My Indian Adventure Saga - The Lake City (Udaipur) - my last stop

Hi! Dear Readers:-) Musta na? I am back mga ateh. Well, this is my last story for this Indian Saga. As in I love this city,  This City is a spectacular. To begin allow me to thank first all my sponsors for this superb and very cool experiece, to my driver - Sharif thanks for driving me for almost 15 days in India. Though you are not so blabbing or friendly, I still salute you for driving me safe. To All hotels and guest house I have been stayed with - thanks for sharing and extending your warmth Indian hospitality. Its an honor and privileged to stay with you guys. To people I've met along the way, esp Gaia and her beau - your the most accomodating, friendly, unbiased people on earth. You did not look at me based on my skin and nationality, but consider me as your travel buddy who also have the pinch or thirst to travel the world and experience great culture. Though it was a short meeting but deep it my heart it was like a long time. Happy traveling you both and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Hay vengga nagpasalamat na ang lola mo:-) kidding aside, to continue my last story. Udaipur, Rajasthan is situated at the far end of rajasthan valley. This city is nestled with two great lakes of Rajasthan. Because Udaipur is on the top of the mountain, Royal families and its government designed and made up a two man made great lakes after a severe rainfall on the city way back before. They made two great lakes in order for the other lakes to be a tributary of the excess water and vice versa. Thus, until now no more water dry-up for both lakes. This is as per the information from the tourist guide.

I arrived at the city of Udaipur late in the evening. FYI, From Jodhpur to Udaipur - its about 7 hours drive but I love the sceneries here. Lots of beautiful trees and mountain ranges. My hotel is situated in lake pichola hotel and at the area of Gangur. This is the touristy area which all the places you would like to see is quite nearby. City Palace and its complex is located here. Mewar Museum is around this area also. Great Hotels as well are located in this area and the great lake pichola view can be seen here anywhere of the hotels you stay. I love the intricate, uphills side of Gangur Area - lots of beautiful crafts and painting shops. Infact, Udaipur is considered as the city gifted with lots of painters and artists. The City is full of arts and culture thus everything in the street is real arts made by talented raw artists.

My 4 days stay in Udaipur is not enough actually but then I still have the best experience ever char. From seeing their operational City Palace (operational bec. the Royal families still live there until now) to their great summer palace at the top of the hills and the refreshing boat rides along lake pichola. I coudn't ask for more but to rest and relax - Its a very tiring for a tourist like me touring these great spots for one whole day or more. I dunno but I love this city maybe because its so picturesque and the vibe is kinda europe because of their great palaces located at the side of the lake plus the setting of their houses. Indeed, it has earned its name as the Venice of the East.

My India Adventure Saga - Jodhpur (The Blue City)

Ay prang ang bilis kung magupdate mga teh or my Dear Readers, Well the fact that today I have nothing to do in my office period as in no work hahahha plus I am excited to write and tell yah guys. So here I am mga tehhhh simulan ko na "Noong unang panahon, sa kaharian ng India may isang lugar na puno ng kulay asul.....hahahhaha it seems I cannot continue writing a story like this as in tagalog char totyalan ba ngek puro wrong grammar naman ang jenglish ko. Kiveranza, basta mag english ako. Ngek tagalog kaya yan teh..ok watever basta I tell yah in straight english period comma etc.

Okay to continue, Jodhpur is located along the rugged mountains of Rajasthan province. My trip took me almost seven hours by private car. As in we arrived in Jodhpur so late as in Gabi na -plus the fact that we need to find pa my hotel. Ano ba ito - as in We're looking, asking for about an hour and finally we reached my hotel or in short the guest house that I'm staying. Well, Hem Guest House is situated right at the heart of Jodhpur Market named Moti Chowk as in super crowd, super tight esp the road. This time my driver was pissed off because of the road - I decided not to talk back so as not to threat me badly. As in my guest house was located at the very very heart of moti chowk. But right behind the back of this guest house - is the phenomenal view of Jodhpurs jewel - The Mehrangarh fort.  So far, this is the best fort i have ever visited in India . All the relics, paintings, cabinets etc that the Royal Family used is still on display at the fort. This is also the fort that is one of the biggest. What I like about this one is you need to climb the Fort from the entrance. As in super trek, kaagad super trek!!!! hindi muna climbing hahaha OA ka teh.

So that night, I've met the owner of that guest house - they are small family I mean a young family. They're very accommodating and helpful. After checking-in, the husband toured me to their humble abode, to my room and then lastly he took me to the most awaiting part - their balcony with a very picturesque, very surreal background as in larger than life - Mehrangarh Fort. As in na naman all my tiredness/sleepyness paid off. WOW - was the magic word of that night. So now its time for photoshoot - even with out any tripod I managed to picture or shoot myself photogenically. Charot! And also, the best part of my trip here was meeting the beautiful couple from Europe.That night I was really hungry - I went out to the market and look for a nice cozy restaurant. Adjacent to the temple, I saw a nice signage of a restaurant named NIRVANA. I went up because the restaurant is actually on top upon reaching there I said to myself indeed its nirvana because there is a huge hanging garden, I find it beautiful and then after entering the restaurant and ordered my food, this beautiful couple called me up and asked me If its okay for me to join their table. Well, my naked eyes first sets on the guy - yummy toddler for his age and so I did not hesitate to join them. We introduced each other and the rest is history. Briefly, about them this young couple is travelling the world since may - the guy is from switzerland and his girlfriend is from Italy. Imagine their travelling 17 countries so far. So alot of Mollah - Well the good thing of them (FYI lanfg) they just look for themselves not including their families as well - that's the other side of culture of Europeans.

 
So the very next day, our itinerary was so hectic because I had only one day in Jaipur. Good thing all the major landmarks are close to each other so I have no problem of going and walking to other sites. First Site was the mehrangarh fort then next was the White Temple replicating Taj or more resemblance of Walt Disney Palace but this temple is erected at the top of the mountain adjacent to the fort. I love the peace and serenity of the temple - its actually nice to unwind there after a day's hard work. Then later, we headed straight to Ubaid Bhawan Palace - the best palace hotel in the world. The Palace is part hotel part residential of the ruling royal family of jodhpur. It is built and located at the top of the hills. This Palace is visible around Jodhpur actually because of its location and infact its a symbol of how mighty and rich the Royal Family here. When I went there there's a lot of restricted areas but still you can manage to photo shoot. There is a small part that is allowed for Non Hotel Guest that is the palace little museum which showcase all the palace bed linens, kitchen utensils, gadgets, cars as well as the history and who design the palace. Tourists who stayed at this palace hotel raved about their experience.

What else?, i think that's for all guys - and please stay tune for my last story of this Saga - this time Udaipur - The Lake City:-)

My India Saga Adventure - Jaipur (The Royal Capital)

Dear Readers, I am back mga ateh (hahaha feeling ko I have so much followers - feelingera ako na teh hahaha). Lets continue my Indian journey aka Indian Saga. Well, after Agra - I headed down to Jaipur - which is the royal capital of Rajasthan or even way back during the mughal or british empire, Jaipur was once a royal capital and of which I think is true - kc when you reach the Old City of Jaipur and you look around as in from the roads uptil the mountains; Great wall of fences are decorating the city - its truly like your in the ancient movies the era of invasion of kingdom etc where you are a prisoner and they will send you to their kingdom for punishment or hatol hahahha mga effect na ganyan. As in that kind of touch of their old architecture is still there in Jaipur.

Anyhow,  Jaipur - The Pink City (later ko explain bkit pink okay?) is about 5 hours drive from Agra by private car. I was really amazed seeing the old city which is contrast to the new city. The new is a bit of congested with so much people and dirt scattered all over the City but still that's the vibe of Jaipur anyway. Again, we had problem looking for my hotel which is a Haveli or an Old house type hotel where intricate of indian designs etc decorating the whole building. Finally, we locate the hotel its actually in residential area and back of the main street. I love my hotel its a family owned business- very homely and the staff are really courteous. Dear Readers,remember the name of my hotel if ever you would like to go Jaipur, its -Umaid Bhawan Hotel. I love my room in this hotel, it was so spacious and located at the top of the hotel's 6th floor plus the hotel offers unlimited internet wifi connection -wotwo. Indeed 3 nights in Jaipur was really superb.

For the whole time, I was in Jaipur seeing the overrated Wind Palace which is the symbol of jaipur is a must to do and its awesome. Actually in Jaipur when you tour the city palace it is already a package  because the palace is a complex that includes the Jantar mantar - an astronomical observatory and then of course the Wind palace - a small palace for princess and their yaya's or katulong as well the palace courtyards and gardens. Amber Fort and the elefantication ( Ill blog this separately) is another important thing to do also why? because its a separate site and the fort is a must to see. By the way the old name of jaipur is AMBER which derived from the fort and Jaipur called as Pink City because majority of the houses if you watch it over from the wind palace are Pink as in vayot na color chi hahaha. FYI, During 15th -16th century, Jaipur is the most well-planned or designed city all over India that as per the tourist information guide. Well maybe because the Royal Families lived their for centuries.

Anyways Dear Readers, end of my Jaipur story - I'll be back soon with another exciting story and this time its Jodhpur - The Blue City. So stay stune mga kapuso, kafatid and of chors mga kafamilya. See yah guys:-)

My India Adventure Saga - Agra, India (The Home of Taj Mahal)

I am back teh...lets continue my journey to India. Followers, Non-followers just bear with me - I am still looking for words to describe and tell about this story hahaha....give me five minutes and I am done. So relax lang teh

Okay, five minutes up -- I am done and ready to tell yah. Lets begin my story with driving from New Delhi to Agra. Actually, it's about three to four hours drive by private car including lunch or snack time on the road. Well the road is well asphalted its just that this highway is really busy coming from and to. Well, my memorable moment here during this trip was when we stopped by on the road and then suddenly a small kid asked me if I want to see a show and he was holding a small box and then I asked him what show and suddenly he showed me right infront of my eyes the two cobra snakes standing hungry for a bite as in I was like..huhhhhhhh and am really scared and told him no no no. My driver laughed at me so hard... and i was like ur mean ur laughing at someones frightness.

Anyhow, the drive was not that tiring because I slept a bit and then watched some sceneries. So when we arrived in Agra the city was really really busy during that time theres alot of people well its a big city anyway. Good thing, my hotel is located around Taj Compound in fatehabad road. Remember Fatehabad area is the place to stay if you like to go to Taj Mahal - its very near and adjacent to the gates of Taj Mahal.To continue, My driver sent me to my hotel - the Sarovar Hotel Portico-it's one of the best hotels in Agra actually. The hotel is nice especially my room and after I checked-in I slept and relaxed for a while and then I just realize that the most luxurious hotel in Taj - The Oberoi Amarvillas is quite near to my hotel so I went there and settled for a drink and later I watched the most anticipating thing to do there - sunset watching which is really great and then the hotel had an indian folk dance show which is really good. All their expresssions and gestures are very synchronize from their face to their hands and to their feet. Its really fascinating!

Then the very next day the most exciting part of my adventure - seeing Taj Mahal in real flesh. I woke up early that day. My costume for that day was already plan wayback here in auh actually so I just pressed it with iron and then wear it werq it and ready to go. Upon entering Taj - a deceiving guy is blabbing to me alot he said he is the owner of the parking lot and that he works for Indian tourism blah blah and later upon entering in the main gate I ask him who you really are? are you a tourist guide right? how much. So he said yes he is and that this is his rate and I told him take it or leave this is the only rate I can give, 10-20 dollar and he said okay thats fine. So we entered the gate - right on the gate he was telling me alot of the so called indian stories as in everything. But while his blabbing about Taj and its beginning etc, i had in mind already that he is gonna be my photographer this is a photoshoot but still with learning of the history of Taj Mahal(anyway i will blog later separately about Taj). As in, every corner, angle etc of the site was a photo shoot but he was not complaining anyway hahaha. He was being paid divah? So for that 3 hours or so; Roaming, listening and shooting was a little bit tiring and after exiting in Taj - I paid him on what we agreed and I headed for lunch. and later that afternoon, me and my driver went to agra fort - which is massive and very intricate and interesting site, then to ahktar tomb - another great tomb and to a mini replica of Taj Mahal temple - which is very near also to Taj and we went to agra market. As in that whole day is really really very tiring. and to add it up I went to fatepur Sikri on the way to Jaipur the very next day. Fatepur Sikri is part of Agra - which is another fort or palace of sort that was made in honor of a saint named salem christi. The place is also very big as well with a super huge mosque and its compound plus the palace, court yard etc. It is built at the top of the mountain overlooking the city or village of Fatepur Sikri. It is really a great place and a must see and do in Agra.

okay dear readers my next story is Jaipur, India. So guys, mga ateh stay tune for another saga of my indian adventure. Magbabalik po ako after a series of commercial breaks. Thank you ate beki belo for taking care of my skin..see yah in abit guys hahhahahaha..lav yah mwahhh:-)

My India Adventure Saga - First Stop NEW DELHI

Actually, its been ages like 2 months or so that I am not writing anymore here(my blogabag). Maybe, because I have nothing to share and write about. Good LORD, He allowed me to travel this year and now, I have so much to tell and rant about. Hehehe

Well, actually this India Trip was not really in my plan. I want to go to Europe or somewhere but good thing its another way around. India is really incredible and with a lots of contrast. Contrast because if you are in their BigCities - you will really be pissed off or maybe you can say something Not Good but then if you are in their Rural areas or provincial or villages- OMG its really amazing with all those centuries temples, forts and palaces. And that makes India Contrast to me hehehe. Anyhow, before I'll start my pinoy story pardon me as I am writing this blog I am so peepee and needs to go the toilet..excuse moi back in a minute-naiihi lang teh:-)

Okay, back to work charrot este back to my story, This India Trip was really a bit of not so well planned because my first intention is to do Backpacking but when I try to book all the train tickets online, I cannot book there's alot of things to do, process and requirements so I called and booked to a travel agency my transportation which is out of my budget but what to do I already booked my airticket going to India. So the scenario before my flight was like by hook or by crook or bahala na - I need to go to India as in cramming teh.

Anyway, after I landed in New Delhi things get better than what I expected from the airport someone guided me to go to this dept for Upon Arrival Visa and then after that they guided me to an Exchange for change of money then later my Driver met me at the entrance of the airport. So things really going smooth until I exited the airport and went to my guest house. The area is really dark and so cramped as in we had an hour locating this house and it was 4:00AM. The house was okayish because I will only stay there for a night. The room was big, free wifi, there's TV and all. I mean it was decent actually. So in the morning around 10AM they picked me from the house. I listed all the things and see to do in New Delhi for a day but then my driver for this whole trip was the one who made my itinerary or the important attractions to see n go till the end of this trip. So I did not argue okay lets go but I just realized now that it was okay because If I was the one decided that things that I need to go and see - baka super luray na akish every day because in one attraction OMG you need to see n feel and roam for 3 hours because its huge and you need to understand, listen all these legendary stories etc how they made it from the start etc etc. But for one day, the guy(my driver) toured me 5 most important sites in New Delhi - The India Gate - which is just a symbol of India's pride, Red Fort - which is a Huge Fort, Qutub Minar - I love this Place, Humayun Tomb - So Taj Mahal actually but great tomb, Mughal Garden - so royale and the Karol Bagh Market - where my guest house located so indian-massive, dirty, lively and cheap. So Tiring at the end of the day but overwhelming. 

Next Stop - Agra, India. I am so excited  to tell yah guys because this is the most overrated, talked about town/city plus the fact that this is where Taj Mahal is located and that is to be continued in my next tale so stay tune tehhhh:-)