India Trip 2016

I N DI A 2 0 1 6

Delhi

We arrive in Delhi.

Delhi

Fifu, our guide, greats us at the airport with transportation to our B & B in New Delhi. He helped make our trip wonderful.

Agra - Taj Mahal

Back row left to right: Todd Schweiger, Mike McNiff, Jennifer Martin, Fifu (our guide), Mont Richards.

Front row left to right: Sandi McNiff, Betty Levitov, Carla Stormberg, Colleen Gail Thorson-Schweiger , Nan Schweiger.

Agra - Taj Mahal

If you look closely you wll see a reflection of the Taj Mahal in the sunglasses.

Agra

The Indian children are very friendly and like to practice their English with you.

Delhi

Some temples require you to cover your heads but they provide you with scarves as with this Sikh temple.

Delhi

Gurudwala Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple in Delhi

Delhi

The shopping district of Chandni Chowk has been in existence for hundreds of years.

Delhi

Shopping a the high end mall in Delhi.

Delhi

Entrance to the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. The hotel was opened in 1936, designed in mix of Victorian and colonial architecture with a hint of Art Deco style by architect, F.B. Blomfield.

Delhi

Grounds of the Imperial Hotel.

Delhi

Very nice gifts and book store at the Imperial Hotel.

Delhi

Cocktails were fun at the bar at the Imperial Hotel.

Delhi

The streets and markets in Delhi were crowded with people, cars, tuk-tuks and motorcyles.

Tiloniya

Barefoot College teaches women from all over the world trades they can take back to their villages. The college itself, spread over eight acres is entirely run on solar energy.

Tiloniya

Women learn how to make solar lanterns at the Barefoot College which can create a self-sufficient industry.

Tiloniya

One are of the college has women making sanitary napkins which help make the college self-sufficient.

Tiloniya

In the weaving section of the college a women is spinning thread.

Tiloniya

The college makes their own solar collectors along with solar ovens that they use to cook all the food for the campus.

Tiloniya

We visited the library at the campus.

Jaisalmer

Fifu, our guide for most of the trip, has a wonderful hotel that we stayed in. Mike is color coordinated for the stay.

Jaisalmer

Jennifer poses for a publicity photo of her publication on the roof top of Hotel Fifu. It had fabulous views of the old city where we had our meals and a comfy place to relax.

Jaisalmer

Ancient temples and hungry catfish in Gadisar Lake.

Jaisalmer

Did we mention the catfish?

Jaisalmer

Fifu’s brother-in-law poses for a Boulder County Kids photo opt.

Jaisalmer

Jennifer is happy to get off that camel!

Jaisalmer

Gadisar Lake.

Jaisalmer

Gypsy dancers entertain us after our camel ride.

Jaisalmer

David is fitted for his turban.

Jaisalmer

Todd gets fitted for his turban too. Nan finds some beautiful clothes.

Jaisalmer

Cathy is enjoying a little beverage after her camel ride.

Jaisalmer

It was tough saying goodbye to Fifu.

Pushkar

Pushkar is considered as sacred city as it is housed with 500 temples and hence Pushkar is popularly known as ‘Town of Temples’.

Pushkar

Todd making a point. Seventh Heaven Hotel. Notice the vines hanging from the center of the hotel.

Pushkar

Brahma Temple. Check your shoes at the bottom and be prepared for the holy men to bragain for as much money as they can get from you.

Pushkar

Brahma Temple.

Pushkar

Watching a wedding from a rooftop restaurant. The groom comes out on a white horse followed by the wife and family.

Pushkar

Weddings are loud as sometimes they set off firecrackers in the street and have loud music. They party it up!

Udaipur

We arrive at the Krishna Ranch.

Udaipur

David, Colleen and Mont are enjoying a nice boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur.

Udaipur

Breakfast is served on the rooftop.

Udaipur

Here’s Mont and the bungalows below our rooftop dining area.

Udaipur

We met these friendly kids on a walk. Several were playing with bike tires which they roll & guide with a stick. It made me smile thinking of the pictures I’ve seen of kids doing this long ago in the States.

Udaipur

More friendly kids giving us thumbs up.

Udaipur

This is the stable!

Udaipur

Left to right. Carla, Dinesh (owner of Krisna Ranch) and Betty at the stables. Dinesh was a handsome man!

Udaipur

One of the 20 equine residents. All the horses they raise are this breed. Aren’t the ears are the best!

Udaipur

One morning hay was delivered for the horses by camel.

Udaipur

We went for a horseback ride. This is Dinesh (who recently taught John C. Riley to ride for the movie Les Cowboy) & our own experienced horsewoman Sandi.

Udaipur

Mont’s ready for his second riding experience of the trip. They didn’t give us helmets for our camel ride & we were further off the ground!

Udaipur

We traveled through 3 villages which Dinesh described as being made up of middle class farmers. These families own their homes where their few animals safely spend the night and they own & work farmland which is outside the village.

Udaipur

One of the villages had this furniture “factory� where they build pieces & then cover them with gold or silver foil. About 6 or 7 guys were working there.

Udaipur

Here’s a small finished piece. Most of the in-progress work we saw was larger.

Udaipur

Decorations on trucks, tuk tuks & tractors are not unusual.

Haven’t seen it so much on cars or motorcycles, but we did see stands along the highways selling these tinsel fringes. Most fields are small & they raise a variety of grains & vegetables.

Udaipur

Here’s a typical middle class village farmer’s house entrance with the courtyard beyond. The straw garland above the door is replaced every Diwali, which was recently.

Udaipur

Cow pies reshaped & drying in the sun. They’re stored for use as fire fuel during the rainy season.

Udaipur

During Diwali cows are often washed and the horns are reddened.

This one even has a forehead decoration.

Udaipur

Udaipur has a large local market filled with sights & sounds (mostly honking). Our first stop was a spice vendor.

Udaipur

The colors and textures are wonderful. This country is not color shy!

Udaipur

These carrots have a pinkish orange tint & are really tasty.

Udaipur

The swastica has been a traditional Hindu symbol for centuries.

Udaipur

We’ve taken our shoes off many times, primarily at temples or religious locations. Locals take theirs off when they enter shops.

It’s amusing to me how they often leave them smack in the middle of the entrance rather than tucked to the side.

Udaipur

Just outside the City Palace we found a working ATM! Colleen, Todd, myself & Carla couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get rupees.

Udaipur

We visited the City Palace terrace for sunset. It sits on the lake which is an important feature (as well as being center) of the town.

Udaipur

This is a small portion of the City Palace which was expanded by several rulers. It includes more than one building...& it’s beautiful.

Udaipur

Outside the major temple was this forlorn mailbox. It doesn’t inspire confidence.

Udaipur

In a weak moment we (well, I) purchased these Pringles for 300 rupees (that’s about $5!!) We don’t even buy them at home but they looked so good.

Udaipur

This egret was so fun to watch as he followed the woman hoeing... he was probably waiting for her to dig up bugs. When he got to close, she’d shoo him away.

Udaipur

Known for miniature painting & many families have done it for generations. Artists get paid by the day and the more detail & days it takes to complete a painting, the more they get for it. This is a typical artist work station.

Udaipur

Here’s an example of the detail.

Udaipur

Next time we will stay here.

Udaipur

An evening concert on the Gangaur Ghat.

Goa

Saturday night sunset drinks.

Goa

And more Saturday night sunset drinks.

Goa

Did we mention drinks?

Goa

And more drinks.

Goa

Fabulous rock formations on the Indian Ocean.

Goa

Todd is ready for a little nap.

Goa

These gals are ready for anything!

Goa

Colleen taking a swim in the Indian Ocean.

Goa

Betty with a new shirt and a Kingfisher beer at Heritage Inn, Panjim.

Goa

Cocktails on the beach! Oh yeah!