|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Oct 23, 2012 04:00 PM Durga night in Vijayawada... India
There are nice beaches near Visakapathnam ( like Rashikonda with nearby giant statues of Siwa and his wife Parwati in Kailasagiri) but I got a trail ticket and decided to go further south - to the 1-million city of Vijayawada on the Krishna river.
Reason? Today is the last day of 9-days Durga Puja Festival and in Vija there is famous Durga temple on the hill... I expected a lot and I was right.
At Vija station the tourist info was closed (India!) but I easily find a room in the Golden Way (!) hotel just near the station.
No maps... I just joined the group of red-dressed pilgrims and they took me to the bottom of the hill. Crowd. Police in action: they prepared 1-m wide fenced paths climbing to the top of the hill. Yes, foreigners are allowed to! The path was more then 2 kms long - I was going up with the local people. Heat, volunteers are distributing water to the people through the fence. There were thousands of people going to the temple but I did not see any other white tourist. Where is the end of this path? Seems to be endless if you are tired! After an hour of climbing, stopping and climbing again the police officer took me out from the fence through the emergency exit... Thank you! It was already close to the temple.
What a change! I was invited by the security officer, he was taking care of my shoes an the special private guide took me through the temple covered by the golden roof. Flowers, smells, dewotes, lights. What a theatrum!
Down in the town in the evening I saw the fireworks, the Disneyland-style barge cruising the river with the deity aboard... Till the late night the goups of drummers were cruising the center of Vijayawada making a noise!
Durga Puja os over!
|
Oct 22, 2012 04:00 PM Dancing ladies from Araku...
Only one train per day climbes the picturesque railroad to the serene Araku Valley. But they said that for the 23rd there is 300+ waiting list for that train so I Choosen the bus tour option - full day tour cost me 550 rs (11 USD) incl meals and entry fees.
We started in the early morning with 30 min delay (it is India) - the bus was non a/c junk with the windows open wide... But I enjoyed the landscapes of the Eastern Ghats mountains. After flat, humid and very hot Indian coast it is nice to be in the green, forested hills - some 1000 m above sea level - nice and cooler...
Araku Valley has nice tribe museum, botanical garden (not impressive) and the dance show of local ladies.
This I enjoyed most. I hope to show you the pictures: purple dress, double earrings in the noses...
On the way back we stopped at Borra Caves. They are quite impressive for those who did not see biggest places like this...
In general: interesting day tour for just 11 USD. But the Indian food they served od the dirty plates... hmmm... you better take some sandwiches and fruits with you... :)
|
Oct 21, 2012 04:00 PM To Andhra Pradesh!
It was not easy (many Hindu people started the holidays), but I managed to buy the ticket for the train to the south. I am going to Andra Pradesh state.
After 8 hours in the heat of the train I landed in Visakapathna - the second city of Andra.
Very busy city... I had again the problem to find accommodation. It is done, but let you know, that during the holiday period the prices go up...
I was also lucky to find the place who exchanges my dollars - yesterday due to the festival everything was closed in Bhubaneshwar - even small money changers...
Here in the local tourist office they do not have a single map of the city! It is India...
Tomorrow early in the morning I will try to get a space on the bus going through the mountains to Arakku. Keep your fingers crossed, please!
|
Oct 20, 2012 04:00 PM Bhubaneshwar - The temple town o India
That's how the call the capital of Orissa state. Durga Puja Festival starts today and I have a problem to find accommodation. But I got it! The clean room in the new Dreamland Hotel near the station cost me more then usually - 700 rs but is woth the price. Recommended!
There were 7000 temples in Bhu - they say. Most of them built in in 1st century. Now some of them are overgrown, but still enough to see.
Lively Lingaraj Temple with its 54-m tower is the holiest one. Entry restricted to the Hindis, but going along the wall to the right you will find a platform which allows you to take a look inside...
Walking around the old town I saw many smaller temples. On the ocassion of Durga Puje Festival they built a lot of little, kitch altarl in the main streets. The city is illuminated in the evening. A lot of music, a noise, the crowd... That's India celebrating its holiday!
|
Oct 19, 2012 04:00 PM Orissa by bus
Local tourist organizations in India offers resonably priced sightseeing tours. So if you want to see mamy tourist attractions which are spread out this could be the best solution.
My full day tour started in Puri at 6.30 am. It cost 400 rs - like 8 USD. I took my backpack with the intention that they will drop me at the end of the tour in Bhubaneshwar...
We saw first coastal Ramachandi Temple then passed the best beach of Orissa - Chandrabhaga. Then Konark and Peace Pagoda on the hill in Dhauli.
On the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar we visited Udaygiri Caves - in fack interesting monastery in the caves.
Aj baba! - that's how the beggars call me here. I do not like it because "Baba" in my language means the ugly old woman. :)
In India you will see more beggars then elsewhere. You must be resistant...
|
Oct 18, 2012 04:00 PM Sun Temple in Konark
In the Orissa state there is a triangle of the holy cities: Puri - Konark and Bhubaneshwwar.
Konark lies just 40 km from Puri and can be visited on a day tour.
I took a local bus for 20 rs (one hour) to get to the famous Sun Temple in Konark - The UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the middle of 13th century.
Well worth to see, but be ready to pay 250 rs entry fee. Hindi pay 10 rs - 25 times less!!!
For those on a tight budget there is a path around the temple - from this path you can easily photograph for free all temple - like a stone charriot. What you will miss are the erotic sculptures on the walls (do you remember Khajuraho?)
Another great day with local people - during all day I saw only one white tourist!!
|
Oct 17, 2012 04:00 PM Puri - the Holy City
Puri is small, has narrow streets and a wide beach.
In Puri 2 where backpackers live you will find more then 100 fishing boats on the beach - I was there just before sunset to see the real life - great theatrum!
Puri 1 is west of Puri 2 - there you will find the beach promenade doted by the expensive hotels for the Indian holidaymakers. In the evening there is a lot of food stalls on the beach - that is what they like!
Little Puri is also one of the India holy cities - thanks to the massive Jagannath Temple - sorry , no entry for the foreigners.
You can have a look from the terrace of the ruined library - opposite the temple (10 rs donation will be OK (touts request 100).
I have great time walking along the beach and enjoying the atmosphere of the Indian province. In E-Taj hotel I have a roomy room with bath for just 450 rs - recommended! But check your laundry - they returned my jeans dirty - seems they do not use the washing powder, pure water only! :)
|
Oct 16, 2012 04:00 PM India - how much does it cost?
I am already under palms in Puri on the coast of Bengal Bay.
It is the day at leisure - to relax, to make the laundry,
to enjoy the warm sea.
India is cheap to travel.
Young travellers often ask me: How much does it cost?
It depends of the chosen standard of travel.
My - budget version looks like that (sample):
Breakfast: two tomatoes - 5 rs
Bread 400g - also for the lunch - 20 rs
Butter Amul 100g - also for the lunch - 30 rs
Dubar Honey 250g = for 3 days - 95 rs/3
Selfmade tea and coffee (bring your heater!)
Lunch:
Bread, butter,
2 boiled eggs - 14 rs
10 bananas (also for dinner) - 20 rs
Dinner:
Fried fish in the rest - 100 rs
plain rice - 15 rs
bananas, tea, coffee
TOTAL food per day: 234 rs = less then 5 USD
You have to add of course transport, room (around 400) and entry fees.
Cheap, isn't it?
|
Oct 15, 2012 04:00 PM The night, and day and second night on the Indian train
It is a long voyage: 32 hours by train from Delhi to Puri.
I am going to Orissa or Odisha, how they call now this state.
Long way, long story. The tea and snack sellers are going along the train all the time. But their prices are higher than on the station platform so think about taking your food stuff with you.
At every station vendors are coming to the carriages shouting and going quickly through, to find the clients. Watch your possession! It is easy to loose! Introduce yourself to your travel companions - they will watch your stuff when you are going to the toilet or jumping to the platform to buy the fruits (10 rs per bunch) or the bottle of mineral water (15 rs per litre).
If you have hard bunk only it is good idea to bring a pillow with you. Funny? I am sure you will appreciate it aalready after first 10 hours of your trip!
I had enough time to read, to listen my music from mp3 and to prepare for the next part of the journey...
32 hours... But I did not beat my 42-hours on the traain record from China - do you remember? :)
|
Oct 14, 2012 04:00 PM Indian Railways secret: Taktal
Again I spent more then 6 hours on the train. In the sleeper class - but don't be confused: sleeper class in India offers you just a bare, hard and dirty berth. There is no a/c and the windows with bars are wide open, so you will experience all smells of incredible India...
India is a huge nation and they travel a lot so it is not easy to get a ticket, especially on the short-notice. I tried to buy a ticket online a month ahead via the cleartrip.com but the response was always the same: waiting list only.
Now I have a secret for you:
They have a special last minute ticket sales (emergency quota) via TAKTAL system. It starts exactly exactly at 10 am the day before your train leaves. To get your tkt you have to be at any station earlier, fill the booking form (clerk will help you to find the train number) and you must be the first in the line in front of Taktal window. At 10 am sharp the race for the seats starts. I wish you be lucky!
That's how I got my ticket for Delhi-Puri train!
|
Page:
185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195
|
|
|
