People

My biggest challenge in photography is taking pictures of people in an everyday life setting but in India I willed myself to walk up to people to ask if I could take their pictures. But as I soon found out, if you have a camera walking about on the street, people sometimes ask you to take their pictures.

This first happened to me in Jaipur, at the milk market. I was walking off to take pictures of the people wheeling and dealing milk but as I passed this man and before I knew what was happening he was asking me to take his picture. I really like it, you can tell he just woke up but he was still cheerful enough to have his picture taken. I know some people who would die before they'd have their pictures taken unless they were totally composed, had perfect hair and were wearing the right clothes but that really kills it for me.

Udaipur Picture Video

A quick slide show of our stay in Udaipur.

Not what it seems.

While sitting on the walls of one of the island palaces, waiting for the perfect sunset picture, along comes someone dressed in this beautifully colorful sari and sits right next to us. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was as if an art director told her what to wear, where to sit, how to pose, what to look at and all I had to do was take the picture. It was too good to be true . . . .
No really it was, it was too good to be true. As much as I was hoping she was a local in a contemplative mood, enjoying her country, she was in fact a Korean tourist who was "feeling" India in her wardrobe. Before this she was busy shooting snapshots with her own camera. Still, made for a nice picture.

Channeling Bond in India

All guidebooks on India start with "You'll never be prepared for India" or "Batten down the hatches, here comes India" or something to that effect. Well, if you want to ease your way into India, start in Udaipur. It isn't frantic and stressful like Delhi nor is it too laid back and un-Indian like Fort Cochin, in my opinion, it's just right.

Udaipur is known as the Venice of India because of all the lakes and palaces that dot its landscape. I thought that was nice but when the guide said that this was where they filmed some scenes of Octopussy I suddenly sat up in my chair and paid attention (okay, so a good portion of my cultural make-up revolves around James Bond, shoot me).

The Lake Palace hotel and Jaisamand Island are the main attractions for me because from them you get a great view of the main city palace.

My wife and I sat there to catch the sunset, needless to say I started imagining myself in a white tux deftly clambering over the steep walls of the Lake Palace Hotel, otherwise known as Octopussy's Palace, only to helplessly get caught by a bunch of Bond babes. I wonder how Roger Moore made if over without getting completely soaked.

Did I mention I married a bond girl. My wife's second name is Melina . . . . . as in Melina Havelock from the movie "For Your Eyes Only". Man does she know how to handle a crossbow.

India Secure

Just wanted to say a few words about India post-Mumbai. Everyone, and I mean everyone from my brother, to my friends and even my travel agent wanted to know if our trip to India was pushing through once the horrendous Mumbai terror attacks happened.

Now coming from a country that has its fair share of bad publicity on CNN (ie Mindanao, Abu Sayyaf, Andrew Cunanan) I knew that this was most likely a one off event but just to make sure I called my cousin in Singapore who heads Agence France Press regionally. "It will probably be safer now then before the attack, everybody is on high alert".

And boy was everyone on high alert. Our car was searched before we could drive up the hotel drive way (okay, nothing new there) but they even had our driver pop the hood to check the engine compartment. At the front door to the hotel they'd pat down, and I'm talking serious pat down, everyone who enters whether or not the metal detector we just walked through beeped. Now I understand me being patted down, scruffy looking, hiking shoes, cargo pants and shirts that don't fit well, but my wife (who looks like she just graduated high school) would also be taken behind a curtain which was used to search females.

Here is the ultimate example of how high security was in India . . . . . we had our bags checked before we could go into a small cramp KFC resto. Forget the fact that the place was so small, I could take five steps and I'd be at the counter, the security guy was very thorough going through our bags.

What does this all mean? It means all those guys that decided to cancel their trip to India were suckers. You missed a chance to see a beautiful place, taste great food and meet amazing people.

What's up in India

Okay, I'm back and ready to tell you about this amazing place called India. I think the toursim board of India got it wrong, India to me was more magical than incredible (but I guess their marketing people will disagree).

I started out with my wife touring what is known as the Golden Triangle of India - Jaipur, Agra and Delhi, but before that we started of easy with Udaipur. Udaipur wasn't part of the tour (yes, we joined a tour, shame on us) but because of my wife's friend, Jasmin, gushing over it on facebook we decided to add that to our itinerary. I'm glad we did, it was one of our favorite places of the trip.

After that I went out on my own to visit my good friend Vinodh in Bangalore and there I felt like I had hit the jackpot. Not only was he and his family the most gracious host ever, he took me experience Indian wildlife in Kabini and the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary and he also allowed me to experience a slice of Indian family life as I stayed with him and his family for a couple of days. I also went around some of the most amazing temples and palaces while in Karnataka state, including the amazing Mysore Palace and the temples of Belur and Halebid.

To round it off, Vinodh also organized the last leg of my trip which was to lush Kerala, a southern state known for its backwater countryside and laid back Fort Cochin. Wanting to show of the best, Vinodh booked me in the best places there and if some of you have been following my tweets (those things on the right side, under twitter) then you'll know how great these places have been.

So in the end I was able to do the usual tourist route, I was able to live with an Indian family and I struck it out on my own. This was probably the most balanced trip I've had. Watch out for the highlights in the upcoming posts.

Sleepingonthebus admin

Okay folks, as some of you know I've just come back from India with a ton of pictures and stories to tell.  However, before that I was in the middle of telling you all about the Silk Road trip I was on but I had to cut that short because of this India trip. And before that I was telling you all about my US trip but I had to cut that short because I went on my Silk Road trip.

What am I trying to say?  Not that I've been to a lot of places but there are so many things to share that sometimes  the blog will jump from one topic to another and I think that's how I'll do it moving forward.  The next couple of entries will be about my highlights on the latest trip and then I'll jump back to stand alone bits and pieces about the fascinating places I've been too.

Hope this doesn't confuse anybody too much but if anything it's proof that there is so much to see out there.

Winding down

Okay, am at Fort Cochin now, the final real stop in my India trip (have an 11 hour layover in Delhi which I'm dreading) and it is perfect. The guidebook says you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief as travelers reach Cochin and the reason for this is because it is so laid back and slow paced. Compared to the rest of horn blaring, auto rickshaw avoiding, aggressive salesman escaping India, this place is an oasis. It's by the coast so it's one of the few places where one just has to have the seafood.

Heavily influenced by the Portuguese (Vasco de Gama died here), the Brits and even the Chinese, Fort Cochin is the perfect place to either gather your thoughts on the trip that has been or catching your second wind, getting yourself ready to throw yourself into India once more.

Probably what I like best is that the historical center, where I am at, is walkable and it is such a great place to walk. Bought myself a Longi from a textile salesman (got to say I like our Malongs better) and stocked up on spices. Am tempted to buy a bell with Ganesh or Garuda on it but it weighs a ton and I don't think I can hand carry it (it's on a chain, something airline security might have an issue with) but what the heck. Bili lang nang bili, bahala na si Batman (In English"Just keep on buying, let Batman sort it out" . . . wow, totally lost in translation there, it doesn't quite mean the same does it.)

Little Girl

I was all ready to snatch this cute girl up and bring her home to the Philippines but she ran behind her mother's sari before I could do that. Look at her ankles, how cute is that!

Update Schmupdate

So much for keeping an online update of my trip.  As much as I'd like to write about every aspect of the India trip that I am on, I just don't have the time (can't even keep my pen and paper journal up to date).

However, here is a quick up date.  It's all good.  All of it has been good.  From Udaipur, Pris and I went to Jaipur to see the Amba Fort (mistakenly named Amber Fort by the Brits) and other sights.  Then it was off to Agra for the ultimate in Indian sight seeing - the Taj Mahal.  It did not disappoint.  Then a quick stop in chaotic Delhi where we still managed to squeeze out little bits of magic like Humayun's Tomb in Delhi which as it turns out was the inspiration for the Taj.  

Next I struck out on my own and headed for Bangalore where I met up with my good friend Vinodh.  We immediately struck out on a road trip and headed off to Kabini Jungle Lodge for a couple of days of Indian Safari.  Next stop was Mysore for some great Palace sightseeing, had lunch in one of them, and then finally today we went to an amazing bird sanctuary for amazing photos.  

How's that for an update?  Where are the pics I hear you say.  They are coming along with a full blown report of everything there was to see, smell, touch, taste and experience in India.  Oh by the way, it isn't over yet.  Will be heading off to Fort Kochin and the Kerala backwaters before heading back home to the waiting arms of my beloved wife (who in reality is now stamping her feet waiting for me to come home for some serious scolding).  "Run off again will you eh?"