BLUE POSTCARDS FROM PUSHKAR...

Niebieska oaza spokoju, hippisowska aura, ponoc ponad 100 swiatyn, kolorowy zawrot glowy, nalesniki z bananami i nutella i spacerologia stosowana...

IF YOU WANNA KEEP US HAPPY & SMILEY...

... do drop us a comment or 2 sometimes so we're sure u're travellin' wit us too...

WIDOKOWKI Z JAIPURU...

POSTCARDS FROM JAIPUR...
... where we celebrated firework and colour filled Diwali, where we immersed ourselves in the magnificent Pink City and where we were photographed retro style by a man with his 150 years old camera. (there are 2 copies, one goes 2 da best comment maker:-)



... tam swietowalismy swieto Diwali celebrujace swiatlo i boginie Lakszmi, utonelismy w urokach Rozowego Starego Miasta i zostalismy sfotografowani archaicznym wrecz (150 lat!!!) aparatem fotograficznym przez sympatycznego Hindusa... (sa dwie kopie a propos, jedna bedzie nagroda dla najlepszego komentatora/komentatorki...)

THE TAJ MAHAL AND OUR AGRA FANBASE

As we hurried down the dark road towards the gate not long past five in the morning, our tiredness was defeated by our anticipation, although the stares from the monkey lined fences probably pepped up our step a little too. Queued for tickets, then through the gate, walked a little further and a glance over the shoulder through an archway brought it into sight, the Taj Mahal, the most divine structure you could ever hope to lay your eyes upon. As we walked closer it shone in a purple hue as daylight became stronger. The Taj stands as though it was plucked right out of heaven and placed there by God himself. The white marble glistens and gleams in the first glimpse of the new day and it's perfect reflection is held in the still waters of the yet to be awoken fountains. The early start saw to it that there weren't too many pesky tourists in the viewpoint of our camera. We walked slowly around the monument watching as it's colour changed before our very eyes, a blueish purple slowly introducing the pinks and oranges brought by first sun. I don't believe a more harmonious structure has ever existed. The sun was high in the sky by the time we decided to say our goodbyes to the "ultimate monument to love". We managed to take the obligatory Princess Diana style shots on our way out. Then it was off to Joney's place for some brekkie(see our favourite places, I know it's in polish but you'll get the idea).






As for Agra itself? Well it's basically the town with the Taj in it. It has quite a charming little village area, Taj Ganj, with some interesting cafes if you can fight your way through the pushy autorickshaw drivers. We also visited the Agra Fort, which is really impressive, where a gang of very excited Indian girls asked if they could have a photo with us, who were we to let some fans down?!! The abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri is also within a short distance of Agra and well worth a look if you're ever in the neighbourhood.

FAVOURITE PLACES...

JONEY'S PLACE, AGRA



I po reklamie... Z cyklu miejsca ulubione i ukochane JONEY'S PLACE w wiosce Taj Ganj minuty zaledwie od Taj Mahalu... POjedlismy tam do syta nie raz i nie dwa (Malai Kofta mmmmmmmmniammmmmmmmm), wpisali do zeszytu pamiatkowego dla przyszlych globtroterow, ktorzy trafia w to magiczne maciupenkie miejsce i poznalismy tam takze uroczego pana Sarifa i jego mini-sklepik z wlasnorecznie skomponowanymi zapachami, ktory miesci sie w jego walizce... Nie potrafilismy sie oprzec zapachom szafranu, opium i lotosu. Fascynujaca podroz w strone orientalnych aromatow "za grosik"...



Best Malai Kofta we had so far, cutest lil eaterie we ever did see. Look out 4 lovely Mr Sarif and his teenchy mobile perfume store 4 a delightful trip into oriental aromas...

ZAPRASZAMY DO REKLAMY...

MORE BLOG ENTRIES RIGHT AFTER THIS COMMERCIAL BREAK...

"JEGO WYSOKOSC" TAJ MAHAL...

Podroze pociagami hinduskimi sa prawdziwa gratka. Nigdzie w swiecie nie spotkalem sie z tak fenomenalnie zorganizowanym transportem kolejowym! Nie dziwota ze Indian Railways sa druga najwieksza firma na swiecie jesli chodzi o ilosc zatrudnionych w niej pracownikow. Tak w ogole to taka zupelna dygresja na poczatku mojego nowego mini-niby-felietonu, bo po raz pierwszy zamiast wlasnie szkicowac to co chce Wam opowiedziec o kolejnym punkcie wycieczki podczas jazdy pociagiem, postanowilem zupelnie spontanicznie i na poczekaniu w tyciej kafejce internetowej w Katmandu (tak!jestesmy juz w Nepalu!!!) cos wymyslic...
Agra jest obowiazkowym punktem na mapie Indii, nie ze wzgledu na urokliwa i przyjazna turystom wioske Taj Ganj, nie ze wzgledu na monumentalny czerwony fort ani ze tez nie ze wzgledu na odlegle zaledwie o kilometry "Opuszczone Miasto" (Fatehpur Sikri)... Agry przeoczyc sie nie da ze wzgledu na TAJ MAHAL... Odkrywac uroki tegoz wlasnie budynku wybralismy sie dzielnie jeszcze przed switem... W polmroku ostatnich minut nocy, w towarzystwie konczacych wlasnie nocne polowy gigantycznych nietoperzy unoszacych sie nad naszymi glowami i w takt porannych modlow muezzina podekscytowani dotarlismy pod bileterie zabytku. Bylismy jednymi z nielicznych szczesliwcow, ktorzy zobaczyli Taj Mahal tego wlasnie poranka. Kolosalne arcydzielo architektoniczne i garstka nas juz nie zaspanych bo absolutnie nim oczarowanych i przeszczesliwych ze udalo sie nam zanim nadciagna tradycyjne tabuny turystow i nie bedzie juz tak kameralnie. Przez pierwsza godzine fontanny pozostaja wylaczone co daje idealne odbicie lustrzane Taj Mahalu w strumyku wody na przeciw. Delicje!



Zdjeciom, ochom i achom nie bylo konca. Do tego kontrast kolorowych sari na tle bialego marmuru. Wschod slonca - miod...



Cud nad cudy, dziw nad dziwy, harmonia doprowadzona do matematycznej perfekcji (Anetko jak najbardziej ramiona do gory, perfekcja bez rachunku prawdopodobienstwa...), niedoscignione piekno... Zabrzmi to bardzo moze i pompatycznie a moze tez przewidywalnie, bo w tej opinii nie jestem odosobniony, ale Taj Mahal bezsprzecznie jest najpiekniejszym budynkiem jaki kiedykolwiek widzialem. Zadne nawet najbardziej udane fotografie nie oddadza jego magii to po prostu trzeba zobaczyc! W tej sniezno-bialej marmurem tkanej bajce trwalismy lekko wrecz otumanieni godzinami...



Jedna z najbarwniejszych chwil dotychczasowej podrozy i wyprawa, ktora zapamietam na cale zycie... znow udalo mi sie zabrzmiec kwieciscie i pompatycznie ha ha...




P.S. Jak milo ze sie towarzystwo tak obudzilo ze snu wczesno-zmiowego i zaczyna sie odzywac! Niesmialo namawiam takze na komentarze do angielskich pisadel Lesia co by sie on tez ucieszyl. Wasze komentarze to usmiech na naszych twarzach i najbardziej niezawodne lekarstwo na tesknote, wiemy wtedy ze podrozujecie z nami...

DIZZYING DELHI DELIGHTS

Our overnight flight meant that we were quite tired for our introduction to India. Delhi, however, quickly woke us up. Our very funny and chatty taxi driver was straight out of a movie and dropped us off in an area called Paharganj. We were then shown to our hotel shuffling through the busiest street I think I will ever see. The signs are the first thing to hit you, followed by the throngs of people, the "no rules apply" autorickshaws, the colourful stalls packed with saris and much more delights, as well as the infamous sacred cows who frankly aint that bovvered. The smells, sounds, speed, and the vivid blues, reds and yellows hit you like a big wonderful slap in the face. You could be nowhere else in the world but India!




We spent our first afternoon just acclimatising and attempting to take in some of what Paharganj has to offer. It's also the main backpacker hangout area in Delhi and therefore no shortage of cheap restaurants and net cafes and there's even a bar!



The first thing on next morning's agenda was Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort. Chandni Chowk is often known as the back bone of old Delhi. It is a long street brim packed with bazaar after bazaar, tonnes of street food stalls and traffic like you've never seen it(no rules apply here either). It took us a while to fight our way to the top of the street where the entrance to the Red Fort stood. The Fort immediately looks very majestic amongst the madness. The massive outside walls surrounding the grand Mughal palacial grounds create a barrier from all the chaos outside. Within lies a peaceful retreat where one can loll away the hours. The Palace buildings are huge harmonious structures in complete contrast to current day Delhi. The gardens made a welcome rest spot for a while. On making our exit from the Red fort we popped in to Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, for a look.



The next day saw our first visit to a Hindu temple, a very glittery affair! Inside were contained various shrines to Deities each one more colourful and dramatic as you walk through, many set in silver mosaic. Hinduism sure gets top marks in the most colourful religion awards. We also visited the Bahai Lotus Temple, a beautiful white temple in the shape of a lotus flower. People of all religions are welcome to the temple and it is a silent space, no speaking is allowed inside the building, for meditation. An evening's shopping in Paharganj concluded our first meeting with Delhi. With an introduction like this we couldn't be more excited about our further adventures in India.

JORDAN IN A BETTER LATE THAN NEVER NUTSHELL

We arrived in Aquaba in Jordan at the end of a chaotic day spent at the Egyptian port of Nuweiba. Decided to hang out there for an extra night to recover even though there's not really alot to see bar lots and lots of shops selling bed linen and blankets. We did buy the most beautiful peacock blanket but more about that later, and some pillow cases to protect our wee heads from the germs of the some of the middle eastern hotels in which we have had the pleasure of laying our weary bodies down.




Next stop Amman, Jordan's capital, which we were quite excited about exploring only to discover that there wasn't really much to explore. Soldiering on however, we tried to make the most of our stay. The bazaars in the Downtown area were charming enough and the falafel sandwiches were extemely cheap and tasty. We also paid a visit to the National Gallery of Fine Art and saw some interesting works by many Middle Eastern and African artists. Amman has very little to offer in terms of bars or eateries but we did find a really cute rooftop restaurant, with a very friendly and helpful Egyptian waiter, where we ate for a couple of nights on the trot.



From Amman we took a trip to the Dead Sea, our first Jordan highlight and the most bizarre experience ever. You really are unsinkable! Wouldn't advise getting any in your eyes though, stings like crazy.



We left Amman the following morning, smiles on our faces and made the shortish journey to Petra full of new energy and expectations. Petra didn't let us down. The little town of Wadi Musa, right beside Petra, houses all of the visitors to the site. Again not a very charming place but we promptly forgave this as we walked in through the rocky gorge leading to the treasury. Wow! What a spectacular sight, no pictures could possibly do these massive facades justice nor reveal their scale. Petra is every bit as beautiful as you would imagine and so much more. We spent the whole day wandering around the site and even climbed the 750 steps to the monastery looking down over an immense rocky valley-scape interrupted by mammoth relief sandstone facades shining pinkish in the scorching Petra sun.

TUK-TUK, HENNA I WEGETARIANSKIE NIEBO...

Jestem w absolutnej kropce jesli chodzi o Indie... Scislej nie mam zielonego pojecia od czego zaczac... Od pierwszych chwil a konkretniej od podrozy z lotniska kolorowym tuk-tukiem z rubasznym kierowca o imieniu Shiva, jestem na innej planecie... Sa swiete krowy z gracja i pelnym luzem przechadzajce sie po ulicach Delhi, sa najbarwniejsze sari noszone przez Hinduski niczym na orientalnym pokazie mody, aromaty, kadzidelka, chaotyczne ulice z najbardziej nieokielznanym ruchem ulicznym z jakim kiedykolwiek mialem do czynienia,



ryksze, zielono-zolte tuk-tuki, bollywoodzkie "szlagiery" bedace sciezka dzwiekowa bazaru w Paharganj... Sa tez przygnebiajace obrazki biedy jakiej tez nigdy dotad nie doswiadczylem. Melanz emocji...



Od pierwszych chwil wpadamy w wir tej egzotycznej metropolii i wystarcza nam kilka zaledwie godzin by zrozumiec dlaczego Indie zaskarbily sobie tak wielka sympatie i milosc podrozujacych dusz ze wszystkich zakatkow naszego globu przepieknego. Magia, kolory, pokojowo i goscinnie nastawieni do swiata mieszkancy i najwybitniejsza ze wszystkich sztuk kulinarnych swiata. Jestesmy z Lesem w swoim zywiole! Indie sa jednym z niewielu krajow, w ktorych wegetarianska kuchnia ma pierwszenstwo. Karty menu wprost kipia od proponowanych delikatesow. A jakie to wszystko przepycha! No i "za grosik" a raczej za kilkanascie rupii, wszystkich z wizerunkiem Gandhiego. Dla odswiezenia oddechu po mocno przyprawionych przygodach swieze ziarna anyzku. No i jeszcze tak zaparzona herbata z cytryna zdarza sie poza Indiami tylko w polskim domu. Dla teskniacego nic trudnego:-) Globtroterowy raj na ziemi!



Delhi zapamietam przede wszystkim jako pierwsze zetkniecie z kultura Indii na zywo o czym marzylem od tylu lat... Wspominac bede takze wizyte w Jama Mesjid, najwiekszym meczecie w Indiach (miesci 25 tysiecy wiernych!),



wizyte w swiatyni bhai w ksztalcie kwiatu Lotosu,



zakupy na glosnych i przebarwnych bazarach, sezonowe atrakcje z papaja, bananami i pigwa w rolach glownych, tatuaz z henny w ksztalcie pawia (moj pierwszy souvenir z Delhi)



oraz pierwsze w zyciu klimatyzowane metro:-)))
Przed nami 3 miesiace wojazowania po Indiach i Nepalu. Juz nie moge sie doczekac na ciag dalszy...



P.S. Sekcja komentarzowa sie nieco ozywila, witam witam i o zdrowie pytam i ciesze sie ze wiecej ulubionych dusz sie osmielilo odezwac, nadal czekamy na niektorych z Was... Dobrze wiecie ze ja wiem kto siedzi cicho, sie nic a nic nie odzywa i mysli ze ja nie pamietam:-))) Kochani zaleglosci mamy sporo do napisania ale staniemy na wysokosci zadania! Jesli chodzi o kontakt komorkowy to jest ale tylko polowiczny, smsy docieraja ale my nie mozemy wysylac niestety. I jeszcze tylko spoznione ale najbardziej kolorowe i serdeczne zyczenia urodzinowe dla kuzynki Dominiki! Duza buzka XXXXXXXXXXXX