Another trip over and another return to Australia. My fourth visit to India and my second visit to Nepal have yet to satisfy my cravings for these cultures. It appears that each time I return to this great country I call home, I am instantly ready to turn around and visit the foreign lands that I love.
Well for now, I am back in Sydney and enjoying the time with family. I will keep my love affair with India and Nepal going through my writing for the time being.
28 days, 2 countries, 1 wedding, an elephant ride and a multitude of beds. This doesn’t even come close to summarising the great trip I have just had. I’ve been driven through mountains and laid on beaches, I’ve danced on river boats and sung with children, I’ve washed clothes by hand and eaten the finest Seafood of India, but still there is so much Iam yet to see or do.
Over the next month I will be reflecting on this trip with many stories, tales, recounts and tips, but for now here are some of the highlights:
– A fabulous 4 day wedding in Delhi, India
– 1 day trip to Jaipur with spur of the moment dance in Wedding Procession to finish the day off
– Return to the Magical Taj Mahal for my twice in a lifetime experience
– Flying into Nepal in the midst of Maoist Strike mayhem and a 6 day hold on Petrol across the country
– Visiting the most popular sites of Pokhara, Nepal, on the back of a motorbike
– Watching the sun go down at the serene Lake Begnash, just outside Pohkara Municipality, Nepal
– Taking a riverboat ride to the Elephant Orphanage Chitwana nd naming a baby elephant, Malachye
– Riding an Elephant through the Jungle of Chitwan National Park
– Making Momo’s and washing my clothes by hand in a real Nepalese home
– Learning to count in Nepalese from a 3 yr old and practicing the alphabet in English
– Taking the morning Everest Flight past the mystifying Himalayas
– Visiting two community schools built by the amazing organisation Room to Read, http://www.roomtoread.org
– Cruising the Bars of Baga Beach, GOA, India
– Staying with an Indian Family in the South of Goa, friends of friends I met in America- small world!
– Taking a tour of the senses at the Tropical Spice Plantation, Goa, India
– Being treated like a movie star on the Swastik River Cruise near Panaji City, aka being asked for many photos by Indian Tourists.
– 12 hour train ride on the Indian Railways from Goa- Mumbai. A meal and 4 cups of tea will cost you just over $1 and for less than $20 you have a sleeper in an AC compartment
-Watching a friend’s friend in a Stand up Comedy club in Mumbai, only to be the butt of the Australia Jokes, thanks Rohan Joshi!
– Eating Seafood at the famous Apoorva restaurant, a favourite in Downtown Mumbai
– A weekend in Daman with a group of 5 young Indian Professionals
– Sailing at Sunset in front of the Gateway to India and Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, India
– Visiting the World’s largest Laundry- The Dhobhi Ghat, Mumbai, India
A fantastic trip with many more highlights to come. Please visit India and Nepal. You will not be disappointed by the diversity, beauty and interesting culture of these 2 great countries.
Please post your requests for stories below in the comments section and read about the destinations you most wish to see!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! And may 2010 be filled with travel and adventure for us all!
Lovelly Travels 