If you're going to come to India make sure you pack some Pringles. Don't get me wrong. The food here is outstanding and no less than authentic because it's, like, you know, India, but 3x daily meals of curry and spicy dishes will have the kids knocking on your back door in no time.
I started my visit in the capital of Mumbai (Bombay), a schizophrenic city where 17 million denizens jostle each other on the streets. There's no sense of order, limited pedestrian cross walks, no "grid" street systems and a hell of a lot more cabs than Indian Gods.
Because the chaos can get a little unnerving, your hotel should be an uncompromised sanctuary. I stayed at the Taj Palace, which couldn't have been more of a home away from home away from home. Built more than 100 years ago, it's right at the Gateway of India and always on Conde Nast's 20 top hotel lists.
chillin at the pool
Gateway of India out my window
Ghandi's home ! (well, not really. Because he gave up his riches, he crashed at his friend's house, but this was his room)
Outside Jain's shrine
hot dude with a ritualistic headshave
seriously, kid, get off that roof!
i'm sorry. what?
there's really no separation between pedestrians and vehicles. and the pedestrians don't hold back when they see a hot bitch (jenna). this was 28 Days Later.. India-style for sure
Goodbye taj mahal ;(
Hello Deccan Odyssey!
oh wait... wrong picture. Hello Deccan Odyssey!
oh, meet the crew! me, jen, KT and daniel. We took a fishing boat to a historic fort in Sindhudurg.
Goa is pretty much a hippy's wet beach dream (and very European as it is a former Portuguese colony), and we ended up visiting some pretty awesome churches including the Basilica De Born Jesus, where the tomb of St Francis Xavier (faaamous saint) resides. Grody gross.
The further we traveled into the heart of Maharastra our itineraries became more "off-the-beaten-path." Americans become more "exotic" to the locals, leading to kids who want their pictures taken with you and street hawkers who can smell us from miles away. Oh, and it's also where wrestling originated. HOT!
This was India all day, all the time. Except a little dirtier. what?
Two points if you can find the Asian.
When we arrived at the Ajanta Caves, I was somehow promoted from freelance writer to prince.
The Ajanta Caves originate as early as 2 B.C. and feature the oldest paintings in the world (!), so there was no doubt I spent hours marveling at the preserved artwork on the cave walls and ceilings in several gutted out Buddhist temples. They remained unnoticed until 1819 when British officers stumbled upon them during a tiger hunt, making the history of these caves much more profound. Thanks, Brits!
Cave #10. One of the best. shit, so amazing.
These were buddhist temples, don't forget kids!
I didn't ever want to leave. Maybe it was that sense of inner peace.
But I eventually ended up back in Mumbai. Have you noticed I gained 178 pounds? Grody gross. See ya this weekend! happy halloween!
