Hi Gang
We got back early Thursday morning but I needed some time to digest it all and I'm still not there yet.
It was the trip of a lifetime!!! Not one of us had a bad 5 seconds for two weeks. India will change your mind about everything. It is at once beautiful, dirty, interesting, frightening, enchanting, insane.... it about touches every emotion and every sense.
We landed in Dehli on Friday 25 Feb and were taken in a bus on a 3 hour trip out of Dehli south east to the village of Neemrana. There were 17 of us..old friends and new. Picture our surprise when smack in the middle of the village the bus could go no further because it was too big. Off the bus and a 1 mile walk through the village to the hotel. Uphill!!!
What an introduction to Indian village life!!! Our eyes were out on sticks and so were the villagers. They were very friendly and the kids were amazing. They ran after us shouting "Hello, pen?" They clearly want to write something down.
4 days at Neemrana Fort Palace Hotel was close to being real in India including bucket baths and many visits to the village which to our western eyes may look like a hovel but in fact is a prosperous village. Many fun adventures like rides on camel carts through the country side, the massive ruts in the roads filled with ,well use your imagination.
One day at the Imperial Hotel in Dehli - a juxtaposition of extreme luxury. I am not able to think of a more beautiful hotel in New York City. Security very tight, armed guards, bomb sweeps of every car, airport security every time you walk into the hotel.
Off to the Palace on Wheels. It is the last Orient Express. Sadly, their website does not do them justice but google it anyway. We traveled by train throughout Rahjastan...Jaipur, Udaipur, Rhatambore, Chittaurgh, Jaiselmeer, Jodphur...I'm sure I'm leaving something out.
Weather hot and sunny, such a relief after cold, wet, grey London. Color, color, color.... rich oranges, hot pinks, brilliant blues with glittering embroidery.
Food spicy, fragrant. I admit that after two days I thought oh god how can I face another indian meal? And then I would sit down and smell those aromas and I was hungry again. We did get sick but only for about 1/2 a day each and not all together. My wonky gut held up really well.
Poverty, tent cities, visions imprinted on my memory now that will serve as nightmares for years to come. It's all in there.
Most important we were in the company of friends we love dearly for two weeks. We have a shared memory that will last a lifetime and I am different having been in India.
DH who was not the least bit interested in going there is ready to plan another trip.
It is mind boggling.
catlvr xx
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