I can't believe I'm at the TAJ!

It's worth the hype! It's huge and beautiful, especially at sunrise. A symbol of love. Built by one of the Mughal kings, Shah Jahan, as a memorial to his favorite wife who bore him 14 children. She died during childbirth. What a woman! Both the king and his queen are buried at the Taj and is made of white marble with carvings and precious stone mosaics. Very impressive. Even though no battles were fought or festivals celebrated here, it is still a masterpiece to see that has survived over 400 years.I know, it looks fake.

I just had too...

Hee hee...

Can you believe they had snow globes of the Taj?

Our group!

Jaipur

City of precious gems. I'm afraid to buy any because I don't trust myself, but they're fun to look at and try on. I got to try on a $10,000 ruby necklace. Not my kind of necklace. No way. I keep with my turquoise one, thanks.

This city is also the 2nd most visited by tourists next to Mumbai. And we've seen them all over our hotel. We're staying at another Taj Hotel, but this one was formerly a palace. It has the usual pool and spa, but also a running track, giant outdoor chess set, and huge gardens. They have free cooking demonstrations by the head chef every night, so that's the even plan for most of us. I hope I can video tape it so I can repeat the recipe.

Rickshaws in Jaipur have backseats!!
One of the largest sundials built in the 1700's. It's accurate to the millisecond!!
The Wind Palace.
Sarees getting stamped by gold paint and wooden stamps.
Elephants!!! They really know how to get tourists excited and pay lots of money to ride on. We just couldn't resist since the walk up to Amar Fort is about a 1.5 mile climb up a steep road with no shade. It's over 100 degrees and I woke up sweating. I'll take the elephant ride.

On the elephant!
It's steeper than it looks. And the ride wasn't ver smooth. I almost fell off more than a few times. That would've been bad.
The fort was gorgeous!!
Beautiful mirrored mosaics and marble carvings.
And of course, snake charmers to entertain us. That cobra looks fake, but believe me it was real.

Visiting our last school tomorrow. Then we're off to our last city, Agra, to see the Taj Mahal. This trip is quickly coming to an end, so I hope to savor every moment.

Train ride to Jaipur

So on the same day we're about to board a train to Jaipur, we heard there was a 7 car train fire that left from Hyderabad. They don't know how the fire started, but it happened in the middle of the night while everyone was sleeping. Over 30 people died. Hmm...this was just a fluke and it won't happen to us...right? I couldn't help thinking about this the entire bus ride to the train station, but by the time we got there, I calmed down. Riding the overnight train is probably on my top-ten fav memories of this trip. It as sooooooo fun.

Waiting for the train. They said today wasn't really crowded. You think?!
Vartika is one of the USEFI administrators that read our applications. She's super fun and made sure we had an 'authentic' Indian train ride experience.
Sleeping on the top tier.

We were in an AC-3 tier car. This is considered 2nd class. First class has only 2 tier bunks and curtains between them. Ours didn't have curtains, and I had about a foot and a half of space from the bunk to the ceiling. It was pretty comfy. Third class has no AC and fourth class has no AC and no bunks. Didn't sleep as much as I would have liked to, but it was better than sitting up for 8 hours with no AC.
Arrived at Jaipur at 5am. When we got off the train, there were dozens of families sleeping on the concrete train platforms waiting for their trains. We tried our best not to step on any of them,
Our train leaving for the next stop.

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More from Ahmedabad

At the Sun Temple dedicated to Surya, the sun god. It's full of intricately carved stone pillars, floors and ceilings. I'm standing in front of the sacred pool just before entering the temple.
One of the many pillars.
Front of a Jain temple. Jain's believe in nonviolence living. So they're vegetarian and constantly sweep the ground they walk to avoid stepping on any insect that might crawl in your path. This temple was beautifully painted with idols all over. Different from the other Jain temple I saw in Kolkata where there was all glass mosaics.
We were so lucky to visit a family who does Patola weaving, an almost lost style of textile-making. They painstakingly dye each silk thread by tying knots. When the threads are woven together, a beautiful, intentional pattern emerges as one piece of fabric. Also, all the dyes they use are natural (mostly vegetable) dyes that they also make by hand. These guys are crazy!!! Their work is so highly valued and wanted that there is a 6-year waiting list to get a custom Patola sari made. I just bought a set of notecard for the memory.
This work of art is selling for 7,000,000 rupees (43 rupees = $1). Mucho expensivo.

This insect carcus is used as one of the many natural dyes. They also use spinach, tumeric, indigo and beets. I think I heard the weaver say this insect is found in Mexico eating cactus plants. He has a Hindi name for it, but I didn't catch that either.
Here's a close-up of the insects.
He dropped one insect into a cup of water. As it dissolved, it turned the water a pinkish-red.
This is a 7-story downward well that was built in the 1000's. The multistory wells were meant for travelers to get water and stay on the terraces. Each level had a different price since the closer you were to the water, the cooler it was.
More intricate carvings at this well site.
Supposedly there are 100s of these well sites all over Ahmedabad, but many have yet to be unearthed.

Scenes from Ahmedabad

Arrived safely in Ahmedabad last night.  The city is packed with military and police check points since there were 7 bombs that went off here 5 days ago.  I don't feel at unsafe here because this city's on high alert.  We're staying away from crowded areas and markets.  The attacks have not been tourist or American related, so I'm too worried.  

Today we went to a school that's on 25 acres of land!  It has amazing facilities, but I was disappointed to see the same sort of teaching we've seen all over.   After the school, we went to Guandi's ashram and home.  That was amazing!

Interactive Periodic Table at the school visit.

Each element square spins and shows different information

such as electron configuration, isotopes, oxidation numbers, etc.

I want one!!

Super cute kids at the preschool.  

I can't get enough of the Indian children!!!

They are sooooo cute!

Story time in a half outdoor/indoor classroom.

High school students meditating during their morning assembly.

I love Gaundi.

This has got to be my favorite picture of him.

Chillin' at Guandi's house.

His room is to the left of us and the kitchen is through that doorway.

The view we were looking at is of the river and Old Ahmedabad.

Guandi's room with his personal desk,

spinning wheel, and staff (in the corner).

It was so crazy and unreal to be standing in his room

where he was planning the Salt March and other protests against British rule.

On his desk is a figurine of 3 monkeys.

One monkey is covering his mouth, the other is covering his eyes,

and the last is covering his ears.  The guide said it was a gift from one

of Guandi's visitors from Japan.  The saying of the monkeys goes:

"Say no evil, see no evil, hear no evil."

I'm seeing these monkeys everywhere in India and now I know why they're so popular.

Just outside Guandi's room, there was a man demonstrating how to spin cotton as Guandi did/taught Indians in the 1920's/30's.  He started the movement against foreign cloth by empowering the common people to spin their own cotton and weave their own cloth.  I don't know much about Guandi's life so now I'm inspired to read his books.  

Only 30 rupees (60 cents) here in India!

Hike in Pune

For our Sunday off from Fulbrighting, Jessica found an local ad for hiking trips outside of Pune.  Only 750 rupees (less than $20) for transportation, breakfast, lunch, water, and tea.  We couldn't beat the price and it was a great opportunity to hang out with local Punites.  

In the car on our way up the rural area of Pune.  

We had more than a few close calls with trucks in the passing lane.

Here one comes.

There it goes...

We cleared it without any scratches.

I was tempted to put my hand out the window and feel the side

of the truck, but Barbara said it was a bad idea.

While on the hike, we saw a bunch of goats.

Here's my favorite pic.

We hiked down this really cool natural rock staircase.

It started raining so the staircase turned into a waterfall.

I have a great video of it, but it's too big to post.

Pretty banks near rice patties.

Squatting in rice patties.  Saying "heee-eeyyy!" to my Chinese roots.

Fellow hikers.

Most of these guys are computer science engineers.

A typical Indian meal.  Soooooo good.

Vivek, a social butterfly, wanted to be in every "snap" with us.

On the top of the "mountain", really a hill. 

The white behind us are the clouds.

This is one of the best hikes I've ever been on.