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Lions and Tigers

September - October 2019
We have been looking forward to a trip to Africa for a long time and we were fortunate to back up the African tour with a short tour of India. So, lions in Africa, tigers in India.... can't wait! Read more
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  • Brad and Mandy PearceLions and Tigers
    1
    Day 34

    In search of tigers

    October 26, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After leaving Agra we travelled to Fatehpur Sikri, a 16th century down which was supposed to be the capital however it was abandoned after only 14 years because the water supply ran out. It remains preserved as it was 400 years ago.

    We then caught another train to Ranthambore to stay at a former hunting lodge where the Maharaja's used to stay. It was very nice - very colonial. Here we were going on morning and afternoon safari drives on the lookout for tigers in the wild.

    Ranthambore National Park is quite lush with lakes, ruins of temples?, a large rocky escarpment with an old fort perched along the top. However, our quest to find a tiger was unsuccessful. Saw various deer, birds and crocs but the tiger proved elusive. Having said that, half the group (We were split into 2 and sent to different sections of the park) did come across a tiger, so they were lucky. The safari drives were not nearly as professional as those we did in Africa.

    (In the photos of wildlife I cannot remember many of the names)    Read more

  • Brad and Mandy PearceLions and Tigers
    Day 35

    Happy Diwali day

    October 27, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We left Ranthambore for Jaipur on their festival Diwali, the Hindu equivalent of Christmas. Our guide organised for us to join in the Diwali celebrations by driving through the city in open top jeeps (Or Mahindra's) to experience the lights, the noise, the crowds and fireworks. We have never seen anything like it before. Thousands of people riding bikes, tuk tuk, etc. all laughing and smiling. I think we were a bit of a novelty - a group of white faces in amongst a sea of Indian faces. It was a lot of fun.

    Back at the hotel we were treated to a fireworks display from our hotel room that went on for hours, well after midnight. Apparently the air quality in Delhi was downgraded from poor to hazardous after all the Diwali celebrations.    Read more

  • Brad and Mandy PearceLions and Tigers
    Day 36

    Jaipur - The pink city

    October 28, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We had a couple of days in Jaipur with sightseeing only in the mornings and then we had the rest of the day to ourselves which was very nice.

    Jaipur is much nicer than Delhi - less population, less busy, less dirty (a little), and it looks nice because all the buildings in the centre are painted pink and white. Actually it is not pink, more terracotta, it got labelled pink by the papers after British royalty visited and the name stuck.

    In brief we visited over the two days:

    The city palace - several courtyards and galleries such as the textile gallery with clothing from various Maharaja's etc; the armoury; miniature art gallery with intricate paintings and the banquet hall with portraits of all the Maharaja's through the centuries. No photos permitted inside the galleries.

    Jantar Mantar- an astrological/astronomical observatory and sundial that was accurate to within 20 seconds. It also tracked the planets but more in an astrological sense rather than an astronomical sense. Astrology is very important to Hindus. Date and time of birth is very important when making decisions or what attributes you may have. Apparently I am a traveller (Well duh!), and Brad is a prince. He could have told us anything.

    Palace of the Winds - photo stop only. Beautiful building where royal ladies could overlook the crowds without being seen.

    Amber Fort - yet another fort with similar features to the other forts we have visited. We travelled up by jeeps but the other option was elephants. They are only used for a few hours in the morning for maximum of 4 trips. Owning an elephant is like owning a Rolls Royce here as they are used at weddings and parades etc. We are told they are very well looked after.

    Sunken palace? - actually don't know what it was called, photo stop only. Looked nice.    Read more

  • Brad and Mandy PearceLions and Tigers
    Day 38

    Final day in India

    October 30, 2019 in India ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We are returning to Delhi from Jaipur for our return flights home but stopping halfway overnight to stay at Patan Mahal in a rural past of India. We arrived in the village of Patan where we had to transfer from the bus to camel cart (Or you could walk) for the few hundred metres to the hotel. We were accompanied by all the kids in Patan - felt a bit like we were in a zoo being watched by the locals.

    Built in the late 1700's, this palace has been turned into a heritage hotel and while it certainly is not modern, it is very spacious. We have a room on the top floor (3rd floor, no lifts, steep ramps) and is bigger than some 2 bed apartments I've seen.

    Had a walking tour of the village and as we walked out the gate, excited children's voices said "here they come". I don't think many tour groups come through here so we are a novelty to the town. As a group, donations of supplies (pens etc.) are given to the school.

    Our final night in India we were treated to a gala dinner with a display of Indian dancing and music. Another buffet meal - I think we are buffeted out by now. Packed or bags and prepared for the long flight home. So it's Goodbye India!    Read more

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