Wonders of India, a set on Flickr.
Edited photos from our trip to Rajasthan
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Friday, 8 July 2011
Sydney on a winter day
Back from scorching-hot-43-degrees-but-no-humidity-still-hot-nonetheless Rajasthan I ventured today in wintery-mild-not-too-cold Sydney.
It was a glorious sunny day, not a cloud to be seen in the sky and therefore slightly colder than yesterday, especially in the morning. But the afternoon was mild as usual, nothing compared to european winters. You can easily go out with a woollen jumper and be comfortable in the middle of winter.
Mind you, you'll always see the odd exception around, today I saw one girl with a canada goose jacket, mittens, scarf and a woollen beanie and 100 m further there was a woman with a saree and t-shirt.
It's always very peculiar to go back to your own country after having spent a bit of time in Asia. I'm talking price wise. You go to Jodhpur and you can have the best lassi in the world for less than 25 cents. You go to Sydney and you can get yogurt for 5 dollars. I guarantee you that your normal reaction will be:"What???? I'm not paying that!!!!".
Today I actually rolled my eyes at the "outrageous" prices of shampoos and conditioners. Am I really supposed to spend 6 $ for a shampoo when I can get 3 meals for that much money in Bikaner?
It will pass though.
It will fade more and more until one day I will not even blink when I will have to pay 70 $ for a jumper, heck I will actually think it's a bargain!
Eh, good old Asia, I wouldn't live there though, I miss my things too much. I can easily live with a bare minimum, I did so for years when too skint to go shopping to the supermarket, but I always knew it was a temporary situation and when I went back on track I had no withdrawal syndrome.
But knowing that there's no way you can get a good dish of pasta in a place simply because you're 200 miles away from the closest village and even that one has probably never stored Barilla.... well, I could do that only if knowing that it's not definitive.
That's why I enjoy travelling, cause I know that in the end I will have a big different "home" to compare my travels to. In that way I will appreciate "home" more, cause I will know how dear it is and how privileged I am.
It might be banal but it's true.
Anyway Sydney was so beautiful today! Pitt Street Mall is almost done, I sat in front of the shops on one of the new benches watching some kids performing very basic street dance moves, sipping on my Hot Taro Milk Tea by EasyWay (I'm addicted!), browsing through the last book I bought (yes I bought more books, it's my thing, get over it!), a Japanese thriller that has been declared a literary case in Japan. That catch line was all I needed to convince myself to buy it. That, and the fact that it was 20% off, let's be honest, I'm still in post-Asia syndrome.
I bought some bling to fight the holidays blues (a girl needs some bling! well, at least this one does!) and went back home only slightly annoyed at the usual 12 minutes delay on the Western Line (used to the hours delay of public transport in Asia, see there are good side effects as well!).
And tomorrow is weekend so enjoy!
It was a glorious sunny day, not a cloud to be seen in the sky and therefore slightly colder than yesterday, especially in the morning. But the afternoon was mild as usual, nothing compared to european winters. You can easily go out with a woollen jumper and be comfortable in the middle of winter.
Mind you, you'll always see the odd exception around, today I saw one girl with a canada goose jacket, mittens, scarf and a woollen beanie and 100 m further there was a woman with a saree and t-shirt.
It's always very peculiar to go back to your own country after having spent a bit of time in Asia. I'm talking price wise. You go to Jodhpur and you can have the best lassi in the world for less than 25 cents. You go to Sydney and you can get yogurt for 5 dollars. I guarantee you that your normal reaction will be:"What???? I'm not paying that!!!!".
Today I actually rolled my eyes at the "outrageous" prices of shampoos and conditioners. Am I really supposed to spend 6 $ for a shampoo when I can get 3 meals for that much money in Bikaner?
It will pass though.
It will fade more and more until one day I will not even blink when I will have to pay 70 $ for a jumper, heck I will actually think it's a bargain!
Eh, good old Asia, I wouldn't live there though, I miss my things too much. I can easily live with a bare minimum, I did so for years when too skint to go shopping to the supermarket, but I always knew it was a temporary situation and when I went back on track I had no withdrawal syndrome.
But knowing that there's no way you can get a good dish of pasta in a place simply because you're 200 miles away from the closest village and even that one has probably never stored Barilla.... well, I could do that only if knowing that it's not definitive.
That's why I enjoy travelling, cause I know that in the end I will have a big different "home" to compare my travels to. In that way I will appreciate "home" more, cause I will know how dear it is and how privileged I am.
It might be banal but it's true.
Anyway Sydney was so beautiful today! Pitt Street Mall is almost done, I sat in front of the shops on one of the new benches watching some kids performing very basic street dance moves, sipping on my Hot Taro Milk Tea by EasyWay (I'm addicted!), browsing through the last book I bought (yes I bought more books, it's my thing, get over it!), a Japanese thriller that has been declared a literary case in Japan. That catch line was all I needed to convince myself to buy it. That, and the fact that it was 20% off, let's be honest, I'm still in post-Asia syndrome.
I bought some bling to fight the holidays blues (a girl needs some bling! well, at least this one does!) and went back home only slightly annoyed at the usual 12 minutes delay on the Western Line (used to the hours delay of public transport in Asia, see there are good side effects as well!).
And tomorrow is weekend so enjoy!
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Back home sweet home and a big thanks to everyone!
There's something unique in travelling to remote places. The thrill of seeing something you can only expect in a National Geographic Channel, the enriching experience of getting to know different cultures, the heart warming feeling of being a witness to history....
BUT, there's always something special in coming back home too.
It's your place, you're familiar with it, you're comfortable without having to pay top dollars, your clothes don't have to squeeze in a suitcase, you can do your own laundry with the fabric softener you like so much, the programmes on tv speak your language and your tivo has a special list of tv hits you love and you can watch at your own will.
You can sleep in without having to hang the "Do not disturb sign" on the door.
You can eat anything you want and you can cook your own food.
Well, it's good to be back home,
And if you have the holiday blues, it's easy you just start planning your next destination!
Literally Steve and I are already looking into it!
Our kittens are not too upset we left them at Kieron's for 3 weeks and hey stopped giving us the cold shoulder as soon as we fed them chicken.
I can finally start working on the photo with a decent computer!
As a matter of fact Steve and I have 2 projects now, "The People of Nepal" and "Wonders of India".
The People of Nepal (www.flickr.com/photos/picsie74/sets/72157627003444903/) is a collection of portraits I took in Nepal. Beautiful people, busy people, tired people, religious people, a whole collection of humanity in their own daily life.
The Wonders of India which is still in progress is about the ... well... wonderful sights Steve and I were delighted to see during our tour.
I wish to thank all of our reader, our blog was viewed by almost 1000 visitors in 23 different countries, it's a huge satisfaction for Steve and myself!
We also wish to thank the agency we booked the trip with, Himalayan Glacier Trekking, based in Thamel, Kathmandu.
You can find their website here: http://www.himalayanglacier.com/.
They're a responsible and reliable group of people who will do their outmost to make sure you have a fantastic experience, I really do recommend travelling with them!
And last but not least I wish to thank Steve for his patience during the million times I stopped to take "just one more photo!"!!
BUT, there's always something special in coming back home too.
It's your place, you're familiar with it, you're comfortable without having to pay top dollars, your clothes don't have to squeeze in a suitcase, you can do your own laundry with the fabric softener you like so much, the programmes on tv speak your language and your tivo has a special list of tv hits you love and you can watch at your own will.
You can sleep in without having to hang the "Do not disturb sign" on the door.
You can eat anything you want and you can cook your own food.
Well, it's good to be back home,
And if you have the holiday blues, it's easy you just start planning your next destination!
Literally Steve and I are already looking into it!
Our kittens are not too upset we left them at Kieron's for 3 weeks and hey stopped giving us the cold shoulder as soon as we fed them chicken.
I can finally start working on the photo with a decent computer!
As a matter of fact Steve and I have 2 projects now, "The People of Nepal" and "Wonders of India".
The People of Nepal (www.flickr.com/photos/picsie74/sets/72157627003444903/) is a collection of portraits I took in Nepal. Beautiful people, busy people, tired people, religious people, a whole collection of humanity in their own daily life.
The Wonders of India which is still in progress is about the ... well... wonderful sights Steve and I were delighted to see during our tour.
I wish to thank all of our reader, our blog was viewed by almost 1000 visitors in 23 different countries, it's a huge satisfaction for Steve and myself!
We also wish to thank the agency we booked the trip with, Himalayan Glacier Trekking, based in Thamel, Kathmandu.
You can find their website here: http://www.himalayanglacier.com/.
They're a responsible and reliable group of people who will do their outmost to make sure you have a fantastic experience, I really do recommend travelling with them!
And last but not least I wish to thank Steve for his patience during the million times I stopped to take "just one more photo!"!!
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
Bangkok airport (am I having an deja vu???)
After the 3 hours flight from Kathmandu we are in Bangkok with an incredibly dark sky, seriously menacing storms complete with thunders and noisy gushes of wind.
I've been here before.
Between Steve and I there's this joke that every time I'm in Bangkok I send him a sms to say that I'm here... again... and again... and again....
I don't know how many times I'e been here.
Seriously I stopped counting.
The thing is that it's the best connection between Australia and all the flights to any destination in Europe.
And as I've said before, I like it.
I know this airport very well now, I know where to find free wi-fi (the Billion cafe' between gates C and D), I know where to get a nice foot massage (in front of Boots...yes there's a Boots!!!), I know where to find the best Tom Yum Goong (well. I won't tell you thins otherwise everyone will go there and it won't be so good anymore).
In a few words it's becoming homely.
We have a few hours to kill before we board the flight to Sydney and I try and work on the photos while Steve has some dinner.
There's this couple sitting right next to us.
She is trying her best to copy Angelina Jolie's pouting.
As a matter of fact she's trying so hard I think her lips are kind of stuck in that position for ever.
I can't help feeling a strong dislike for this wannabe glamour girl. She's looking at the waitresses and waiting for them to look at her back probably to order something but what she doesn't know is that here it doesn't work like that.
If you want something you have to call them.
And she's pouting again,... oh jeez I think one of the waitresses thinks she's sending them kisses cause they're laughing now!
Well, she has one of these things that looks like a small iPad but it's only for books and I heard that it can contain literally thousands of books in the memory card.
I sigh since Steve and I when we were both in Udaipur and in Kathmandu have bought a few books (as usual) and now our luggage has gone up to 41 kilos. We didn't buy that much more in souvernirs and I'm willing to believe all those kilos are due to the books we bought.
20 of them, maybe more I don't know.
Well, is it our fault if Kathmandu has the best and most comprehensive bookstore I've ever seen????
That's right! Pilgrims Book House. Try it!
They have books I never even dreamed about finding!! Books you might have to pay hundreds of dollars and wait for months before getting them out of amazon.
We're quite proud about our shopping!
Even though we were supposed to go to Tibet, and in the end managed to go to India, I found a Mala (rosary beads used by Buddhists), a tibetan singing bowl (not very good at it yet but I'm practicing), a vajiya (also used by the monks), a painting of a Mandala (depicting the Wheel of Life), some dodgy fridge magnets (off course!!!), presents for family and friends and Steve even found a Nepal soccer team t-shirt!
But most of all I'm happy I found a prayer wheel with Tara! That one is going in our entry as soon as we get back home!
Ok, we didn't go to Tibet, but we had a very good trip and we enjoyed Rajasthan even in spite of the summer heat, and overall I'm also very satisfied with the sights in Nepal, since the first time I was there I was not aware of many of the things we now found out thanks to our hotel owner. Never stop learning, never stop exploring!!
I've been here before.
Between Steve and I there's this joke that every time I'm in Bangkok I send him a sms to say that I'm here... again... and again... and again....
I don't know how many times I'e been here.
Seriously I stopped counting.
The thing is that it's the best connection between Australia and all the flights to any destination in Europe.
And as I've said before, I like it.
I know this airport very well now, I know where to find free wi-fi (the Billion cafe' between gates C and D), I know where to get a nice foot massage (in front of Boots...yes there's a Boots!!!), I know where to find the best Tom Yum Goong (well. I won't tell you thins otherwise everyone will go there and it won't be so good anymore).
In a few words it's becoming homely.
We have a few hours to kill before we board the flight to Sydney and I try and work on the photos while Steve has some dinner.
There's this couple sitting right next to us.
She is trying her best to copy Angelina Jolie's pouting.
As a matter of fact she's trying so hard I think her lips are kind of stuck in that position for ever.
I can't help feeling a strong dislike for this wannabe glamour girl. She's looking at the waitresses and waiting for them to look at her back probably to order something but what she doesn't know is that here it doesn't work like that.
If you want something you have to call them.
And she's pouting again,... oh jeez I think one of the waitresses thinks she's sending them kisses cause they're laughing now!
Well, she has one of these things that looks like a small iPad but it's only for books and I heard that it can contain literally thousands of books in the memory card.
I sigh since Steve and I when we were both in Udaipur and in Kathmandu have bought a few books (as usual) and now our luggage has gone up to 41 kilos. We didn't buy that much more in souvernirs and I'm willing to believe all those kilos are due to the books we bought.
20 of them, maybe more I don't know.
Well, is it our fault if Kathmandu has the best and most comprehensive bookstore I've ever seen????
That's right! Pilgrims Book House. Try it!
They have books I never even dreamed about finding!! Books you might have to pay hundreds of dollars and wait for months before getting them out of amazon.
We're quite proud about our shopping!
Even though we were supposed to go to Tibet, and in the end managed to go to India, I found a Mala (rosary beads used by Buddhists), a tibetan singing bowl (not very good at it yet but I'm practicing), a vajiya (also used by the monks), a painting of a Mandala (depicting the Wheel of Life), some dodgy fridge magnets (off course!!!), presents for family and friends and Steve even found a Nepal soccer team t-shirt!
But most of all I'm happy I found a prayer wheel with Tara! That one is going in our entry as soon as we get back home!
Ok, we didn't go to Tibet, but we had a very good trip and we enjoyed Rajasthan even in spite of the summer heat, and overall I'm also very satisfied with the sights in Nepal, since the first time I was there I was not aware of many of the things we now found out thanks to our hotel owner. Never stop learning, never stop exploring!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)