I met them the day before yesterday and we have had a barrel of laughs so far.

The journey was to last 6-8 hours.  We got on the road around 8am and didnt bank on getting to Jodhpur anytime soon.  Half way through the drive we stopped at a roadside shop to take a break.  Here I decided to brave the bathroom, not really sure when we would arrive at the next available toilet.  It compared to some of the worst ones in Africa and I held my breathe while taking care of business.  Once done I tiptoed to the door not knowing exactly what I had been stepping in.  I reached the steps and, since my shoes where wet, slipped halfway down the stair case (thank goodness it was only about 5 steps to the bottom).  I jammed my finger and scraped my arm but other than that I was fine.  Well, except for the thought of what it was I had slipped through on my way down.  I tried not to think too much on it.  And again the girls and I had a real good laugh!  Allllll typoes will now be blamed on the jammed finger rather than my laziness. :-)

I now know why it didnt matter what our seat numbers where.  Loads of people continuously got on and off the bus.  Some stuffing 5 or 6 to a sleeper seat!  And have I mentioned that its HOT here in India! The temperatures are now reaching over 100F!!  I drink lots of water and usually just bum around in the hottest parts of the day.

We finally arrived to Jodhpur and checked into a nice guesthouse situated at the bottom of a large cliff.  The best part is that on the edge of that cliff is a huge fort! Its lit up beautifully this evening as I type.  Dont worry there is a picture below! Be jealous!

Sandra, one of the girls I am now traveling with has had stitches in her hand.  After checking in we sought out a doctor to remove those stitches. The guesthouse staff told her that the guy at the pharmacy down the street could do it.  We made out way down there.  He didnt agree that the stitches should come out today but cleaned and wrapped her hand and told her to come back the next.  But not before he told me I looked like a little baby.  Hahahaha. OK!?!??!  After a little laughing we said that it was supposed to be a compliment.  Ill take that as a sign of my youthful beauty?!
Tomorrow we explore!

What I learned:  Pee is slippery.  Watch your step.

I love Masala Chai!

April 10 - 12, 2013 - Udaipur, India

April 10 - 12, 2013 - Udaipur, India

I arrived in Udaipur in the early afternoon and got checked into the guesthouse.  From there I went to lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the lake and city.

A chipmunk was running around the restaurant. Cute! Or cute until he managed to JUMP from the table next to me to MY table and try to snag some of my naan.  I will have NAAN of that (hehe).  I freaked out and screamed.  That made the chipmunk freak out and run from table end to table end before he jumped down and scampered away.  Naan saved and chipmunk spared.  He didnt go away though he just kept watching.  I thought that brave little guy deserves some naan, so I tossed him a couple pieces.  Now everyone was happy!

The little sucker is just about to jump on my table!

I then visited the Bagore - Ki Haveli.  A haveli is an old indian home.  Some have been transformed into guesthouses, some are museums, and some still have families living in them.  This one was now a museum.  I got to try on different turbans AND I got to see the largest turban in the world!!!

Then I wandered over to the City Palace and took a guided tour.  Of course, I could take pictures of the inside.  But here are some of the outside.

From the city palace I thought I could find my way back to the guesthouse.  Given my navigation skills and the fact that I had only been in the town for about 5 hours its no surprise I got a little lost.  Though it wasnt a complete disaster.  I did meet an interesting (to say the least) man that told me he could smell my positive energy and proceeded to read my palms.  I kinda got to thinking he was a little crazy but be did mention some stuff that is true.  Though it could have been a lucky guess.  I mean who doesnt quit their job to travel the world for a year and not expect "big changes for the future".

He also said he had stones that could fix my imbalance.  I just thanked him for the tea and continued my search for the guesthouse...dont worry, I found it...with the help of a tuk tuk driver.

Udaipur was also celebrating the Hindi New Year.   That night while I sat on the roof top restaurant of the guesthouse I got to see the sun go down as the town lit up.  All with giant fly foxes over head and singing, music, and fireworks all around me.  A fantastic feeling.

April 11th:
This was another day of relaxation.  All I did that day was walk to and through the local temple.  And that night I attended a cultural performance at the Bagore - Ki Haveli.  This featured various dances and skills from surrounding villages.
I also joined up with 3 other girls to go on a day trip to visit Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur the next day.

What I learned:  Some people can balance 11 jugs on their head and dance on glass at the same time.  That person is not me.