Friday, May 4, 2012

Travelling

Travelling

Let me take you through the journey I have taken this month through India. Come…..


First Stop: Bangalore
City - Shopping - History (Palace) - Market


Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Bangalore is well known as a hub for India's information technology sector. It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in the world.

The Crowded Streets of Chickpet Market

The Bangalore Palace

The Traditional Indian Wear: Sari 

Shopping - A Typical shop with loads of clothing folded on a shelf -
they pulled out about  20 of them for us to see and laid them on the floor.




Second Stop: Goa
One Word: Paradise - Hut on the Beach - Good Food - Rented Motorbikes - Sunrise Boat ride - Dolphins

Goa is India's smallest state however it was ranked the best placed state for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India.  Goa is a former Portuguese colony, the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.

Agonda Beach

The Crew - Bronte, Ty (Sheen'a Friend), Sheena, JT (Ty's brother), Aajay (Simose Staff), Me, Dinesh (Simrose Staff),  Heidi (Ty's Mom)

Simrose Resort:  Where we stayed

The huts we stayed on - steps away from the beach
We crawled out of bed and took morning swims and runs on the beach
and lounged at the bar late into the  night.



Third Stop: Mumbai (Bombay)
Biggest & Richest City in India! - Tons of People - Colors - British/ Indian Buildings - Run Down/ Beautiful - Gateway to India

 Mumbai has a total population of approximately 20.5 million, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world. In 2009, it was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India.

This is it:  The Biggest City in India (Reminded me of NYC but bigger)
Skyscrapers to the slums

A perfect picture of the vast contrast here in Bombay - Run Down yet British Architecture

The Catholic Hostel we stayed in :)

Wesley - Me - Sheena
Wesley is a former FF staff from Mumbai - He showed us around!
We had a blast together
The Gateway to India

The Famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - Wow!  It was Extraordinary :)
Perhaps one day I'll stay there :)

Bombay = Good Times
We had so many!!

Getting Henna done on the streets :)

Bye Bye city on the coast!




It was so good to spend time travelling in India and see other parts of it.  For heavens sake, If I'm gonna be here for a year then I want to conquer it!  This was just a start - but a really good one!  Bangalore is a really well know city and quite large - we very much enjoyed finding our way around the high points of town, including the locals' Chick Pet Market, Commercial Road (Shopping), and an auto ride tour of the history of the city including the Tudor Style Palace.  We met friends of Sheena's in Goa and truly were blown away at the amazing time we had - the culture is that of California - laid back  beach bums.  The coast was nothing short of beautiful and we spent our days lounging on the beach and eating wonderful western food with the luxury of a hut on the beach.  Sheena and I made a last stop in Mumbai on her way out of the country.  The city won my heart as the pinnacle of my favorite things about India.  I'm looking for ways to go back! :)