Hello Friends from Agra, India... city of the Taj Mahal. Sorry we haven't posted in a while. I had my best post yet go down a Thai gutter one night. We attempted several posts but lost every draft in some freak computer bird flu virus. Looks like we're a few countries behind! After Cambodia, we were in Thailand for 10 days. Once we were in Bangkok we decided to put our knowledge of remote tropical islands to use in having a look at Ko Phi Phi, the island where the movie "The Beach"was filmed. Yes, it was beautiful and seeing pictures of the island after the tsunami blew us away. We really wanted to go scuba diving, but unfortunately I was still sick (the second time in a month) and my ears couldn't take it. They have a feisty army of "sea lice" that attacked us when we went snorkeling too, so I took that as a sign we weren't meant to scuba. We did see the biggest parrot fish ever though, about 4 feet long! And that's no fish tale!
We stayed in a budget hostel in Phuket Town, which was the crappiest accomodation yet, although it only cost like $2.50 a night... it was also where the dorm scenes were filmed for "The Beach" so we just told ourselves that they purposely made the hostel dingy in the name of art and theater. And if it was good enough for Leo Dicaprio.... well who are we to complain!
We headed to Bangkok and had just a few more days on Khao San Road. They sell mango with sticky rice every 10 yards and Pad thai for about 30 cents. As long as you look through the flies and not at the cleanliness of the cook's hands, it's awesome. We thought about going to northern Thailand but the train would be long and there were health hazards due to brush fires lingering in the air. I read in the paper that the govt was going to fly planes over Chiang Mai and Rai with water and some rain-inducing chemical to clear the air out. So, we decided to stick with the dangers and grit of Khao San Road instead.
We flew from Bangkok to Delhi and were really glad to have an airport pick up because it was late at night, there were hundreds of male indians staring at us as we walked out from the airport, and we were ready for bed. India has been the toughest travel for us so far. I think partially because we are staying in budget places, so we're not in the safest, cleanest, or friendliest of places. Actually, we have yet to find places that are safe, clean or friendly just yet. But we are looking!
We took the train to Varanasi, per recommendation from my step bro Nic who was there just a few days before us filming his next documentary. (I'll try to post the link to his site) and he warned us about crazy monkeys. He wasn't kidding, we stayed far away, I think they must have Rabies and we didn't get that vaccination! We also saw more that we (shall I say that I) was prepared for. It's a holy city on the Ganges and many people want to be cremated on the banks in funeral pyres. They purchase various types of wood, sandalwood (the most expensive) banyan, etc. and there are multiple fires alight all times of the day and night. We could see the flames and huge plume of smoke from the hostel and accidently saw the inner workings of the cremation site while walking. We then went to Bodhgaya, the one place I told myself "if I ever went to india"that's where I'd go. It's the site where Siddartha Gautama sat under the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment. It was awesome! Tibetan monks in exhile encircling the tree, pilgrims from all over the world come here to see this holiest of Buddhist sites. THe Dalai Lama comes down from Dharamsala December and January every year. IT's been the highlight of India so far for me. Also, we stayed in a guest house away from the main part of town and overlooking a cow field, which was nice. and quiet!
We took a 16 hour train ride from Gaya to Agra, which is where we are now. It's the home of a sight you might have heard of.... the Taj Mahal. It's nice, looks just like it does in pictures. For Indians to get in, it's 20 rupees, or less than 50 cents. For foreigners, it was 1500 rupees for the both of us! Quite expensive when you factor in that we are paying 250 rupees per night for our hostel. We are showering out of a bucket though...
We haven't yet found a computer in India that has USB for us to upload pictures yet. We've got plenty though! Luckily neither of us have contracted Delhi Belly which is a miracle considering the hygiene here!!!!!! (that's a six exclamation point phrase!) We are headed by bus to Jaipur tomorrow, part of the golden triangle. Hope you are all well!
We stayed in a budget hostel in Phuket Town, which was the crappiest accomodation yet, although it only cost like $2.50 a night... it was also where the dorm scenes were filmed for "The Beach" so we just told ourselves that they purposely made the hostel dingy in the name of art and theater. And if it was good enough for Leo Dicaprio.... well who are we to complain!
We headed to Bangkok and had just a few more days on Khao San Road. They sell mango with sticky rice every 10 yards and Pad thai for about 30 cents. As long as you look through the flies and not at the cleanliness of the cook's hands, it's awesome. We thought about going to northern Thailand but the train would be long and there were health hazards due to brush fires lingering in the air. I read in the paper that the govt was going to fly planes over Chiang Mai and Rai with water and some rain-inducing chemical to clear the air out. So, we decided to stick with the dangers and grit of Khao San Road instead.
We flew from Bangkok to Delhi and were really glad to have an airport pick up because it was late at night, there were hundreds of male indians staring at us as we walked out from the airport, and we were ready for bed. India has been the toughest travel for us so far. I think partially because we are staying in budget places, so we're not in the safest, cleanest, or friendliest of places. Actually, we have yet to find places that are safe, clean or friendly just yet. But we are looking!
We took the train to Varanasi, per recommendation from my step bro Nic who was there just a few days before us filming his next documentary. (I'll try to post the link to his site) and he warned us about crazy monkeys. He wasn't kidding, we stayed far away, I think they must have Rabies and we didn't get that vaccination! We also saw more that we (shall I say that I) was prepared for. It's a holy city on the Ganges and many people want to be cremated on the banks in funeral pyres. They purchase various types of wood, sandalwood (the most expensive) banyan, etc. and there are multiple fires alight all times of the day and night. We could see the flames and huge plume of smoke from the hostel and accidently saw the inner workings of the cremation site while walking. We then went to Bodhgaya, the one place I told myself "if I ever went to india"that's where I'd go. It's the site where Siddartha Gautama sat under the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment. It was awesome! Tibetan monks in exhile encircling the tree, pilgrims from all over the world come here to see this holiest of Buddhist sites. THe Dalai Lama comes down from Dharamsala December and January every year. IT's been the highlight of India so far for me. Also, we stayed in a guest house away from the main part of town and overlooking a cow field, which was nice. and quiet!
We took a 16 hour train ride from Gaya to Agra, which is where we are now. It's the home of a sight you might have heard of.... the Taj Mahal. It's nice, looks just like it does in pictures. For Indians to get in, it's 20 rupees, or less than 50 cents. For foreigners, it was 1500 rupees for the both of us! Quite expensive when you factor in that we are paying 250 rupees per night for our hostel. We are showering out of a bucket though...
We haven't yet found a computer in India that has USB for us to upload pictures yet. We've got plenty though! Luckily neither of us have contracted Delhi Belly which is a miracle considering the hygiene here!!!!!! (that's a six exclamation point phrase!) We are headed by bus to Jaipur tomorrow, part of the golden triangle. Hope you are all well!
slow boat ride on the Mother Ganges River in Varanasi
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