I have so much I want to write and say. I usually sit down to write these post having my mind set on what I’m going to write, but then as I start typing all the littlest moments, smells, tastes, and sights that have made up my day hit me and I want to share everything! I feel so overwhelmed and overloaded—in a fabulous and incredible way—about all the things I encounter here. Delhi is so many things that I find it impossible to pinpoint one moment of my day to write about.
All things being equal, I will start where I last left off: Ranthambore National Park
First, I was very excited to ride a train for the first time ever in my life. Delta, Southwest, get with the program. My train had, not only, more legroom, but also more above storage room. And they served samosas (for rs. 10). As I rode from Delhi to Ranthambore, Rajasthan, I saw so many different living situations and people. Everything from lush green fields of farmland to trash polluted slums.
Once in Ranthambore, the IES group and I were amazed at our hotel. Our hotel was this beautiful white pillared building that reminded me a lot of Indiana Jones (thank you Hollywood). I must say, as a group, we were all disappointed in the food they served at the hotel. It was clearly catered to the British, American, and other foreigners staying at the hotel. The food lacked spice, and was completely bland, and the staff even called food by more American/non-Indian names. Instead of saying Palak Paneer, they called the dish spinach and cottage cheese. I also found that the hotel seemed to project a certain image of India-an exotic and purely beautiful India without any depiction of conflict or poverty. I actually missed the streets of Delhi.
I have to admit though, the Ranthambore Park was worth a couple of days of bland food. Even if I hadn’t seen any animals, of which I saw many, just seeing the topography of Ranthambore was incredible. We took two “safaris” (I hate this word, but how else can I say it) one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We almost didn’t see any tigers, but at the very end of the first trip, our guide heard a dear and monkey sounding their alarm calls. The guide drove us to where the alarm calls came from and within 20 minutes or so a tiger appeared! I only saw the tail end (literally) but it was good enough for me! Only about 1 in every 10 groups see a tiger, so our group was extremely lucky to see a tiger at all! I saw many other animals in the park other than a tiger: Sambar deer, spotted dear, crocodiles, parrots, a blue crane, monkeys, peacocks, owls, and these birds with orange feathers that ate of my hand. I was also very excited to see two elephants and one camel on the road outside of the park as well!
I arrived home yesterday afternoon and went to fabindia. This was my third and last time for a while to shop there, as I now feel the need to explore other shops and markets.
Photos of the trip:
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