Beauty Salon (pronounced saloon):
Cost 600 Rs. Services rendered: 1 lady’s haircut and style, 1 man’s haircut and style, 1 scalp massage, 2 facials with backrub, 2 eyebrow threadings, 2 cups of tea, 1 travel video review of NYC and Toronto from worker’s deceased husband’s trip, and 1 group photo with staff
Facials: While eyes closed Cindy and Lauren realized that the bright flash was photos being taken of us without our permission. After Cindy was prodded 4 or 5 times, she started feeling like a science experiment. Lauren too felt like a science experiment when 7 people asked her how “long” she was. Her “length” got in the way of several observers seating during the treatment, so seating was achieved on Lauren’s lap and leg. (all while eyes closed) Strange machine vibration equipment was applied to face and back leading to inability to focus eyes for 2 hours following the procedure. Result: skin felt great.
Shopping for wedding clothes:
Armed with a note explaining the style of clothes and cost and store locations (Thanks, Amit!), we set out first to Fabindia, a fixed price linen/cotton clothing store for casual clothing items. Here Cindy and Lauren exceeded the 3 item limit for the trial room causing stress among staff members. Lost count of electricity going out. Result: Sasha happy with 2 shirts and pair of pants. Cindy content with skirt and 2 shirts. Lauren reluctantly purchasing one skirt.
Sham Fashion Mall (Level 4): Premade formalwear for wedding. Everything here was made for Cindy, and Lauren was told she was “too large” for any of the clothes in the store. Fortunately, they dug out a large lady size which was able to be altered to fit. Staff was exuberant! So much so that she offered to take us shoe shopping on her day off the next day. Result: Sasha happy, Cindy happy, Lauren happy. Refreshments: 3 Fantas, 6 Cokes, and 1 sugary black tea
02 October 2007
“Cars require good horn and good brakes. Drivers require good eyes and good luck.”
Camel cart ride to Taj entrance: 200 Rs (roundtrip including wait)
Seeing the Taj Mahal: 750 Rs
Hiring a car from Agra to Delhi: 2500 Rs (including air conditioning)
Making it to New Delhi railway station on time and alive: Priceless
Transportation devices sighted on toll freeway from Agra to Delhi:
*truck, car, bus, tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw), bicycle rickshaw, bicycle, bicycle hauling cargo, truckbed filled with 70 people, scooter (with as many as 3 passengers and a baby), motorcycle (see scooter for passenger count), tractor, combine, horses and horses with cargo, camel with cargo (some with multiple cargo carts attached), cows, dogs, donkeys and donkeys with carts, pedestrians, 5 year old boy crossing freeway with bicycle rick shaw with cargo and several younger siblings, people standing room only external seats on a variety of vehicles, 8 year old boys riding bicycles while holding onto trucks for speed, a host of elementary school children coming home from school on foot, and only one car accident involving tuk tuk and motorcycle (minor ankle swelling incurred).
Seeing the Taj Mahal: 750 Rs
Hiring a car from Agra to Delhi: 2500 Rs (including air conditioning)
Making it to New Delhi railway station on time and alive: Priceless
Transportation devices sighted on toll freeway from Agra to Delhi:
*truck, car, bus, tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw), bicycle rickshaw, bicycle, bicycle hauling cargo, truckbed filled with 70 people, scooter (with as many as 3 passengers and a baby), motorcycle (see scooter for passenger count), tractor, combine, horses and horses with cargo, camel with cargo (some with multiple cargo carts attached), cows, dogs, donkeys and donkeys with carts, pedestrians, 5 year old boy crossing freeway with bicycle rick shaw with cargo and several younger siblings, people standing room only external seats on a variety of vehicles, 8 year old boys riding bicycles while holding onto trucks for speed, a host of elementary school children coming home from school on foot, and only one car accident involving tuk tuk and motorcycle (minor ankle swelling incurred).
19 September 2007
Pictures from the Taj Mahal
Check out this link for pictures from our sunrise viewing of the Taj Mahal today.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=159582961/a=12913770_12913770/t_=12913770
We are taking off for Chandigarh for Amit's wedding this afternoon and are looking forward to picking out clothes for the wedding on Saturday. We'll post wedding pics before we take off for Thailand.
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=159582961/a=12913770_12913770/t_=12913770
We are taking off for Chandigarh for Amit's wedding this afternoon and are looking forward to picking out clothes for the wedding on Saturday. We'll post wedding pics before we take off for Thailand.
Pictures from Leh
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=697191190220080781/l=309895882/g=12913770/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
Please click the link for photos.
Please click the link for photos.
"No hurry, don't worry, chicken curry"
Hello from Agra! The title was given to us by our taxi driver this afternoon.
Here are some random observations/experiences from from Leh in the Himalayas.
*Magnetic Hill: a white box painted in the middle of the road tempting tourists to try to test an optical illusion. We wouldn't be surprised if we show up on YouTube or Candid Camera someday since it was so foolish.
*Noctural dog fights: Lauren tried very hard to wake the dogs who just slept all day so they could fight in packs with each other all night.
*Really cute nephew of guesthouse owner. He was only one year but was much bigger than Olivia already!
*Best KitKats discovered.
*Lauren observes that flies in our room have more energy in the morning and when exposed to direct sun.
*Monastary chants heard daily at 3am.
*Best cheese and tomato toast found, as recommended by Raj our waiter. Resembles grilled cheese.
*Power surges are normal. I doesn't matter what city or quality of hotel, the power will go our about every 2 hours for a sec.
*Extremely entertaining road signs. Examples include: "I'm curvaceous, so go slow","I like you but you're going too fast", "If you are married, divorce speed","Be Mr. Late, nor Late Mr."
*American style sour cream and onion chips are really spoiled cream and onion.
*Two thumbs down for Altitude Sickness.
*Himalayas on a whole are amazing, desolate, peaceful and awe inspiring.
*Pashminas are made from goats, Angora is from rabbits. Pashmina goat seen.
*Guesthouse owner in Leh laughs at everything Cindy says as if she's naive.
Observations from Agra:
*One should gratefully choose to decline the free puppet show offered by the hotel.
Here are some random observations/experiences from from Leh in the Himalayas.
*Magnetic Hill: a white box painted in the middle of the road tempting tourists to try to test an optical illusion. We wouldn't be surprised if we show up on YouTube or Candid Camera someday since it was so foolish.
*Noctural dog fights: Lauren tried very hard to wake the dogs who just slept all day so they could fight in packs with each other all night.
*Really cute nephew of guesthouse owner. He was only one year but was much bigger than Olivia already!
*Best KitKats discovered.
*Lauren observes that flies in our room have more energy in the morning and when exposed to direct sun.
*Monastary chants heard daily at 3am.
*Best cheese and tomato toast found, as recommended by Raj our waiter. Resembles grilled cheese.
*Power surges are normal. I doesn't matter what city or quality of hotel, the power will go our about every 2 hours for a sec.
*Extremely entertaining road signs. Examples include: "I'm curvaceous, so go slow","I like you but you're going too fast", "If you are married, divorce speed","Be Mr. Late, nor Late Mr."
*American style sour cream and onion chips are really spoiled cream and onion.
*Two thumbs down for Altitude Sickness.
*Himalayas on a whole are amazing, desolate, peaceful and awe inspiring.
*Pashminas are made from goats, Angora is from rabbits. Pashmina goat seen.
*Guesthouse owner in Leh laughs at everything Cindy says as if she's naive.
Observations from Agra:
*One should gratefully choose to decline the free puppet show offered by the hotel.
12 September 2007
Delhi
We've arrived safe and are heading to the himalyas tomorrow. So far no having the easiest time functioning here. City is large and bit crazy, with constant horns honking. Looking forward to heading to the mountains. We'll write more soon!
Random Moments in Croatia
*We went rafting on the Cetina and learned a new word: bomba. We feel this word should be added to everyone's lingo for use in many settings. For example, you walk into a bar and see a person you or your friends are wishing to avoid, one of you says "bomba" upon spotting the person, and both immediately take cover under the table. Bomba can also be used for securing yourself in a raft or getting down on the dance floor.
*Sometimes it's good to accept rides from strangers, especially when waiting at bus stop with 50 pounds of backpack strapped to your back and the ride is 3 Kuna cheaper than the city bus.
*Having other people do your laundry. Fantastic!
*Taking a ten hour overnight bus ride to save $$ on lodging, maybe not the best idea, but certainly better than sleeping on fistsize rocks while camping. Of note...Croatian wine takes the edge off while sleeping.
*245--number of stairs required to climb back to our lodging in Dubrovnik. Amazing views helps with toning.
*Croatian Italian food is most tasty!
*If you take the train from Vienna to Zagreb by Sovenia, you recieve 4 stamps on your passport in two train stops. Bonus breathtaking countryside!
*Sitting in the Buza Bar, gazing at the Adriatic Sea. Bliss! Simply Bliss!
*Cindy is a foot and a half shorter than the average Croatian at a dance club.
*Lauren received silver dollar sized bugbites from sleeping bag. Learned lesson about checking presence of visitors before we encounter the larger species in Australia.
*Only chips avialable are Salt and Paprika, which taste like BBQ.
Wholeheartedly recommend Croatia for anyone's travel destination! Miss everyone and will post pics as soon as possible.
*Sometimes it's good to accept rides from strangers, especially when waiting at bus stop with 50 pounds of backpack strapped to your back and the ride is 3 Kuna cheaper than the city bus.
*Having other people do your laundry. Fantastic!
*Taking a ten hour overnight bus ride to save $$ on lodging, maybe not the best idea, but certainly better than sleeping on fistsize rocks while camping. Of note...Croatian wine takes the edge off while sleeping.
*245--number of stairs required to climb back to our lodging in Dubrovnik. Amazing views helps with toning.
*Croatian Italian food is most tasty!
*If you take the train from Vienna to Zagreb by Sovenia, you recieve 4 stamps on your passport in two train stops. Bonus breathtaking countryside!
*Sitting in the Buza Bar, gazing at the Adriatic Sea. Bliss! Simply Bliss!
*Cindy is a foot and a half shorter than the average Croatian at a dance club.
*Lauren received silver dollar sized bugbites from sleeping bag. Learned lesson about checking presence of visitors before we encounter the larger species in Australia.
*Only chips avialable are Salt and Paprika, which taste like BBQ.
Wholeheartedly recommend Croatia for anyone's travel destination! Miss everyone and will post pics as soon as possible.
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