India (19) Jaipur

In a desperate attempt to escape the heat, we decided to chill off at a mall. Even managed to watch a new movie that had just been released (Humshakals) Errr...don't judge!

Spent the evening at Chowki Daan - the perfect ending to our Jaipur experience! We were able to have a taste of Rajasthani life as well as dress up in traditional clothing. Food was spectacular and was included in the entry ticket. A must-visit!

India (18) Jaipur

As usual, Sonu was right on time to pick us up. We met our tour guide for the day and started on our tour. 

Highlights of the day:

Amer Fort & Palace
Jantar Mantar Observatory
Hawa Mahal Palace

India (17) Jaipur

It was completely evident that Jaipur had a different vibe to the other places we visited (Mumbai, Goa, Delhi). 

Our place to stay at would be "Ramada" (which if I could have my way, would not have been my choice). However, it served its purpose of providing bed and breakfast. 

It was on this particular day that my mum started to feel homesick. It was understandable. We'd been away for two weeks already. 

Mention must be made of the staff who were friendly and kind enough to help me recharge my phone with credit - Thank you :)

India (16) Agra

The drive to Agra was fine, but thanks to our driver - Sonu. It was scorching hot and utterly necessary to take the breaks that we had. After checking in at the ITC Mughal (and being upgraded to the Royal Mughal Suite) we set off on our tour with Khalid, our tour guide.

First stop - Agra Fort. Absolutely beautiful, but with a horrible stench. Disgusting! The heat was unbearable.

Next. Quick lunch / snack. 

And then - TAJ MAHAL! It took me a moment to catch my breath when I found myself before this great monument. I was awestruck. My mum didn't make it inside though. Lucky that I told her to rather stay in the shade...there were quite a few steep steps to climb to get inside.

After that, we went to a place where marble ornaments are made. It was really interesting to see the process from scratch!

Back to the hotel for a bit of R&R and then for a bite in the hotel restaurant. Food was delicious and the hotel? Magnificent!

India (15) Delhi

Spent Monday shopping... still shocked by the dirty conditions that were just everywhere around Delhi. What we were looking forward to was our trip to Agra the following day. And we would have the driver we requested: Sonu :)

India (14) Haridwar

Mum and I now remember this day with a slight shudder. We left Delhi with our driver, Shankar to make our way to Haridwar. Truth be told, I was really looking forward to this trip. We were doing some kind of pilgrimage and planned to do the 7pm prayer at the Ganges River.

The 7hr drive was nerve-wrecking. It honestly felt like our driver was just unleashed to cause HAVOC. He seemed to be so impatient. He overtook on oncoming traffic, where at one point, I thought - "it's over...". OMG!

Long story short - he was unable to understand or communicate in English and didn't even know the hotel we were staying at. When we finally reached SRS Lakshya Hotel, it was just about an hour or so before we were going to partake in the "aarti".

When Shankar picked us up, it didn't seem like he knew where we were going. He turned into a car park and looked back at us, expecting us to leave the car. 

"Where's the aarti?" we asked. He said it was two minutes away and that we'd have to walk there. We were promptly on the phone with our tour operator, Shamsher who spoke to Shankar on our behalf. Mum and I refused to leave the car.

"I'll be fine if I don't do the aarti," said mum.

We couldn't fathom that Shankar wanted us to leave the car - walk alone to goodness knows where and then...make our way back. In the dark. NO WAY!

"Uncle, please take us back to the hotel," I asked. It was getting late, we were already stressed out from the drive to Hardiwar and...I was trying to convince myself that this wasn't meant to be.

One the drive back to the hotel, I suggested to mum that we skip the following day in Rishikesh and go back to Delhi. Once we were got back to the hotel, we made arrangements with the hotel to check in a day earlier. Of course this was over and above our tour price and would need to be paid separately. No problem!

The next morning we left at 8am. Back to Delhi. The drive was just as bad, but we asked Shankar to "calm down, please!" 

We couldn't have been more excited to see our hotel again. Next stop: Spa for a massage!

India (13) Delhi Sighseeing

Our tour guide for Delhi was Dinesh.

Our first stop was Jama Masjid, which was the main mosque in Old Delhi. Situated in Chandni Chowk, it was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1650. They were just about to close to the public as it was time for the Muslim Friday prayer. I was really astonished to learn that the place can hold up to 25,000 devotees!

We then went to Raj Ghat, which was the exact spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

Made a quick stop at the India Gate, Parliament Houses, Red Fort & Qutub Minar.