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Namaste.
Was real sad to leave the Ashram but the overnight train down to Jaipur was surprisingly better than expected apart from some real loud snoring going on nearby all night long.. and an Indian guy that was trying to chat me up saying I was cute wtf!? Got to Jaipur groggy but met some fellow travellers whom had just arrived also and we decided to head out and see the sights. Amber Fort was very impressive sat on a hill overlooking two valleys with lots of 'Great wall of China' like walls littered all over the hills. We then went down to Jal Mahal aka the Water Palace and then Hawa Mahal (wind palace). Remind me when I'm home to tell you the story of the fat Maharaja btw.. ;) One thing I've noticed and annoys me is that there are two different tickets booths, one for locals and one for tourists.. tourists paying around 10 times more for the same bloody ticket.. hmm. We went to eat in a restaurant 'recommend' by Lonely Planet but truth be told I detested it..the food was alright but it was full of foreigners and completely devoid of atmosphere.. give me a shoitehole in the centre full of locals and atmosphere or streetfood any day of the week. We rounded the day off by going to the local cinema here which is meant to be the biggest (and most beautiful) in India. The film (Desi Boyz) was mostly in Gujurati with bits of English thrown in as it is set in London but the best part was the crowds reactions in the theatre.. cheering, whooping, whistling etc, they really get into their films over here!
Chilled out in the day as was travelling in the afternoon, nice to have a bit of downtime for a change. Got to the train station early and was just sitting outside minding my own business and lots of Indians come over and start hassling me asking if I want a rickshaw etc am like I'm catching a bloody train ffs.. Glad was only a 4 hour journey or so to Agra as sleeper class was like a flaming cattle market and it stunk of pee & s*** and bad b.o., not nice! Befriended some locals on the train and an Austrian family also which made the train ride a bit quicker. Got to Agra and took ages to get to hostel as we were behind a wedding procession which was real good to see the festivities going on.
Went out for the day to Fatehpur Sikri which was good bit of culture and peaceful once we got into the main complex, prior to that however it was a ballache getting constantly harassed by people. Spent the majority of the day there which was good and then got the bus back to Agra but had just missed the sunset. We went to a roofop restaurant and could see the Taj less than half a mile away and got to admit it left an impression so we were mega excited for the following day. We came across a muslim festival and there were lots of festivities and soundsystems blasting lots of tunes out which had a bit of a carnival feel to it.
We woke up at the crack of dawn to get to the Taj for sunrise.. only to wait fer a French t*** for eons to tart himself up.. grrr.. We were then stunned when we asked an autorickshaw geeza how much to the Taj and he didn't have a flippin clue where it was?! Getting in early was well worth it however as the Taj was enveloped in mist making it really mystical and was pretty cool stayin there watchin the sun come up and kissing the east side with light. After Taj went over to the train station to sort some tickets out and whilst waiting outside I educated some locals on what a motorboat is haha. The Red Fort was impressive and far better than Delhi's although the excessive smog made it really hard to capture the Taj from the Fort but I bet couple of hundred years ago pre-smog etc would've been an awesome view! Our rickshaw brokedown for the second successive day.. this time though slap bang in the middle of a busy bloody junction.. no bloody goods.. had to push it away from the chaos, whilst the driver sorted it out it was a chance to get some streetfood which is far better and cheaper than the restaurant stuff. We were on the way to the Baby Taj when I was half hanging out of the front of the rickshaw.. I slapped a cow on its derrier.. literally not even 30 seconds later two bulls were changing towards us on the carriageway.. Instant karma! I shat myself and all of us were laughing our backsides off but literally seconds later a rickshaw and motorbike were coming straight towards us from the other side and it was bananaman's turn to pap his keks, his look of terror perfectly captured on camera, a real mastercard moment! We watched the sunset from the North Bank of the Taj but it didn't impress me much although was relaxing and bumped into some people met in the previous days. In the evening we played a real fun drinking game on the rooftop of one the restaurants involving cards which required precision, skill and concentration.. all the things you lose when you get pissed haha but hada good nite and we got turfed out of there for being too rowdy and then subsquently from the rooftop hostel also haha happy days.
The last day in Agra started off real bad with a combo of Delhi belly and ring of sting so spent most of the morning suffering.. A siesta or so later brightened up fortunately and just chilled out in the terrace of the villaesque hostel and then onto the park across zee road. Finally got with it and headed out for the last time to Taj Ganj area having our last supper as majority of us leaving within 24 hours to pastures new. So many people heading to Goa for Christmas/New Year.. I gotta make do with freezing ma cahones off in Nepal then China instead. The 15 hour train journey from Agra to Varanasi was surprisingly good to say in slum dog class although countless locals were trying to encroach on my bunk.. bunk off!! One thing that really annoys me in India is the corruption, they'll try ewt to cheat you out of extra money.. RIckshaws at the station were charging 250 rupees plus to get to Varanasi.. I ended up catching a bus for a mere 15.. shove that up yer jackies you ripoff rickshaw merchants!! Finding the hostel was like going through a labyrinth but got there eventually.
Got up and went straight out to the Ganges, lots of people there already bathing in the water. Got to admit the water isn't as clear over here, then again it has traversed a 1000km or so, up north it was pure and powerful however here it is a lot more placid flow. Braved a local barber and his blade, rocking the monk look at the momento.. he then starts giving me a massage, am thinking is this part of the service?! Evidently it was an extra however it was real good to get a massage on one of the ghats watching the world go by. I now officially feel like Karl Pilkington.. saw the elephant faced guru dude.. What a freak!! Then again saw a local beggar later that was literally bones with a bit of skin on top. Went to the Golden Temple which was impressive but couldn't stop smurking as the cheeky monkeys were nabbing everyones offering flowers and munching on them hehe! Got some real good streetfood cheap as (25p) then went around the crowded markets. Had an argument with an Indian dude as got a lemon lassi which on the board said 15 rupees but he charged me 25.. go figure.. told him he was corrupt and shouldn't falsely advertise things, p**** I like the narrow alleyways full of shops bars and hostels etc however when there's bikes, motorbikes, cows and cows*** to dodge its bloody hard work. Had to squeeze through a dark alley that a cow had parked its ass on taking up two thirds of the alley so literally had to to tip toe past the bloody thing! The Ganga aarti here is bigger than the Haridwar but that doesn't mean its better.. Thought the Haridwar was sacred and special compared to this one. Off to Kathmandu in the morning, got a 20+ hour coach journey to look forward to.
Overall had a great couple of weeks in India, in one way I'm ready to move on as had enough of all the hassling, corrupting etc but on the other hand real sad to go as its such a vibrant, vivacious and wonderful country that is a pure overdose of all senses, I love India!
- comments
Bobbi Glad your enjoying yourself missing u loads xxx
Angieoko Hey Dominuku! Loving these blogs, keep them coming x Take Care xxxxx