First bout of sickness :(

It was inevitable. Getting sick is part of travelling. Everyone packs a first aid kit ready for the worst and prays that the illness only lasts a short while. Luckily mine was a quick one - thanks to my stellar first aid kit!! Let's just say I am a bit bias how amazing homeopathy and vitamins can help stimulate the body to heal!! :)

So I write this post to thank my forever friend, homeopathy, for saving the day once again. You are my best friend and will forever be grateful for having you around. You continuously inspire me to learn more about you and I find myself always talking about you to people :) Oh how I love you so!

And yes.... I must also thank Vitamin A, Vitamin C, salt water gargles, and ultimately a clean bed to lay in for MANY hours.

Now, I am back and ready to continue on my journey!!

Agra - home of the Taj Mahal

5 hr morning train ride got us from Jaiupur into Agra around noon. I couldn't wait to go and visit the Taj Mahal!! On the train ride over I read through two different guide books learning that the taj mahal was built by Empeor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his 3rd wife, Mumtaz Mahal. He loved her so much that after her death he built this incredible museolum for her that houses both of their tombs. Talk about true love. However, is true love also having dozens of other wives, concumbines, and dancing girls? Well, this was the norm back at that time. But Shah Jahan must of fancied Mumtaz more than any other.

I was SO excited to visit but my group scheduled a tour to Agra Fort first. The tour was so hard for me. All I wanted to do was save my energy for the taj mahal and this weather drains it so quickly! Oh well. Groups bring both positive and negative things- this happens to be a negative one.


Once again it was hard for me to appreciate this fort and the history behind it. Once again there was talk of expense of the building, how the king would have hundreds of concubines and lock them up when they would talk too much. There were both cells for prisoners as well as overly luxurious rooms used for royal baths. I can't help but feel this is wrong.

Although I may not like this type of injustice, I am still grateful for the opportunity to learn such history in great depth.

Now for the Taj Mahal!!!!
I must begin with saying that this is truly a magnificent structure. The symmetry lends itself to it's beauty along with the way it reflects off the water.

I hate to be a downer in any way, especially because I feel I am a positive person, but the inside of the taj was a bit disappointing. Nothing special.
What was special were the people. Oh- India really shined today!! I must have had at least two dozen people approach me to ask to take a picture with me. They were so friendly. These people were not pushy, rather were intrigued. I not only felt welcomed into their country, I also felt as if I was a celebrity enthusiastically being seen :)

Here are some pictures with some of my fans :)

Overall another great day had on my journey around this world!  India is beginning to shine it's light! Yay

For more pics of my time in Agra - click on this picture below

Ps. I am already sick of Indian food :( it's too heavy and oily to eat day in and day out in this weather. Food in Asia was amazing. Veggies galore and great variety. Shoot... It's only day 3 how can I be sick of it? I'll get thru it.

Jaipur – The Pink City (really the terra cotta city)

I visited the state of Rajastan and ventured off into the capital city, Jaipur. It is called the Pink City as all the buildings in the old city are pink as a symbol of welcome. (It’s not really pink – more terra cotta) The main attractions are the City Palace, the Amber palace/tomb, and lots of shopping! Jaipur is known for its textiles and pottery. The shopping has been fun as I really love Indian fabrics.

However, the palaces were a bittersweet experience for me.  These palaces are hands down stunning. The detail of the architecture is truly magnificent.


However, I can’t  help but reflect on how much money is spent on these overly luxiorius buildings when there  are thousands of poor and starving people just blocks away. Ugh! Why does this happen?!!

As I read through lonely planet and other guide books about India, it is described as a country with great contrasts. 25% of the world’s best software engineers live in India, while 25% of the population go to bed hungry. Kids are dying of starvation every day, while others are suffering from obesity. The first female president was elected in July 2007, yet in some regions girls are still waiting entry approval into primary schools. This country has an incredible disparity that shines through like a sore thumb. This is SO hard for me to process!!

I was told that there are more than 500 Maharaja’s (Kings) in all of India. Each state has a number of them. For example, in Rajastan alone, there are 22 present. That means a lot of over the top palaces to house these kings! Of course I can definitely appreciate the beauty of the architecture, but it still bothers me how much money is spent building a palace truly for show when there are starving people all throughout India. Ok, Elana, shake it off!

Here is an album of my time in Jaipur.Click on the album below.

Off to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal next. Can’t wait!!

First impressions of India

Chaos, pure chaos. That just about sums up my first day experience in India. Dirty and chaotic. I guess I am finished with this post.

No no… wait. I have more to say.

 I will do my best to describe what I mean by chaos. Tuk Tuk’s  mob the roads, zooming through the lanes, squeezing through traffic, swerving through lanes abiding by zero rules. Horns galore!! You are forced to cover your ears at times from the upheaval of noise created by everyone beeping their freaking horns! People walk right through traffic, along with goats, cows, pigs, donkey, chickens  and dogs roaming directly into traffic holding everyone up. If a Tuk Tuk  driver is held up in traffic they will get out of their Tuk Tuk and walk up to the car that is stopped to yell at them. Chaos. Total chaos!  Then there is trash. Trash everywhere. People have zero regard for the use of trash cans. They dirty their city as if they are not bothered by lack of cleanliness. There are more men on the streets than women, especially at night, as it is the culture for women to stay inside past 10pm. So you often see groups of men lining up the streets, just standing with their group, passing time, staring at the women tourist, approaching you to sell something, asking “where you from? Want to buy?”. People are sitting on the concrete ground, eating with their hands, while they are sweating from the 100+ degree temperatures. Mothers sit on the floor with their babies/infants laid across their laps. These kids look dehydrated and hungry. The mothers beg for money and all I can do is walk by. How can I give one when there are others  a few steps away?  I can’t just give all my money away. I feel so bad. And then there is the smell of the city. Food rotting, trash overflowing the streets and body odor radiating off of bodies. Shame, these women have to be so covered up in this heat. Ok – I hope this idea of chaos is coming through.

Example of trash + animals = dirty :(

The kids look so dirty, dehydrated and hungry. I was SO happy I had saved leftovers to give to this child to eat. Just heartbreaking.

Now that  I have just rambled on about what may seem to be negative qualities of India, there is also an essence of beauty that is hidden behind all of this chaos. However, one must take a step back and have true desire to delve into the depth of India to let its beauty shine. I’m COMPLETELY open to delving in!! This is exactly what I had expected. And I am still very happy to be here!!! As the guide books read, there are so many sides of India. Today, I experienced what I would characterize as a darker side, another city may bring a different feel all together.

The great things so far….. The architecture of some buildings here is truly a piece of art. One that I can appreciate tremendously.  I got to see a bollywood movie in a famous cinema. Good fun! I love how people ask me to take a picture with them, as if they have never seen a white person before.:) And having the opportunity to see life at its poorest always stimulates time of reflection and gratitude for what I have. I am fortunate for these opportunities and experiences right now.

Here is a picture of a group of men with big smiles on their faces. Amongst all the poverty, there is still an expression of happiness. What an amazing thing to witness!