India | GRRRL TRAVELER

Rajasthan: Jaisalmer, deserts and camel safaris

Filed under Rajasthan by Christine Ka'aloa on September 27, 2008 at 4:01 am {no comments}

When we arrived, Kul took us to our hotel to drop our bags. The place was clean, but bland and soul-less. A standard non-descript budget hotel.

There were three twin -sized beds spaced out in the room. Lame.

I gave up my bed to Kul and decided to stay with Regina, instead. She wasn’t officially on the tour and only paying for the driver, so she had our original reservation booking at Shahi Palace. Sure, I’d spend a night paying for an extra hotel, while Margaret and Dan stayed at the hotel the tour had booked; but I really liked what I’d seen in Shahi’s website pictures. I had a good feeling about them from my correspondences too (more…)

Would you walk in a temple of rats? Rat worship in India (Video)

Filed under India, Off-beat, Weird... Reality! by Christine Ka'aloa on September 26, 2008 at 12:41 pm {8 comments}

Karni Mata ”Rat Temple”, Deshnok, India (watch 2 min video above)

Who else can say they got a chance to walk barefoot over sacred rat pee and poop?

It’s customary to remove your shoes, when entering a temple in India and at the Karni Marta Rat Temple in Deshnok, as uneasy as it was, I had no option but do so. Karni Mata (‘mata’ aka mother) is a reincarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga, and she’s also known as the ‘Rat Goddess’. She is the overseeing deity of this temple, where you’ll witness millions of rats nest and occupy free reign. Some rats nestle (more…)

Top 5 Things to do in Jaipur and the Dangers of Driving on an Indian Highway

Filed under EPISODES, India by Christine Ka'aloa on September 26, 2008 at 10:54 am {no comments}

Jaipur’s Red Fort

What is there to see in Jaipur’s Pink City?

In Jaipur, “the Pink City”, is the once capital of Rajasthan and home of maharajas and Rajput Royals. It got its nickname due to its coral sand architecture. Today, elephants are more of the preoccupation for me.

Our sightseeing itinerary took us to all the well-oiled tourist joints. Can you blow through Jaipur in a day?

Apparently.

1. Visit the historical sites

We hiked up to the Red Fort, then visited the Hawa Mahal (aka “Palace of the Winds”), which stood a block long and covers part of the City Palace, but is almost literally a like a movie set facade. There’s no real back to the front. After doing the historical tour of Jaipur, we were whisked (more…)

Drive by Rajasthan: Delhi to Jaipur

Filed under EPISODES, Rajasthan by Christine Ka'aloa on September 24, 2008 at 10:29 am {no comments}

road rules india

Seeing the Rajasthan region through a plate of glass while flying itinerary-speed across the highway is a blur. It’s as romantic as the music in our driver, Kul’s car.

North Indian highways have all types of traffic

Rajasthan, being Northern India, is shrouded mostly in desert.

Sand, dry heat, arid landscape, farming … and camels.

The Indian highway is more interesting than western highways. There doesn’t seem to be any rules as to what can be on it. Bicycles, farm carts and (more…)

Top 5 Places to Visit in Delhi

Filed under Delhi, India by Christine Ka'aloa on September 23, 2008 at 10:10 pm {no comments}

We met our driver and guide, Kul and his white Tata car at noon.

Tata is a popular brand of vehicle in India; apparently they make cars and trucks. Unfortunately, our Tata is a compact-sized car. Not as luxurious as we imagined we paid for.

(more…)