Ha! Just came back from touring north India. Never plan to do a write up about it, but going through the photos just gave me the kick. Will share some small events that happen throughout the trip.
It definitely was worth staying back but this trip also left me thinking twice about travelling to any other winter countries next time. Right from the Jaipur, we freeze all the way up to Manali. Talking about winding road and the useless antiemetic pills, I broke my record of puking 7 times in a day. Literally emptied my stomach.
Got to see the world famous Taj Mahal; it was magnificent. We girls wore our best Punjabi suits, braising the cold weather just to take a photo with it. Security was tight there and my Sam wasn’t allowed in. I had to trouble my guide to deposit it outside. We had a light chat and he said I looked like a local. Guess I’m really turning into an Indian.
There were a lot of small shops by the road at Jaipur selling shiny handmade stuff; was hoping that we can actually stop by one. Instead the guide brought us to some government controlled China-like factory and wasted time there. Sneaked out just to get umbrellas and camel leather shoes.
At Shimla we almost lost our lives. As our mini bus was driving up the icy road, it suddenly slipped down. Luckily the driver was in time to brake or we would have fall off the cliff. Thank God we are all alive. To walk up to our hotel was a challenge. It was really dangerous. The snow has melted and now the ground is covered with slippery ice. It was really hard to get a grip, the chances of slipping and falling would be the same in any ice-skating ring.
Though it was super cold at Manali (-7 degree), well, at least I experience snowing. Tasted snow that felt from the sky, did my snow angel, threw snowballs; everything on my list: checked! Paragliding with the view of Himachal’s mountains definitely was worth the climb up that steep snowy cliff. Thank to whoever was the one that gave me the sweet in my hypoglycemia state.
We were all stranded as it was snowing heavily. There was limited electric and water supply; heater was out and we had to think twice about using the loo. 30 packet of Maggi mee was for lunch that day as we are all sick of the hotel food. The hotel kitchen agrees to cook it for us. It turns out all soggy and not only that, they charged us Rs 800 for that. It’s even more expensive than the noodles.
It was really an experience to sit on the train for 17 hours. We were in the 3 tier cabin but 4 of us have to squeeze in. We were not able to load the bed out. We sat the whole night, and it was super uncomfortable. Felt very restricted, sandwich. Even the locals across gave us your-people-are-nuts look. How I long to just lie down and sleep that night.
All tired and worn out after the train, we experience Mumbai. It was just a pit stop for us to transit to a bus to Goa. The place is really all messy and full of people everywhere. It just scares me to be there.
Goa was just relaxing. No more thick winter clothing and multiple layers of socks, it was back to slippers and shorts. We were on our own; free to walk anywhere we want. Had yummy seafood dinner every night (which I think have added few inches to my waist). Salivating while thinking back. The weather in the afternoon was blazing hot; I can’t bear to walk on the sand without my shoes on. Probably you can cook an egg by burying it in the sand. Where ever we go, the locals tried to guess where we from were. “Japan? Korean? China?” they would ask. Sometimes we just played along. “Japan. MushiMushi~” And they would repeat after us. It’s super hilarious. Once we even pretend we were from Hong Kong.
Once we reach Manipal, oh, the feeling was priceless. After being away so long, it’s like coming back home. Now what’s left is to enjoy the last half of the year before I really go home.
