Sunset City

Inside of Outside

Here's a view of the city (Udaipur) from the lake at sunset.

Slow Food and Some Cricket

Inside of Outside


So we went to this restaurant because we were starving, but the only people there were these two kids, one doing his homework, and the other just hanging around. Eventually a couple of teenagers came and took our orders and then disappeared. We think maybe they went to another restaurant across town to order our food, because they brought our food in from the street and we had time for a cricket match before our orders arrived. Even after the young boy borrowed 8 rupees (25 cents) to go and buy a new ball, there was still time for a few rounds.

The Queen Mother vs. Barack Obama

Inside of Outside

This is Scott (left) and Brad, the two guys I traveled with in India. A Canadian, a New Zealander, and an American, we had fun debating the various merits of the Queen Mother and Barack Obama.

Carve This

Inside of Outside



This is a temple in the city of Udaipur. The first one is a five-striped ground squirrel. He was scampering around eating the offerings left by the locals.

More Udaipur

Inside of Outside


Here are some more views from the same hotel. There's a man made lake in the middle of the city, and in the middle of the lake, are a couple of palaces and hotels. Cool, huh?

Udaipur

Inside of Outside

One view from our hotel in Udaipur. If you've ever seen the James Bond movie Octopussy, most of it was shot in Udaipur, and the hotels around there have nightly screenings of the film for the tourists.

Inside of Outside

The taxis in Mumbai were interesting. They were all the same black and yellow colour on the outside, all the same kind of car, but each was personalized by the driver. Different seat covers, stickers and streamers and drawings and paintings all over them. I'm not really sure why, whether it was to attract customers, or just to differentiate their taxi from the thousands of other taxis, or just because they wanted to.



Speaking of taxis, driving in India is definitely an experience. The roads in the cities are paved and look pretty much like roads here in North America, except that the rules are much different. Stay inside the lines doesn't really mean anything, and two-lane highway means that you can fit about four cars or eight motorcycles across the road. Or if there's no more room and there's no oncoming traffic, you can just scoot over to the other side of the highway. Actually, even if there is oncoming traffic you can do that. Just make sure that you honk your horn constantly so that people know you're there.

The only rule of driving in India seems to be that if there isn't something else occupying a particular space, then you're free to put your vehicle there. And there's plenty of things to occupy the space. Besides cars, buses, and trucks, there's auto-rickshaws, bike-rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, wooden carts, wheelbarrows, cows, goats, donkeys, cats, dogs, and people, all trying to share the same space. And once you get out into the country, it's pretty much the same story, except that the roads get worse and when you swerve at the last second to avoid the oncoming bus, you're more likely to end up off the road and bouncing two feet off your seat as you go through potholes much bigger than any pot I've ever seen.

Here's a picture of a very calm moment on the streets of India.

Inside of Outside

This is the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. Known for hosting famous people and being bombed back in Nov 2008. I didn't know that's what it was, which is why I ducked under the barrier all around the building to get a better shot of the waterfront at sunrise (below), and also why the guards with the semi-automatic weapons yelled at me to get out of the restricted area. Oops.

Inside of Outside

This is the train I took to the tourist area from the airport. Doors were open to the wind. You could lean out and watch trains whizz past. Very refreshing.

India--After the Fact

Inside of Outside

Well, I couldn't be bothered to post pictures and stories of India while I was actually there, so I'll try to post some now, since I'm not very busy right now . . . :)

This is the parking lot where I spent my first night in India. I arrived in Mumbai (Bombay) at around midnight, and my friend Brad was supposed to arrive the next morning. So instead of going to look for a hotel, I asked one of the security guards where I could sleep, and he told me to go to the top level of the parking garage. Several other locals were there napping on pieces of cardboard or newspaper. So . . . I followed suit and grabbed a few hours of sleep until it started to get light.

India--Slow Internet, But Beautiful

Inside of Outside

Well, India has been a whirlwind of traveling by plane, bus, taxi, and of course, trains and auto-rickshaws. I joined Brad and Scott in Mumbai, and we quickly headed to Udaipur in Rajasthan. A few days there, admiring the palaces and temples, then on to Jodhpur, where we stayed at one of my favourite places yet. The director and manager of the hotel took us in and made us feel like a part of the family, inviting us to light fireworks with their children as part of Diwali (the Indian festival of Lights). A few days there, exploring the beautiful and magnificent fort of Mehrangar, and then on to Dharamsala, where we've been for the past week. Actually, we're in Mcleod Ganj, a small town where the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile reside. It's been an eye-opening experience learning about the situation in Tibet. I knew China had occupied Tibet, but I never realized the full extent of the story or the human rights violations still taking place there today.

It's been a peaceful stay here in Mcleod Ganj though, with plenty of things to do, amazing food, and beautiful natural scenery. We've spent a couple of days hiking in the mountains and that has been my favourite part of the trip so far. Spectacular views, gorgeous mountains, crystal clear mountain streams, sore legs, etc. Here's a few pictures of what we've seen. A tiny portion, but the rest will have to wait until I get home.

Well, I had intended to put about 12 more pictures up here, but it's really slow, and I don't want to sit here for another hour waiting for pictures, so you'll just have to wait until I get back.

Tablespoons not Teaspoons!

Inside of Outside

I learned how to make bread! From scratch. My mother tells me that I used to help her all the time when I was younger, but I apparently, I didn't retain any of that knowledge. Here's a few pictures of loaves 2, 3, and 4. My first loaf was edible, but didn't rise properly. With a few tips from my mom, however, these loaves turned out beautifully. I love the taste and smell of just-out-of-the-oven bread. Mmmmm. My next goal is to start adding stuff . . . raisins, whole grains, nuts . . . etc.

Snow Fun

Inside of Outside

So, from the end of January until mid-March, I was working as a snowboarding instructor. Which was very fun. I love teaching people things, especially when they want to learn. There's nothing like spending a couple of hours with someone that's never snowboarded, and watching them figure out how to turn their snowboards for the first time. Of course, there's also nothing like spending a couple of hours with someone that's never snowboarded, and watching them fall a hundred times and not even come close to turning. But the first ones make it worth it, and the second ones give a reason to become better and figure out new ways of teaching.

Unfortunately, a few weeks after I started, my snowboard became unusable. I suppose I didn't help the situation when I tried to do a trick off of a box, and landed nose first. Alas. That was the first snowboard I ever owned, bought on a trip with Tim and Gina to Colorado. So I had to buy a new snowboard. Here it is.

For now though, I 've put my snowboard and all associated gear into storage for the summer, and now it's time to get out the paddle and the wetsuit again. I can't wait to get on the river!

Old Snowboard / New Snowboard