Ramblings

Today I have found myself not only in a new year, 2010, but also in a new section of my journey. I have parted with Sarah and Kristina and now find myself alone with not too much of a plan. I had panned the first 7 weeks, and then with them, decided to come to Mumbai for Christmas and New Years. I hadn't though much about after I parted with Sarah because I did not have to or at least it did not seem like I had to. I guess I did, and so, I am heading to Pune (pronounced poona) on a bus tonight. There is not much to see or do in Pune but I've got to keep moving and it is on the way to the beautiful beaches of Goa. I mean, I don't really have to keep going but there is not much here and, well, why not. So Pune it is and a long night bus ahead. I'll stay there for a day or three and see what it is like. From what I have heard it is a university place, with much academia and tennis.


I've spent the last few days in Auragabad. There is not much here but it is a close and convenient place to stay when visit the Elora caves near by. The caves are beautiful. Most of the pictures are of the caves or surrounding area. There are 34 caves in all, they belong to the Jain, Hindu and buddist religions. There are different caves that belong to each different religion with their own theme. The pictures do most of the telling. I cannot describe them much better than telling you they are from the 7th century, and that they are big and beautiful. The caves are actually temples that have been carved out of the rocks.




The picture above is the main temple, cave #16. Is it is Hindu, I wanted to get a picture with me riding giant stone elephant in the bottom left corner but I don't think would have like me climbing it. The temple is beautiful and the patients it would take to carve all of their Gods out of the stone is unbelievable.


I am not going to lie, I do not feel much like writing today. At least not in a informative, tell all of my journey type tone. I might want to ramble about the people and about the differences between traveling with women and men. I do not mean one or the other is better or worse to travel with but rather the attention you get while in India. The looks, the treatment you get when you travel with either vary. When I was traveling with Taylor we got a lot of attention, but nothing compared to when you are traveling with two beautiful young women with blond hair. The men stare so much. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be a women in this country. I mean everyone is safe (knock on wood) but the staring is unbelievable. India is a culture of starers, they have no shame, they do not try to hide it. They simply stare at you and the people you are with. I have learned to ignore it but, really sometimes it is too much.

The picture below is of Zelda (Sarah) and I in Mumbai at the Gateway to India. We walked around a bit and then went to have a beer at Leopold Cafe where one of the terror attacks took place November 26, 2008. Is is a famous cafe and now after what happened it is even more famous.


New Years Eve was filled with lots of kingfisher. Seeing there is no night life in India we sat in our room played some cards and laughed. It was good, we all felt like shit this morning and maybe that is why I am not in the mood to write. I think there is more to it than that but I'll let that thought go for now.



Happy 2010 blog followers.








I really liked this tree, it doesn't have much to do with India other than the tree is in India. I think it's pretty though so I thought I'd share it with you.