"India for Two Months During Our... " a India Travel Page by Waxbag

The sharp rises of the Himalaya Mountains in the far north, the northern plains from Delhi to Bengal, the Great Thar Desert in the west, and the beaches in the south offer geographic contrasts like no other. The colorless desert is highly contrasted to the bright colors of the turbans and Rajasthani dress. One may see a beautiful young woman in a brightly colored sari bedecked in jewels walking gracefully and carrying a basket of fresh vegetables on her head next to a chalked, limbless leper inching his way along the dirty, dusty road. Massive majestic forts and palaces overlook the thatched dung houses of villages. The quiet stillness of the desert is highly contrasted to the incessant horns of busses, rickshaws, and motorbikes on the street and the screeching chants of the Hare Krishnas at all hours. Taste buds are constantly stimulated by the mixture of Indian spices. Curries, masalas, and chilies, mixed with common vegetables and lentils create a celebration in the mouth but devastation in the tract. In one breath, one may experience the amazing aroma of spices being sold on the street or that escape from nearby restaurants and the nauseous stench of human and animal excrement that can knock you off your feet. Kama Sutra sexual practices are depicted in books, paintings, and sculptures and advertisements have highly provocative scenes however, any form of public affection (even just holding hands) can send you to jail. Some individuals are willing to go out of their way to help you without expecting reimbursement of any kind but others knock you over as they bully their way to their destination and never look back. These contrasts create yet another contrast: India is simultaneously amazing and annoying.

That Bad? John on 11/24/05: In our stories of India we have portrayed, in many accounts, a place of rude people, frustrating customs, appalling hygiene, infuriating bureaucracy, unscrupulous tour operators, and chocking filth and decay. You might ask, “Is it really that bad?” Well…yeah, it is. But, just as bad as it is, India is also fantastically amazing! Color, born out of monochromatic landscapes and oppressive poverty, takes on a life of its own. The legacy of the great rulers is still here to see in opulent palaces, monstrous forts, exquisite temples, and magnificent mausoleums. Life on the street and the people themselves are unbelievable and the festivals are the most energetic displays of life and drama you could ever see. The backwardness of it all will confound and fascinate you. This place is appalling and appealing for the exact same reasons. Life is so radically different here. Our stories may seem a little on the negative side, but after all, those are the ones that make better reading.

Check out video of some of the highlights of our trip:
Ten Day Camel Safari
Golden Temple of the Sikhs, Amritsar
Closing the Indian Pakistan border near Amritsar
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and the Dussehra festival
The Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan
Udaipur, Rajasthan
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Karni Mata Rat Temple, Deshnok

Money: ATMs were available almost everywhere and dispense local currency (rupees). Money changers on the street were very eager to assist as well. We did realize later, however, that a hefty service fee is added onto each ATM withdrawal ($5 plus 1% of amt. withdrawn). We were excited to find a Bank of America in Delhi in hopes of escaping the service fees but we were quickly deflated when the teller said their BOA was not affiliated with our BOA and we could not withdraw money from there. Oh well, nice try anyway.

Communication: Internet facilities were readily available and the going rate was 30 rupees (70cents)/hour. Most keyboards were in such disarray that you had to practically hammer each key to type a message and once you did it would stick down repeating the letter until you could unstick it (very frustrating). The connection was decent and some had memory card readers to upload photos. Phones for international and local calling were also available at any internet site and the rates seemed reasonable.

Weather: With the exception of Mumbai (Bombay) where it rained consistently, blue skies and sunshine prevailed. The temperatures ranged from high 90s during the day to low 50s at night.