first week in India - Rajahstan

So we have just completed our first week on the Indian Sub Continent. We are alive. With no stomach problems. Yet.

The food is great. and so are some sunsets. but the cows - well - they smell like cows. and they are all over the place. doing what cows normally do. everywhere.
tired from the over touristic cities and after meeting an Eglish dude that has been living here for the last 8 years, we spent yesterday around his beatiful house in the country side. we traked through the vilages in a scenary similar to Israel... HEN YOU YI SE.

today is our last day in Udaipur - in about 3 hours we are catching a bus that will arrive to Mombay tomorrow morning. From there we are planned to catch a flight to Thrivendrum, In Kerela, South India. We will be changing the current views with more tropical ones. so the plan now is to head south and start travling north : Kerela --> Karnataka --> Goa.

Wicked Cacophony

It’s a circus; with the monkeys and elephants and many many types of clowns…
And dirty. Very dirty.

We arrived to Delhi after a 22h delay is Beijing; apparently the Beijing-Delhi direct flight stops in Shanghai (!$%&). It’s good that we have seen Delhi at night time- it was enough for us to decide to take the earliest train to Agra the following morning. After a nice dinner we went to sleep trying not to hover around and touch as little as possible.. we woke up at 04:30 and headed to the train station to look for the ticket booth to Agra (it was too late to book a ticket in advance). The friendly guides told us to go up, and down, and left, and right, and ‘no, now you need to cross the street’, and again up the stairs and down … we almost got a ticket but no – sold out. But we were lucky that the guide knew of a luxury bus – only 550r!! it was too spooky and seems like they are pulling the oldest trick in the book on us. so we went back to the station, stood in line and than in another line, to finally get a ticket and make it to the train about 3 minutes before it departed. Wow.

Agra is filthy. We spent the day with a guide that took us to see all the sites. The Agra fort is beautiful and of course – the Taj Mahal is indeed amazing and white and full with tourists trying to take cool picture as if they are holding the Taj on the palm of their hand :)

We took the bus the following morning to Jaipur and found a cool room with even a cooler porch and roof top in ‘Jaipur Inn’. Apparently, it was a national kite festival in the city (usually in Jan 14th – this year – Jan14th-Jan15th). We spent most of the afternoon watching the kite from the roof while enjoying the warm sun after cold Agra. after a walk in the pink city while admiring the kites and the fireworks and markets we headed back to the hotel for a buffet dinner on the roof.
Today, we headed to see a fort near by Jaipur; another walk in the city with an amazing visit to a local spices store.

The delay allowed me to complete ‘Rich dad, Poor dad’ before arriving to India. Now, Thanks to the Ledger, I’m emphatically reading ‘Ashtaram’.

Tomorrow we are heading to Pushkar.

Wicked. Cacophony. India.

inspiration

blitz

blitz. that what it was. an unforgettable series of sights, tastes, sounds, smells. a sudden jump, literally to the other side of the world. I recall moments from more than a year and a half, as if they just happened a minute ago. vividly. perhaps I'm addicted. to that thrill. need many things to happen simultaneously. when they don't - I shut down. now, with future short term plans, packing a chapter and an active hunt: I feel alive. in control. excited. on our way back from the 'middle country' to 'middle east'. in the midst of a semi-dramatic exit; this is the only way I'm comfortable with. perhaps its a bug. not the vicious one though. excited from tomorrow. seeking some calmness. will it be found? one message just arrived. what can be set is set. I'm going to sleep.

Beijing Reloaded

Shanghai

We planned this trip to Shanghai for some time but we always found an excuse to stay home.. Now that we have our tickets and we know that we are leaving – we quickly arranged this trip. Just to proof, that just like software management, deadlines are a critical factor …

We came to Shanghai to relax and try to get the spirit of the city; our agenda was more of 'which is the best café' rather than what is the 'latest exhibition in town'. Shallow. Yes. But fun.

Here is a quick guide for a lazy 4 nights and 5days in shanghai:

• Train
• We took the night train from Beijing to Shanghai, First class, 499RMB. When you order the tickets (there are several booths around the city) make sure that you get the lower bad. If there are two of that travel, make sure you both get beds in the same (!) booth. The train went out on time, was very clean and warm. The ride is long (~11 hours). As the price is not very competitive compared to flights – choose the train if you seek the experience. One way train and the other by air seems like a great arrangement.
  
• Hotel
• After our great experience in Chengdu (the Loft Hostel) we called them and asked for references in Shanghai. They suggested Mingtown Hiker Youth Hostel but they were full and referred us to Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel. For 220RMB you get a double room with a shower, in a perfect little ally just 1-2 minutes away from the People's Square. The hostel has a nice bar and a lounge area; a beautiful terrace (not relevant in the winter..). note that you can’t reserve the room with the shower unless you use the web to get room; if you call – they will first put you in a room that shares a bathroom with another room.
• 'Humus Pinati' in Shanghai
• It isn’t hunus but it feels as authentic as the most popular humus venues in Israel J head to WuJiang Rd, east south to 'Nanjing Rd. (W) Station) and look for 'Yang's Fried Dumpling' – order the first two dishes on the menu and head to the upper floor where you squeeze against the crowed to chew your 'baoze'. Satisfaction guaranteed.
• Dinner @ T8
• We followed a recommendation and headed to this fancy restaurant in XinTianDi (http://www.t8shanghai.com/). Expensive. Yes. But amazing. Prepare to pay about 100USD pp but enjoy an unforgettable experience. We recommend reserving seats on the bar and enjoy the 'show' of the open kitchen. It is a world class restaurant.
  
• Massage
• Don't miss the great 88RMB deal (before 6PM) for a 2 hours treatment. Best massage in China so far.

• Biggest Coffee Cup in town
• Great atmosphere and a nice place to relax. Kommune Café, in TaiKangLu.

• Breakfast deal
• Head to Vienna Café for a European buffet style breakfast. A bit expensive but a good deal if you are hungry J

• Col Jazz Club - Pix from 31.12.2007… Cool 'New Orleans' kind of atmosphere...
  

All in all - great fun. of course there is the Bund and the museums and the stores and so on... great city - a piece of Europe in the far east. Don't miss the pastries @ 'Paul' if you happen to see it...
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