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Post by bjd on Jan 14, 2013 15:19:04 GMT
Deyana, surely your family in India can give you some information about travelling in the country that you might not find in guidebooks?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 15:30:45 GMT
bjd. I wish. But my family in India are not travelers at all. And they are rural people, not city dwellers. My sister still lives in our ancestral village, where I and all my siblings were born. The furthest any of them have been would be Delhi and that just to pick relatives up from the airport. I will get help from them regarding info on the more local towns etc. though. And I will see an India that most tourists will never see of course. A very rural type of living. So some of the pictures I post on here once I get back will probably be not what anyone is used to seeing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 7:17:23 GMT
Well, at least your family should be able to give you totally accurate information on the prices of basic items. That is often quite difficult for a tourist to obtain.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 12:27:43 GMT
For sure, Kerouac. I know I have a lot of advantages over the run of the mill tourist. I'm hoping to spend as much time as possible in the village, as I have that farm to sort out as well. I have a feeling I'm not going to get much done regrading that this time around however....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2013 20:07:03 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jan 25, 2013 19:15:22 GMT
Having never been to India I have nothing that I can add to this thread Deyana , however I have to say that I have really enjoyed reading it and about your plans.
I wish you all the best for your time in India and I am hoping for more vicarious enjoyment from your reports and photos
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2013 18:19:37 GMT
Still waiting for a departure date! (Are your sons' school holidays an issue?)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 0:54:07 GMT
Thanks lugg, I will indeed be back with many photos and my impressions on India. I hope you enjoy them Kerouac, It's been a big hassle trying to arrange for some time off for my sons. As you know they are both in University and it's been tricky. But we are all just about ready to go now! They are VERY excited about this whole trip/adventure, and are really looking forward to traveling on a small 24 passenger plane. I thought it was real cool too the first time I flew on one. It's going to be a long journey, three 'planes just to get there and a stop over in Zurich. Sorry haven't had much time to be on-line lately, so much going on in life right now, but it's all good.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 29, 2013 1:15:39 GMT
It is wonderful that your sons will be able to accompany you Deyana, it will be quite a family vacation!
I look forward to reading about your adventure. What portion of the trip will you be flying in a 24 passenger plane? How long will your stop over in Zurich be?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 22:35:22 GMT
mich, I think the boys will remember this trip forever. I know it's going to be one hell of a adventure. The first and last portion will be done via a small 'plane. We don't have any flights that fly directly to Europe from here, so the first leg will be from here to Montreal and then on a Jet to Switzerland and from there to India and the same for the way back. I can't wait for it to start! I'm like a little kid when it comes to traveling and seeing new places
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deyana as guest
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Post by deyana as guest on Feb 9, 2013 23:18:55 GMT
HI everyone! I can't seem to log onn with my password. Anyhow, I'm finally here, arrived here on the 6th, to a cold rainy day. It's been a hectc few days. We drove to the punjab on some of the most dangerous roads I've ever seen. Everything in this area is full on, lawless even. The poverty is hard to takensaw many beggarsn from the very young to the old. Will write in more detail once we geT back. So many stray dogs here as well. Some very sad sights aroundn both animal and human.
As we are in the village, there are no trains here, only buses, and they only go a certain direction. So we hied a driver for a couple of days to take us to amritsar and the botder ceremony and ludhiana. ItS been an interesting few days, but hectic. Just resting up for a couple of days now before setting off to delhi And then agra. After which I will feel we''ve been well initiated! Looking forward to the ease of rajestain and the desert.
Too many impressions to put in one post and I'm typing on a blackberry. But the hardest thing for mr has been dealing with noise, smells, flith and poverty. I don't want to be rude or offend, but I do want to protray an honest picture.
Taking lots of photos, still managing to have fun and laugh throug all the caious. My sons have been fantastic, I couldn't cope without them out here.
I will try and post again Soon. The journey has just began!
Deyana Xx
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Post by anshjain97 on Feb 10, 2013 4:52:51 GMT
Hi! Nice to see your post- have fun.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2013 6:10:52 GMT
Thanks for the news, deyana! Can't wait to see the photos.
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Post by bjd on Feb 10, 2013 8:06:25 GMT
Enjoy your trip, Deyana.
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deyana as guest
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Post by deyana as guest on Feb 11, 2013 14:35:30 GMT
Hiya anash, kereoac, bjd. I'm still in the village, but leaving early tomorrow morning for delhi. Should get there around mid day. The village has changed beyond recognition. Farmlands are being replaced by mega mansion like houses. One of which is my sisters. I will put up pics once I get back. Stores have popped up every where, all this means that land prices have risen highly. The old village is still there, it's almost like it's in a time warp. The contrast between the two areas is like night and day. The evenings are still cool here but the days are warm to hot. Life is hard for everyday folk here, jobs are hard to come by. It's easy to see what needs doing, but putting into practice is another story. So much needs doing here, from the clearing of the large amounts of garbage to improving roads, to building simple housing for the dalit population, many who are still living in tents and poverty. Am slowly getting used to the noise, the strong smell that is inescapable. So much more to write about, but hard to type on this phone. Went to a big noisey punjabi wedding yesterday, it was fun. Met so many distant coousins and people who knew me as a young kid. Also met the boy who was my best friend when I lived here, he was the perfect match for this tomboy! He is 3 days older than me, and I remember he was always fun to hang around with. Am taking lots of photos, every turn is a photo oportunity. So far have seen all kinds of animals, including camels and elephants just walking down the street! This place does grow on you after a while.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 11, 2013 17:29:21 GMT
The wedding must have been a wonderful introduction for your sons to meet members of your family and gain an insight into your childhood.
Looking forward to pictures being posted when you return home.
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Post by lugg on Feb 13, 2013 19:24:45 GMT
Have a wonderful time Deyana - looking forward to reading more of your up-date posts and seeing your photos
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2013 21:15:43 GMT
I have heard so many people talk about the "strong smell" of India. On person actually had the nerve to say "I could smell rotting corpses the moment they opened the door of the plane."
Frankly, I never smelled anything atrocious in India, but it is perhaps I had already visited at least 10 other Asian countries before I went there. I love the pungent smell of Asia.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2013 21:16:57 GMT
A week without news from Deyana. I hope that her adventure has not become excessively adventurous! At least her sons are with her.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2013 17:41:16 GMT
Hello again everyone!
Finally managed to get some wifi, this time I'm typing on the tablet. Right now I am in Jodpour, which is in the State of Rajestan. The time here in India is just whizzing by. After visiting the family we headed for Delhi. An astonishing city in more ways than one. Will write more in detail once I get back.
After Delhi we went to Agra and now are in Rajestan. In a couple of days will be in Jasmilar and the Thar desert.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2013 17:49:35 GMT
What makes me think you are going to be hooked and will need to make a return trip?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2013 18:02:56 GMT
So much has happened since we have been here. Getting from A to B is a lot harder and takes a lot longer than you can imagine. The trip so far has been a challenge and yes, quite the adventure! Situations arose that I never thought that I would have to deal with, it's an on going learning experience, times I feel that I'm being tested at just about every turn.
Have been on quite a few tours, still taking lots of pics. Not sure if we will get to all the places I had planned, I doubt there is the time, but will see.
I have been keeping a diary of this trip on this tablet, one day I might write about it.
Have met poeple here from lots of differnt counties, it's interesting exchanging our experiences of this country.
Thanks for all the good wishes and comments everyone. I will log in again whenever I get he chance :-)
Xx
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Post by anshjain97 on Feb 20, 2013 2:43:29 GMT
Thanks for the update!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2013 6:28:44 GMT
Good morning ansh :-) hiya k. I'm hoping to be back here again one day, but I am happy to wait for a while :-) It,s a lovely warm sunny am, and I'm just hving breakfast on the roof top restraunt of my guest house. Just off to explore jodpour fort. Here is my view of the fort from where I sit. I hope I works. If not I will post it when I get back.
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Post by mossie on Feb 20, 2013 8:10:43 GMT
Well done Deyana, the fort really dominates the place as it should. Trust the trip is passing all your expectations, just relax and go with the flow. Enjoy yourself.
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Post by anshjain97 on Feb 20, 2013 9:15:30 GMT
Thanks for the photo- what a view!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2013 12:42:17 GMT
Is it illuminated at night or would that be a scandalous luxury in the region?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2013 14:06:58 GMT
Thanks mossie, yes' this trip has bypassed anything and everything that I had expectations for. India has been given the name 'incredible india'' and I can see why. It is quite the place.
You're welcome ansh, :-) kereouc, the fort is illuminated at night time, it looks amazing. Today we went up by auto rickshaw right up that hill to explore it.
Tomorrow morning we set off to jasimilar. Will stay for the camel festival and o an over night camel safari too. Have met up with others who are also heading that way. Met a guy at the fort today from finland who posts on ttlp, I forget his handle now though, he did tell me. Quite a few european and american peaple in this town, have probably met more french people than: any other nationality.
My typing is awful right now, typing with one finger is not what iam used to!
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Post by lola on Feb 21, 2013 0:25:59 GMT
Quite an adventure! Thanks for the report.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2013 7:27:50 GMT
You're wecome lola. Just came back from the overnight camel safari. It was really something. Riding a camel into the desert is not something I ever had imbitions for. I was a bit cheeky and asked the jeap driver to take us and the to girl's that we're with us to a couple of abandoned villiges. He did so, will post pics at a later time. Just sitting on another roof top restraunt getting reading for lunch, it's yet another warm sunny day. I will attempt to post a pic of the veiw' to one side anyway. Here for two more days, will see the camel festival and then we will be off - heading oth towsrds the ellora caves' and then to goa for the beaches. Rajesthan has been relaxing compared to the other places we have so far been. Until next time. Xx
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