Saturday, 3/28/09 Jaipur, India

Arrived at old Jaipur and Amber Fort. Paren (taxi driver) drove all the way to the base of the fort via 1 lane alleys and brick roads. Many old brick buildings in ruins- road too!

The views from the upper walls were spectacular. The palace is massive and we don't even come close to visiting all the open parts of it, let alone the closed parts.

We tried "ice cream" on a stick but it was nasty so no more of that.

After Amber Fort, we left to drive way around to Jaigarh Fort, which is way up the hill from amber. It is just as big as Amber I think. Views here are more spectacular because of the altitude in relation.

There is a building down below where the king Jai used to hunt lions from the roof.

Right from there is another building that looks like it acts as a dam and so has water in a lake next to it.

The wall seems to go on for ever around the city and the forts.

We left Jaigarh and headed SW towards "new" Jaipur. We stopped at Jal Mahal which is a palace that seems to be in the middle of a lake (Man Sagar). We got out to take some pics. A guy followed us most of the time wanting us to buy his (crude) violin like instrument which he was pretty good at playing. Ranveer bought a helping of cut up really long skinny cucumber. They tasted like them too. Tracey was interested in the instrument and Manoj and her tried tit out but couldn't agree on price which started at 100 rupees. In the end, Manoj called him back and Tracey ended up with it for 80 rupees or approximately $1.50 US.

We left Jal Mahal and went to where the hotel where we had reservations, but Ranveer was not impressed. So we left and found the Golden Tulip, which was similar in quality to the hotel in Noida. Then we checked in and relaxed for a couple hours.

We left the hotel around 7 or 730 and drove through streets looking for Indiana Restaurant. When we found it, we sat at a table right next to group of 3 guys playing drum, singing, and playing harmonium (looks like the cross between a keyboard and an accordion). There was also a girl dancing (Rajistani folk dance). Ranveer and Tracey took pictures and we saw they did not serve "drinks", so we left to find a bar.

We went to a bar in the Maurya Hotel which was nice because, at first, we were all alone. Tracey and I had old monk with Pepsi. Ranveer and Manoj had blenders pride and Royal Staff whiskey respectively with Pepsi and water. Manoj and Tracey had 3 and Tracey was "on her way". Ranveer and I only had 2 and I was pretty tired at first but got a second wind somewhere. With drinks, we had french fries and masala peanuts (incentives :) and masala papad, which is like tortillas with spicy, non juicy, salsa. We left here and went to a restaurant (CM Regency) out in the shopping district. We were led upstairs to an air conditioned area. Ranveer argued with them because they were requiring us to purchase 4 meals and none of us was all that hungry. We left there and went next door to a similar room upstairs and ordered 2 combination plates with several different tins full of rice/liquids/sweets etc along with breads. Manoj and I talked about cars, trucks and tractors as they drove by on the street below. We left and went back to the hotel. Once there, I called home and talked to Cathi to let her know we had made it to Jaipur ok. I set alarm for 830am and went to sleep around 12 midnight.

Saturday, 3/28/09 Noida, India

We left work about 1am which still gave me 9 hours if you count the 2 I did at the hotel.
Manoj and Ranveer took us to old Delhi. This was advised against by Gogan, their director. We agreed and went anyways, but only because Manoj was raised in the area and was familiar. It was pretty neat. He said it was the best time to come because all other times, it was very crowded and would be a long wait at the restaurant.
It was very greasy food. Spicy. Bread was soft. We had some other bread that was like a really thin flour tortilla, but tough and chewy like nan bread. We closed the restaurant around 3am and went back to the hotel.
I called home before Ranveer, Manoj and taxi driver came to pick us up to go to Jaipur.

On the way to Jaipur, I slept for a little while in the car. The trip is much the same as the trip to the Taj, but predominantly, taxis here are long jeeps that look like military jeeps.

And, again, there are many trucks to dodge in traffic. We have also seen a few camel carts. The landscape here is a bit different because there are abrupt hills in the middle of nowhere.

Manoj and Ranveer said people here don't like to keep cars more than 90-100 kilometers because they lose value after that.

Note: truck names seen on the road: Swaraj Mazda; Eicher; Ashor Leyland; Tata; Mahindra Jeep.

Monday, 3/23/09 Noida, India

We worked out in the hotel gym for about an hour on Monday and Tuesday. I ate an apple from the gym both days. Wednesday I had the runs (guessing it was from the apple). This continued on Thursday so I took the antibiotic Friday at noon and it seemed to have worked.

Sunday, 3/22/09 Noida, India

We were going to go shopping but Ranveer didn't come until late and we went to Sector 18 Mall and ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday. I had veggie burger because I knew Ranveer would have it and I wanted to try it. It was ok.
Ranveer had to leave to go pick someone up and the whole area closed at 10pm anyways, so we left and went back to hotel.

3/21/09 Noida to Agara, India

Up at 5am and we left in taxi w/Ranveer, Shalini (also from office) and Naren, her husband, who also works at the same office in a different department. We are having drinks of vodka with Limca (kind of a cross between 7-up and Squirt) and snacks of potato chips, crunchy string potatoes, spicy peanuts and moong dal (dried lentil or split green gran in India). We stopped and ate breakfast of opma or suji which is from flour and is kind of like rice served on a plate after shaping in a cup, and vada w/chutney (vada is like a plain - non sweet donut). Chutney was coconut and mint. Soup was sambahr but was spicy so i didn't eat much.

When stopped in traffic at one point, some beggar kids knocked on window and pointed to their legless brother on the median. As taught, we ignored.

We made it to the closest parking lot which was not full. I could only guess it was because it cost more.

We entered from the west. It cost $15 US for us but 70Rupees for Indians. We had to go through metal detectors and were patted down by guard. There are 2 other entrance gates, east and south. To the north is a building before you get to Taj. The Taj has a building on both sides that are exact mirror images. North side of Taj is a very wide riverbed.

On the way out I bought 2 magic bracelets for the girls which were 10 rupees each. I also bought a book of post cards.

We stopped for beer and snacks at restaurant right outside of Taj. We drove a ways and then stopped for dinner. I slept the entire way back to hotel and then another 7 or so hours at hotel.

3/20/09 Noida, India

Before we came home today, we went for "breakfast."

Manoj showed us how they get alcohol after hours. The shop owner (or at least the person who works there) lives in the shop, so you go up to the roll up door and tap it. The person raises the door slightly and you put your money (including extra) under the door. Then the bottle is pushed out to you. After experiencing this, we experienced "breakfast." Their name for whoever's car contains the alcohol. It's "carobar", which in Hindi, also means business. Ranveer, Monoj, Tracey and I were in Ranveer's car, a dark blue Fiat Paliu. Gurpal and Akhil in Gurpal's white Suzuki Swift. After our purchase, we met at the roadside in an area much like where the office was. We had first rounds and needed more pop. I went w/ Gurpal back to the office to get pop from machine or snack bar. When he came back, I asked if his car was his baby and he dais yes. Then, I asked if I could drive and again, he said yes. It was a short distance back to where we were, so he told me to keep going. The key is the only thing in the same place as a LHD. I tried blinker, but turned wipers on. Hard to get used to driving w/right hand and shifting w/left. You have to think about left/right side of the road too. I think I did ok and Gurpal concurred.

After getting back we stood outside the rest of the time. We had "breakfast" of paratha (stuffed) and omelet. Both bread with cauliflower and egg.

After this, we went back to hotel. I called girls and Cathi and they enjoyed the call. I only slept for about 3 hours and it wasn't enough before we got up for lunch. Then I slept for another hour. Still not enough.

Early to work at 3 for finishing certification and left at midnight.

To bed after calling Cathi to let her know I would not be calling after her work because we would be leaving at 5am for Taj Mahal.

3/19/09 Noida, India

Nothing special today. Alot like yesterday. Class started their "certification" practical test.

Home around 5 and on phone with kids and cathi til 930 I believe.