The Heebie-Jeebies.

Ever since India, I seem to have an intense "gag" reflex that inhibits me from doing anything even remotely gross. Let me share how bad it is.....

Lindsay: Let's put stickers on our sandwich containers so we know who's sandwich is who's.

Emily: Good idea!

(Lindsay goes to get adorable animal stickers given to me by Mom P)

Lindsay: Pick any sticker you like!

Emily: Okay....I want the lizard!!!

Lindsay: (pauses) Except for that one....you can't put reptiles on food containers. If I ever have to wash that thing I will gag.

Emily: WHAT?!!!!

Lindsay: Ya.....reptiles are slimey and disgusting and I really can't handle having a reptile on anything that relates to food...

Bad, right? Sorry, Em! But your second choice - the disco monkey - is REALLY AWESOME!!!

8 April - LET'S GO HOME!

Today was our final day in India and it was dedicated to TRAVEL! We checked out of the hotel around 11, drove 5 hours to Delhi, waited at the airport for a few more hours, flew to Dubai, missed our connection, slept on Starbucks chairs for 4 hours and FINALLY got home to Kuwait on the morning of April 9th.

Yeesh.

What a trip it was!

People have been asking us if we would go back. And, you know what? Despite the worst food poisoning ever, the longest train ride of all time, the near-theft outside the temple, the all-day rave pill, the week-long-post-trip illness, the absurd rashes and hives covering Phil's hands and feet......WE WOULD! Traveling through India is like watching "living" happen. The country is full of life, colour, and adventure that would be tough to find anywhere else!



Mumbai and Goa - here we come?!!! Or should we go North to the Himalayas?!

7 April - An All Day Rave

This is the worst day of traveling I have ever had.....EVER. Yep worse than freezing to death at a little hotel in Paris. Worse than the hours it took to cross the border from Jordan to Israel. Worse than walking in the "Entertainment District" of San Fran Freakshow. Worse than being the 10% of people that see NO WHALES on Christmas morning in Sri Lanka. It was BAD.

I woke up SO ILL that it was SILLY! I really didn't want to ruin the day for Phil (who was the most understanding and LOVING husband a girl could have), so we delayed the pick-up by an hour with the hope that my stomach would smarten up! It didn't. But we went to a sketchy pharmacy, where I took a sketchy pill, that made everything INSIDE stop and everything OUTSIDE spin. The all-day rave began.

* First stop? Elephant ride at Fort Amer. You know how much I ADORE elephants - and these ones were painted! To me, they were a whole swirl of colour and the ride itself was a whole 360 of "I'm going to vomit". We ended the elephant ride early and decided to give Fort Amer a try. This is where I had a wee cry and sat in random places while Phil took photos! He was sure to call me over if anything was particularly spectacular!





* Second stop? Coconut juice by the water palace. "It will make you feel better!" our guide said with confidence. Well - it didn't. But maybe shopping would? Off to the textile store we went!



* Ah - stop three. Our final one! Here, we engaged in some arts and crafts (SO FUN!) and then went inside to purchase curtains for the living room and some breezy shirts for the summer! Phil was quite the shopper in this store, pulling fabrics from all over the place and directing the men to custom make his vision. I sat on a random bed in the middle of the store and sipped away on the 7UP the manager brought to me! The clothes Phil ordered were delivered to our hotel three hours later! THAT IS SERVICE!







* Because of my on-going, pill-induced party, we skipped the remainder of sites in Jaipur and decided to spend the rest of the day at the hotel. From what I remember, we watched a show on lions and sharks......?? I don't know. Phil may not either - my constant cries of "I am spinning. I see lots of colours..." left him ordering beers throughout the day. I feel so bad that I ruined part of our trip, but Phil was AWESOME and just kept getting me cold cloths, bringing me water, running a hot bath, etc. I love him. He's the best.

Well, no sound and light show for us! Perhaps when I need more "happy shoes", we will return to Jaipur and do it RIGHT! At least it is FINALLY funny??

6 April - To Jaipur!

Today we set out to "complete the Golden Triangle" by heading to Jaipur, the final city on our itinerary! I was still feeling quite nauseous and had to focus really hard all day long to keep my insides inside. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun today!



* Fatehpur Sikri - an ancient city (and World Heritage Site!) 40km west of Agra. This place was neat because we got to see the three different palaces that Emperor Akbar built for his three favourite wives! One wife was Hindu, one was Christian, and one was Muslim and it was interesting to see the blend of religious architecture in each palace, which did not always coincide with the faith of each woman. The Jama Masjid mosque was another beautiful site although the sun was quite hot that day and our bare feet burned as we hopped around the inside! Despite our scurrying along, families still managed to snap some shots of us with their children, haha.







* The remainder of the drive to Jaipur was interjected by a few stops: bathroom breaks, lunch, and road-side craft shops. We were excited to watch as the scenery changed from brown and flat to red and mountainous! When we reached our hotel (the best one by far!), I had to make a mad dash to the WC, but then we headed to our room where we received our first-ever "room orientation" presentation. YEP - a sweet lady explained the room's features and the hotel's services. It was like we were really important people or something! Haha. Our favourite hotel, indeed!

* After some brief relaxation (and Phil finding ESPN on the television), we headed out to the middle of nowhere in order for me to get some "henna". Literally, I sat on a small plastic stool beside a pop and chip vendor and this woman painted incredible designs on my arm! Apparently the lady is famous and is often asked to do henna for the weddings of "wealthy Indian" families. Hmmm...never would have guessed that while sitting in that random place!



* The Gem Factory - YES, ANOTHER ONE! I really wish Gemmmmmmmmmily was there for round two! The salesman was an amazing one, stating that he is in business to "make the world happy" and that no woman can "ever have enough". Haha - so I purchased some nice "peridot" jewelery to do my part in finding world peace.

* This night we were supposed to see the Sound and Light Show at Fort Amer, although due to the festival going on in India, the time had changed to two hours past the original start time. We decided to return to the show the following night and headed to the "shoe store" to find some "Jasmine and Aladdin" shoes! And find them we did! This evening I purchased the most colourful shoes I've ever owned and I have officially named them "my happy shoes". LOVE THEM. Phil is a fan of his as well and you should be quite eager to spot them this summer! Wowee - what a souvenir! (Side note: Phil rode a motorcycle, HELMETLESS, in the CRAZY STREETS OF JAIPUR, with the shop owner....WITHOUT TELLING ME! Ya, he's still working his way out of that one! Sadly, he still thinks it was worth it!)

* Back at the hotel it was room service and "The Bone Collector" for us! (Can you believe I watched that movie?! Brave, right?!) I did my best to eat like a healthy person, but that resulted in an all-nighter in the bathroom! Oh - and did I mention that this hotel had a WINDOW instead of a WALL between the bathroom and the bedroom? Yep - the only time we are in a "sexy" hotel and Phillip has to look the other way and cover his eyes so as not to ruin his impression of me forever! BAHA. This is very funny now. It makes for a great story.

Professional Relevance.

While eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant....

Lindsay: HUNNIE! That girl is telling her parents what she's learning about in science class! (Smile) I guess what I do DOES matter!

Phillip: Babes....I think after India's world cup win, it's fair to say that my job can bring a whole country together!

Lindsay: (laughs) PHIL!!!

5 April - The Rest of Agra!

The remainder of our day went like this:

* A "children's edition" walk around Agra Fort. I managed to fake-smile my way through the photo's and actually enjoyed the view of the Taj from this beautiful place. We continuously apologized to our guide for being "un-fun" and sick!







* Another pit-stop at the hotel to soak achy muscles in a hot bath and eat some lunch. (Please note: Phil was back to milkshakes and beer at this point!) This actually made me feel a wee bit better, as did the trip to the hotel spa for a mani and a pedi. Wait until you hear about Phil's "Indian Spa" experience. I will save that one for our in-person chats this summer! BAHAHAHAHA.

* A tour of the "Baby Taj" - which turns out to be a lot more spectacular (to me!) than the Taj itself. Perhaps it's because I was feeling a bit better in the afternoon, but no one can argue the intricate beauty of the Baby Taj! It was so much more detailed up close and seemed much more special than Agra's main attraction! I loved it. It was near sunset. It was peaceful. And there was a toilet nearby for a traveler's convenience. A well-earned A+ if you ask me!





* The Taj Mahal at sunset - from the opposite side of the river bank! I am so happy we did this part of the tour! We were able to get photos of Sarge and Captain with the Taj in the background and also had the chance to witness Bollywood in action! A movie starring "Katrina Kaif" was being filmed right near us and we got to walk by all of the stars' trailers on the way to the sunset point! Here, we learned that our guide has gotten to meet all sorts of famous people at the Taj Mahal, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!







After a few "jumping shots", my stomach was back to terrible and so we headed back to the hotel before the sun actually disappeared. Another hot bath did the trick, but a grueling episode of "Fear Factor" did not. I would like to re-name April 5th as "the day of the gag reflex". Haha.

We slept early with fingers crossed for a healthy day ahead!

5 April: Agra - The Taj Mahal

"Once upon a time....."

BAHA. THIS DAY WAS TERRIBLE.

You know that romantic image you have of visiting the Taj Mahal? Get it out of your head! Because this story is nothing like the one you would imagine.



We woke up at 6 a.m. to head to the Taj bright and early. Too bad Phil was still feeling ill and I had taken a turn for the worst overnight. I was awake all night long, with achy muscles from head to toe! I had incredible stomach pains that required me to curl up into a ball and it took me every ounce of energy I had to hold my neck up. So did we go? Well, DUH! It's STILL the TAJ MAHAL! Haha.

Dumb idea.

The experience began on a sad note, as Sarge and Captain were not allowed to join us past the monument's security. Apparently they wanted to prevent "advertising" and so stuffed toys are not permitted in the official area. LAME, right?! Ah well, we hopped on the shuttle (stuffed-toy-less) and were dropped off near the entrance. From there, you must walk about 200m through a "gauntlet" of vendors, which turned out to be much more "chill" than the "gauntlets" we've experienced in Egypt (if you've survived a Nile Cruise, you'll think India is a BREEZE!).



Once through security, I sat, squatted, and assumed "ball-like" formations as our guide did his best to keep our attention and discuss the history of the famous place. I, of course, absorbed no information at all and even gave up my camera to Phil and the guide (<------ NOT LIKE ME). Luckily, my two photogs were up for the challenge and the guide adorably placed us into fun poses and made us smile in moments we both felt like vomiting. (P.S. Sunglasses are super TEAR-HIDERS!)



One thing I do remember (haha, ONE THING!) is how beautiful the Taj looked up close. It was AMAZING. No picture could do its beauty any justice, which is why you must go yourself and achieve that "romantic" experience we all hope for!

The tour inside was cut short, as I really couldn't stand up straight any longer. We were excited to walk back to the shuttle and get back to the hotel, but we were "surprised" (and not pleasantly) by our guide's choice of "horse and buggy". REALLY?!!!! Oh dear. Up we climbed into the carriage and I held my stomach with the idea that a hand on my belly could prevent any pre-mature puking. Too bad we also had to combat a farting horse who chose to relieve himself during our five minute ride. Ughhhh - I can still remember that intense fight with my gag reflex. Haha.



Back at the hotel, it was straight to a hot bath and then bed for me! We only slept for one hour though, as Agra Fort and other attractions were waiting for us!

Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it: our UNBELIEVABLE experience at the SPECTACULAR TAJ MAHAL! BAHA.

4 April - Train Ride to Agra

I feel that I need to describe this journey in the way it felt to us - chaotic. So here it goes:

Wake up at 6:30 am to Phil being sick in washroom. Must pack and check out anyways. Drive 40 minutes to train station through mud and people comfortably using mother nature as the world's toilet. Get to station. Creepy. Don't want to be left alone in van, but driver and guide leave us there anyways. Try to justify the situation, "even in Canada public transit is sketchy". Helped only for a moment. Finally rescued from stares by guide. Bring suitcases in to platform 4. Move them back to 3. Go back to 4. Guide unsure. Phil getting mad. Train is delayed 30 minutes. We wait. Scared. Annoyed. Dodge the cows hanging out at the station. Train finally arrives. Seats in separate cabins. Decide to sit in a seat together until moved. We were moved. To the top bunks we go. To the most disgusting washroom on Earth Phil goes. With Dettol wipes. Every 20 minutes. Poor guy. Can't eat food being served - warned against potential drugging/poisons used in meals before. The smell? A collection of cigarettes, gasoline, farts, greasy food, and mildew. Phil thinks the sheets are plagued with hepatitis. I don't understand why the old man beside me can't stop farting. "Admire the beautiful countryside"? HOW? We are about two feet from the roof, windowless, and forced to lay down in our "first class seats". Sadly, our seats were 100 times better than those in "third class". Uh-oh. I have cramps now too. Oh no. It's already been 8 hours....can we survive 2 more? We did. God bless Dettol wipes. And guides who pick you up as you get off the train. Drive to hotel. Phil says "go to the Taj without me". Ya right. Not happening. Phil spends night on toilet. I spend night in pain. 6 a.m. came WAY TOO soon for our liking.

And we will NEVER, EVER travel via train in India EVER again. But you should, because now it is HILARIOUS to think about :)

3 April - Varanasi

After our sunrise excursion on the Ganges, we continued our exploration of Varanasi with open eyes! Here are the places we visited following the boat trip:

* Vishwanath Temple (the Golden Temple) - the most popular Hindu temple in Varanasi. Unfortunately, non-Hindu's are not allowed to enter the temple itself, but we had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful exterior and the joy of waiting in the "security line". I am being completely sarcastic with the latter, as this is the point where Phil went absolutely BALLISTIC on the trip! In line to this holy temple, a young boy reached into Phil's pant pocket and tried to steal his wallet. Naturally, Phil exploded on the teen and our tour guide got involved. Phil had the option of sending the boy to jail, but instead he just made a massive scene so that everyone else in line would protect their belongings!!!



* Benares Hindu University - Asia's largest university! This was an exciting part of the trip for me, as you know how much I love school! I couldn't believe how extensive the campus was - with a playing field for every residence and every type of faculty you can think of! We weren't able to go inside any of the buildings, but we did get to visit the New Vishwanath Temple, which is open to all religions. Inside, we made an offering to Lord Shiva (Lord of the Universe) and were blessed with a sign of spiritual devotion on our foreheads.



* The Town of Sarnath - the place where Buddha gave his very first sermon! Sarnath really appealed to us, since traveling and learning about Buddhism in Sri Lanka. We came here with a basic understanding of Buddhism and were able to review the life of the Buddha on the painted walls of the temple. The temple was not as colourful as the ones we saw in Sri Lanka, but it was still a great experience and we purchased some prayer beads to remember the occasion!







* THE STORE - named so because it had so many beautiful things inside that we could have spent hours just staring at the details and colours. Here, I purchased my very first sari (green, blue and pink!) and we also got a duvet cover for our bedroom (black and silver to match the current decor). Both are STUNNING.



* THE OTHER STORE - named so because it ALSO had so many beautiful things inside (haha). We picked up a wood carving of "Lord Ganesha" - Lord of success, knowledge and removal of obstacles. Ganesha is sitting happily in the living room with our Buddha from Sri Lanka.

Back at the hotel, we took the afternoon and evening to RELAX! We watched Independence Day, A Cinderella Story, ordered room service, and SLEPT! It was the perfect end to a great time in Varanasi (plus the rain held off until our touring was finished!).

Off to Agra - via train. BAHA. Just wait.

3 April - Sunrise on the Ganges

2 April - Varanasi

Varanasi proved to be much more like the "India" we imagined, with crowded streets and every single form of transportation you can think of on the roads! After being picked up from the hotel by Arjay (our tour guide), we headed straight for the market area, where we excitedly dodged ox, cows, goats, tuc-tucs, rickshaws, motorcycles, bicycles, cars, vans, trucks, and pedestrians! It was unreal to be submersed in such chaos - and to find out that this was only about 25% of the normal traffic! You see, on this day, India was playing Sri Lanka in the World Cup Cricket final, so most people were off the streets, cheering on their country! This amazed us. We couldn't believe the streets were normally BUSIER! WOWEE!







This evening we headed through the market towards the Ganges, where we got into a little boat to go see one of the main cremation sites along river - at the Manikarnika Ghat (a ghat is a set of steps leading down to the water). I wasn't really sure how we would feel when we saw this, but once we arrived, we were captivated. Learning about the ritual and seeing it all unfold was incredible. We couldn't look away and asked question after question to make sure we understood what was going on. It is believed that by being cremated at this site, a Hindu may be reincarnated to achieve a higher placing in their next life, with the sins of their present lifetime being washed away by the holy water. This is the same reason others come to bathe in the river - to cleanse themselves of any wrong-doings and make offerings for a better future. I wish I could accurately convey the experience, but I cannot. Let's hope a picture really can speak a thousand words....



After witnessing the cremations (which happen 24 hours a day, at two sites along the Ganges), we went back to the Prayag Ghat where we started to watch the "ganga aarti" ceremony that happens every evening. This is a river worship ceremony that is done to express gratitude to the "Mother Ganges" and to ask for forgiveness and strength to continue in this life. Our guide managed to get us VIP seating, on the only double-decker boat around, and we enjoyed coca-cola's while listening to translations of the chanting, singing, and movements of the men involved. The people in attendance were primarily locals and we sat in awe at the fact that this happens every single night, tourists or not. It gave me chills. And teary-eyes. Goosebumps just thinking of it.





Back at the hotel, it was all about the match! We watched the game in our hotel room and were delighted to watch the sky burst with fireworks when India won! Despite the all-night party outside, we were able to get to sleep in time to enjoy the next morning!



CONGRATULATIONS, INDIA! You are the first country to win the WCC in your own nation!!!

2 April - Old Delhi

This morning we were up early enough to catch the continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant. There were so many breakfast items to choose from, but being unsure about the food situation, we limited our selection so as not to get sick. (BAHA - this all seems so silly in retrospect). It was an interesting atmosphere with 50 men and ME. Not sure where all the ladies were, but they certainly didn't have my back this morning!

Today we toured Old Delhi and enjoyed the following places:

* Jama Masjid - India's largest mosque. Phil got to wear a skirt and I had the luxury of sporting a moo-moo. This site could also be known for the mosque that hosts "too-many-freakin'-pigeons"! AY AY AY! Good thing I had Phil there to protect me (I almost lost him to a cricket match with the boys playing outside!).





* Chandni Chowk - a district where we experienced our first-ever rickshaw ride! We went early in the morning to avoid the crowds and still had to endure over-stimulation. There is so much to SEE in India - LITERALLY! I often wondered where to look and glanced each way quickly so as not to miss something exciting or interesting in another direction!





* Raj Ghat - the site where Gandhi was cremated after his assassination in 1948. This was a special part of the day, as the location is so green and peaceful. It was lovely to walk around in a place of tranquility after such a chaotic trip in Chandni Chowk!





By lunch, we had finished our tour of Old Delhi and headed to the airport for a flight to Varanasi. We had lots of fun at the airport: embracing happy hour, reading through "Cosmopolitan: India and Nepal Edition", getting in more random family photo albums, and purchasing some World Cup souvenirs for some really special little people :) The plane ride itself was not as great, despite the short 55 minute duration. Spiral landings on small planes are simply not for us, nor are crazy drives back to our hotel! We could tell we were in a different place from the minute we stepped off the plane and walked into the airport. Hello Varanasi! (We're not in Delhi ANYMORE!)