The Blue City: Jodhpur April 13th-15th

Annabel and I left Jaisalmer the morning of the 13th and arrived in Jodhpur that afternoon.

Jodhpur is also known for its amazing fort. However when Annabel and I toured the fort it was so hot and crowded that we ended up doing a speed tour.

In Jodhpur, near the clock tower, there are two omelet shops in competition. The lonely planet suggests both of them, but after taste testing I must recommend the one and only, "Omelet Shop". Annabel and I got two omelets and toast for just over one dollar.

The night of the 14th we had dinner with our new friends from Jaisalmer! We had a fantastic night and made plans to get dinner again in Udaipur the following night.

Annabel exhausted after touring the fort

When scorpions attack: Jaisalmer April 11th-13th

Jaisalmer is home of Raj’s most magnificent fort— or so they say. The fort was cool because it is the only fort in Raj with a mini town within the fort walls. Our first night in Jaisalmer we stayed inside the fort and wandered around the tourist, street shops. Jaisalmer is nice, but it is not worth the trek unless you do a camel safari and spend the night in the desert.

On the afternoon of the 12th Annabel, seven others, and I left for my second camel safari. I was a little doubtful about spending money on a second night-in-the-desert, but I am so happy I did.

We met other travelers from all over — two from Canada and one from Australia, Spain, Mexico, Chile, and Scotland.

Also the sand dunes that we saw/ camped on were incredible— the dunes rolled on as far as my eyes could see.

We had around six camel caretakers/ cooks with us who prepared us dinner and breakfast on the sand dunes. The food was amazing, but of course a little sandy.

We were all chatting after dinner when someone let out a screech— there was a scorpion just chilling on out tablecloth/ bed sheet. The scorpion sent everyone into a tizzy and we all called it a night.

In the morning I woke up to Annabel hogging my bed (which was a futon on the sand) and pillow. Later I woke up spooning Annabel, who in turn was spooning a rabid dog, who had taken up residence on our bed during the night.

After we had breakfast we saddled up and rode back to Jaisalmer, said goodbye to our new friends, made plans to have dinner with some of the other travelers who were also heading to Jhodpur, and hit the rode.

Jaisalmer Desert

Desert Sunset

Annabel's rabid, sleeping companion

I kissed a camel and I liked it: Bikaner April 10th-11th.

We left Jaipur the morning of the 10th and headed to Bikaner for the night— to break up the trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer.

Bikaner was pretty boring, but on the way there was stopped at a camel farm (?). We walked around the museum, saw the camels, tried a pouch of camel’s milk, and I kissed a camel for 300 rupees.

My girlfriend and I

Jaipur, Macklemore’s BFFL, and an arranged marriage: April 7th-10th

From Agra we drove to Jaipur (for my second visit) and arrived in time for lunch. I was beyond excited to see my “Jaipur family” again and show Annabel around!

Our first night in Jaipur I took Annabel to a local light show in a nearby park and then dinner at my favorite restaurant: The Peacock Rooftop Restaurant

Two weeks before I life Jaipur for Delhi I met a 16 year old tuktuk driver. His tuktuk looked like something out of “Pimp My Ride” and he started playing a remix to Macklemore’s ThriftShop. Natural my friends and I started singing along and that I how I learned that this young boy’s father had driven Macklemore around Jaipur for three full days in January.

Flash forward to April 7th— I told Annabel about meeting this boy and we ended up calling his father and booking his tuktuk to take us from the light show to dinner.

Shabir, the father, told us all about his time with Macklemore, a photo of the two of them, and and personal from Macklemore thanking him (yes, I did see Macklemore’s personal gmail).

Shabir told us that Macklemore had payed him 3000 USDs for the three days, which allowed him to retire his old tuktuk and by the new, pimped-out tuktuk.

Before we left for dinner Shabir offered to teach us to drive a tuktuk, take us to local shops, and around Jaipur— of course we said “yes please!”

Long story short: we met Shabir on the 9th and he taught us how to drive a tuktuk (it was stubble central for me because unfortunately it was stick)! He also took us shopping for palm reading, and drinks.

During my palm reading I was told that I have low blood pressure (true), I have bad eyesight and will go deaf in the future (it is possible), and that my father would be more successful if he was self implied (hahahhahaha).

After the tuktuk driver took us out for drinks and I had my first diet coke in ages! During our time at the bar I ended up entering myself into an arranged marriage with his 18yr old son and Annabel became his girlfriend(?)— is was quite a funny evening!

Annabel, Macklemore's bestie, and I

“The Taj is incredible, but Agra is a dump”: April 6th-7th

At 6am Annabel and I hopped on train and started the first leg of our trip: Agra! We arrived in Agra mid-morning and were met by our driver, who we hired for our Raj portion because all the trains were booked. Alas, we were quite sad to learn that his name was not Ranjit and that he did not greet us with a “heeellllloooo” like in HIMYM— his name was Dhib and we soon realized he was not our biggest fan and vice versa.

As the title says, seeing the Taj was a breath taking experience, but Agra was not the nicest places— we left early in the morning on the 7th.

The Taj Mahal

Goodbye, Jaipur and hello, Delhi: March 30th- April 6th

Saying goodbye to my host family in Jaipur was so sad, but I was ready to see more of India. However, it was never going to be was to say goodbye to this rascal.

Gopi, Khushi, and Dupanker

I arrived in Delhi on March 30th and stayed at the Idex house for lunch before I made my way to my final destination that day.

My parents are referring to the next part of my time in India (April 1st-May 23rd) as “Molly’s Grand Tour” and that is a very fitting title. Thanks to Tahn, I have a travel buddy for the next 6 weeks! My travel buddy (and now a life long friend), Annabel, is taking a gap year between completing high school in Switzerland and NYU this upcoming fall.

We stayed in Delhi for 7 days with lovely family friends of Annabel, and one of the most interesting families I have ever met. The mother is English and the father is Greek. They have lived in England, Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, Indonesia, and now India.

When I was arrived at their appt I was in awe. I had gone from rural Guwahati, to middle-class Jaipur, and now to the most gorgeous appt on the 17th floor.

The appt house is filled with furniture and art from all over the world, along with books, books, and more books. I am absolutely in love with it, and the family.

During our 7 days in Delhi Annabel and I caught up on sleep (Annabel recovered from her jet lag), did some sight seeing, and met with a travel agent to make an itinerary for our “Grand Tour”.

*If I can only give one piece of advice for any further Indian travelers I would say, book your train tickets in advance and use tourist quota.

The coolest sight we saw in Delhi was the Sikh Temple. The Protonortairous’ driver Om, a absolutely lovely man, took us because it is one of his favorite places in Delhi.

Here we wandered around the complex, saw the temple, helped make chapatti in the volunteer kitchen, and ate lunch in the communal dinning hall for free! It was one of my favorite experiences.

Idex Slum Project: March 24th-28th

Katherine left to volunteer in Goa for three weeks on Sunday the 23rd, so I ended up spending my last week in Jaipur volunteering in one of the slum areas with Milena (my roommate from Germany).

I was sad that I never said a proper goodbye to my Elephant Village children, but I want to have as many different experiences as possible.

The Slum School has three different sections. On the first floor Milena and Katherine (from Germany) teach the older boys. On the second floor Monica, Leo (Both from Switzerland), and Beea (from Germany) taught the lower grades. Finally, a 5min walk away Sine and Sofie (from Denmark) taught at the preschool/daycare.

I spent my five days in the slums helping Sine and Sofie, and we all became great friends. I was sad to learn that they had been in Jaipur of three weeks volunteering with Idex and we hadn’t met until our last week in Jaipur.

We have already made tentative plans to meet up in Denmark someday!

Sofie, Sena and I with the children

Too cute

Again: Sofie, Sena, and I with the children

My Dog, Spot

I miss Moxie so much that I adopted a stray from the streets— Rabies and all!

Spot!

Spot eating a chapati

Spot drinking water

Khushi and I gave him water and Chapati once and now he has made his home at the gate of my host family’s house. He often walks me to and from the BMB sweet shop, and around the neighborhood.

Holy Holi: March 16-17th

We arrived home from our week long adventure in time for the Holi fire on Sunday the 16th.
Holi is the Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.

Holi is celebrated by running through the streets throwing dry and wet colors at anyone and everyone— during Holi everyone is fair game. There is singing, dancing, and music while communities come together to celebrate the festival of colors!

The Idex volunteers celebrated Holi together with a community of school children and their neighbors.

Holi fires

Khushi and I at the Holi fire

Dry Color

Holi

Holi

It was so much fun, but I was cleaning color out of my ears and nose for days!