Sunrise over Pushkar

I was planning on uploading more photos, but the internet conection is running very slow. we are still enjoying Pushkar very much. Things here go very slow. I find myself constantly wondering what time it is, but have vowed to not ask that question again! It really doesn't matter! We wake up in the mornings to watch the sunrise on our balcony and we are back up there again to watch it set. I have found a lot of beauty in this city. Yesterday, we got up early and after the sun rose, we walked around the ghats(stairs around the lake). The ghats are where people bathe in the morning and practice their religious ceremony's. All day every day people come here. There is music and prayers coming from loud speakers all over the city. It's so different than anything you could ever imagine in the states. After that,we ate some lunch, went for a swim a an actual swimming pool and did some more shopping. It was a good day. The people here are kind and welcoming. The most difficult part is having to contantly turn your head from children begging. Kids that are Tavian's age! They are so cute I want to give them everything I have! But once you give one some money or fruit, you have about 5 more chasing you down! There are a lot of tourist here, so they probably make out pretty well. It's just the way of life here.
We plan on leaving tomorrow or the next day. We still have not yet decided where we will go. I think we will be in Rajasthan about 10 more days before heading North to the mountains where the air is crisp and cool! I will try to post some more pics when I get a better connection.

YAY! PUSHKAR!!

After 4 days of being sick in Jaipur, Ray and I were finally feeling well enough to make the drive to Pushkar today. We paid top dollar for a taxi, rather than a bus, just in case we needed him to pull over. We were fine though. The heat and smog are really exhausting and our sleeping schedules are still a bit crazy, so we are taking it easy today. We have an awesome room at the Paramount Palace. We have views over looking the city and mountains with lots of windows, so we get a nice breeze. We got the nicest room in the place for about $10. Can't beat that! So far Pushkar is welcoming. There are many westerners here and the locals are not as pushy for our money and attention as the two previous cities, which is nice. The air feels a bit lighter and cleaner and the streets are not so filthy. We plan to be here for a few days. I will post some new pics soon.
namaste.

photos

Photos

We are still in Jaipur due to the fact that I have sicker than I think I have ever been before over the last 36 hours. Now Ray has the same sickness. Hopefully tomorrow we will be on our way. Here are some photos from the past few days.

Jaipur

We arrived in Jaipur yesterday after a 5 hour train ride from New Delhi. It was a pretty amazing ride through very remote country side. Many, many impoverished communities and farms with women bent over plucking weeds and things by hand. The biggest suprise to us was what we have been calling the "pooping fields". Apparently, there is no better place to drop a load in the morning than by the railroad tracks. We must have passed 100 men sqatting out in the open doing their business. The women however were no where in sight.
Apon arriving in Jaipur, we met a friendly rickshaw driver who took us to a nice guest house with AC rooms, our own private bathroom, and a rooftop balcony restaurant. It's costing us each about $4 per night. We enjoyed some DELIIOUS luch and dinner here. A wide variety of curries and veggies, rice, and pita for about $2.50!! After a few hours of rest and food our rickshaw driver took us on the most insane drive through the city!! There are absolutly no traffic lights or rules on the road. Everyone just crams in where ever they can. He took us to this place called the monkey temple. It's a relatively easy climb to the top where we were greeted by hundreds of monkeys all waiting for the mango lady to come up and feed them. From here we could see the whole city. It was really amazing. We also ran into some adorable children who were so excited to see us. They all wanted me to take their pictures and would crack up when I showed it to them. We were like rock stars yesterday. Ray especially. They are all really intrigued my his tattoos. When riding through the streets, kids would come up to our rickshaw wanting high fives and things. I think they probably don't see too many westem folks here. It's very different from Delhi. We will be here for the next day or so and then wil take another 5 hour train to Pushkar, I think. I will write more soon.

We have arrived!

Well, after 23 hours in the airport or on the plane we have finally arrived in New Delhi. It's completely overwhelming the minute you get out of the airport. Luckily, Ray's friend Andy was there to greet us and got us a taxi and took us to the place where he's been staying. We have a little teeny room, with fans and a western toilet!! I still have not tried the eastern style, but it is only my first day. I plan to hold out as long as possible! I can't really describe what it's like to be here. It all feels really surreal. Cows, dogs, millions of bikes and people all sharing the same teeny tiny dirt roads. The air is thick with smog and the smell of piss and curry. It's pretty intense. Tomorrow we are going to take a 5 hour train ride to Jaipur, the "Pink City". We will be in Rajasthan for 2 weeks or so, and then I think we will head north. Internet access seems pretty easy to come by, so I will write as often as possible. This is going to be an amazing adventure!

9 days!

Well, this is my first blog EVER! I'm not so sure how good of a blogger I am, but I'll give it my best efforts. I am creating this blog so my friends and family can follow my travels through India over the next month. Only 9 more days!! Whoo-hoo!! Ray (my travel buddy) arrives tomorrow! We will be leaving Friday July 20th and will spend the following 24 hours in the air or in the airports. Fun times! So for now, I'm running around like crazy trying to get everything in place for the next month I am gone. Off comes the hot pink toe-nail polish and away go the sparkly silver flip-flops! I am ready for some hot, sweaty, trekking with my back-pack and cameras in tow!