So blog updates aren't happening as frequently as I initially had planned... because overall, I'm staying too busy vacationing ;) But! I have a few minutes on UD's laptop, so here goes a quick recap of the past 3 weeks or so
Oh, before Istanbul... the rest of my time in the Netherlands was fantastic. Spent New Year's at my aunt's place in the center of Amsterdam with great friends and family (my cousin and her fiance came to visit from Germany!), then flew off the next day.
24 Hours in Istanbul
I had the option of having a 6 hour or 24 hour layover for my flight to New Delhi... so I chose to see the much dreamed of city in a day. I had once met up with a couchsurfer from Istanbul in Cincinnati, and while he wasn't there to show me around, he arranged his good friend to give me the best snapshot of the city I could have asked for in 24 hours.
Great Kurdish dinner -- real Turkish coffee -- seeing that one-important-street-whose-name-he-told-me-to-remember -- attempting to play the Kanun -- the most amazing Kanun music he played -- drinking Raki (Rika?...sorry, awful memory) and some kind of root juice and eating Turkish cheese -- going to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia (ohmyyyyygawwwwddd), and the Palace all in one afternoon -- taking a ferry to the Asian side ("Hi Asia! I'll be back tomorrow!") -- taking a stroll through the Spice Bazaar -- then off to the airport with minutes to spare (I ended up having a 6 hour layover, so it was all good :)).
Thank you thank you thank you, Saner.
10.5 Days in India
Not sure how much detail I can go into here because we did A LOT and I only have a few minutes to spare...
UD is awesome. He took off 11 days from work to show Kyle and me around A LOT of India. We were constantly moving. His parents were awesome too. We were constantly fed (speaking of which, eating hasn't stopped at any point in time on this trip so far...).
First few days we spent around Delhi and Rajasthan (sp? again, sorry) -- saw the fort in Amber, went past Jaipur, spent a night in Rathumbar (sp....again...sorry... I can spell check when I get back to the US), and did a safari! Last night in Delhi, UD drove us around to a lot of the highlights there :) We drove through a loooot of villages. India is so colorful... in the dress, trucks, houses, everything.
Then off on a flight to Goa. The famed hippie party beach Goa. Definitely saw some more tourists around here. And understandingly why they accumulate at some of these really nice beaches for months. UD (illegally? hah) rented a car and we drove around to the beaches in South and North Goa for a couple of days and our last night we danced our butts off at Tito's in Arunja. Interesting. Men LOVE to dance here. In fact, you'll hardly see any ladies (hence why entrance is free for us, yet 1500 Rupees for men). And they won't approach you. They might stare, but they wouldn't dare touching you. Ah, nice. But yes, back to the dancing. Men loving to dance. Fantastic.
Then flight to Kochi in Kerala. Layover in Bangalore where our flight had been an hour delayed, but because I'm the luckiest person in the world, the other flight had waited for us and we were escorted on. Kerala is definitely more laid back (beach towns in general?). People are friendly and generally more approachable. It's called God's Own Country. No wonder. It's beautifully lush and has stretches of nice sands and peaceful backwaters -- "the Venice of India". Took a trip out to Cherai beach and spent a night there at a CSer. Next day we went to Allillepey (sp...) where we took a houseboat trip for 21 hours. Best. thing. ever. HIGHLY recommended. You float through the gorgeous backwaters, step inside some of the waterside small villages, choose which fresh fish you want cooked for dinner, (get fed constantly again,) and enjoy the serene scenery. So. Relaxing. Next day, Supi (our driver for 3 days and fantastic drummer) took us to...(frick...another name I don't remember...) Aliithhgrhgjgfd waterfalls. Another breathtaking view (pics to be uploaded later some time!)
Kyle and I got spoiled on this part of the trip. Drivers, people that carry our luggage, free time shares, servants making our food... Hope we didn't get used to this because I have a feeling the rest of this trip won't be like this :) (Thank you, UD!!!)
Oh, before Istanbul... the rest of my time in the Netherlands was fantastic. Spent New Year's at my aunt's place in the center of Amsterdam with great friends and family (my cousin and her fiance came to visit from Germany!), then flew off the next day.
24 Hours in Istanbul
I had the option of having a 6 hour or 24 hour layover for my flight to New Delhi... so I chose to see the much dreamed of city in a day. I had once met up with a couchsurfer from Istanbul in Cincinnati, and while he wasn't there to show me around, he arranged his good friend to give me the best snapshot of the city I could have asked for in 24 hours.
Great Kurdish dinner -- real Turkish coffee -- seeing that one-important-street-whose-name-he-told-me-to-remember -- attempting to play the Kanun -- the most amazing Kanun music he played -- drinking Raki (Rika?...sorry, awful memory) and some kind of root juice and eating Turkish cheese -- going to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia (ohmyyyyygawwwwddd), and the Palace all in one afternoon -- taking a ferry to the Asian side ("Hi Asia! I'll be back tomorrow!") -- taking a stroll through the Spice Bazaar -- then off to the airport with minutes to spare (I ended up having a 6 hour layover, so it was all good :)).
Thank you thank you thank you, Saner.
10.5 Days in India
Not sure how much detail I can go into here because we did A LOT and I only have a few minutes to spare...
UD is awesome. He took off 11 days from work to show Kyle and me around A LOT of India. We were constantly moving. His parents were awesome too. We were constantly fed (speaking of which, eating hasn't stopped at any point in time on this trip so far...).
First few days we spent around Delhi and Rajasthan (sp? again, sorry) -- saw the fort in Amber, went past Jaipur, spent a night in Rathumbar (sp....again...sorry... I can spell check when I get back to the US), and did a safari! Last night in Delhi, UD drove us around to a lot of the highlights there :) We drove through a loooot of villages. India is so colorful... in the dress, trucks, houses, everything.
Then off on a flight to Goa. The famed hippie party beach Goa. Definitely saw some more tourists around here. And understandingly why they accumulate at some of these really nice beaches for months. UD (illegally? hah) rented a car and we drove around to the beaches in South and North Goa for a couple of days and our last night we danced our butts off at Tito's in Arunja. Interesting. Men LOVE to dance here. In fact, you'll hardly see any ladies (hence why entrance is free for us, yet 1500 Rupees for men). And they won't approach you. They might stare, but they wouldn't dare touching you. Ah, nice. But yes, back to the dancing. Men loving to dance. Fantastic.
Then flight to Kochi in Kerala. Layover in Bangalore where our flight had been an hour delayed, but because I'm the luckiest person in the world, the other flight had waited for us and we were escorted on. Kerala is definitely more laid back (beach towns in general?). People are friendly and generally more approachable. It's called God's Own Country. No wonder. It's beautifully lush and has stretches of nice sands and peaceful backwaters -- "the Venice of India". Took a trip out to Cherai beach and spent a night there at a CSer. Next day we went to Allillepey (sp...) where we took a houseboat trip for 21 hours. Best. thing. ever. HIGHLY recommended. You float through the gorgeous backwaters, step inside some of the waterside small villages, choose which fresh fish you want cooked for dinner, (get fed constantly again,) and enjoy the serene scenery. So. Relaxing. Next day, Supi (our driver for 3 days and fantastic drummer) took us to...(frick...another name I don't remember...) Aliithhgrhgjgfd waterfalls. Another breathtaking view (pics to be uploaded later some time!)
Kyle and I got spoiled on this part of the trip. Drivers, people that carry our luggage, free time shares, servants making our food... Hope we didn't get used to this because I have a feeling the rest of this trip won't be like this :) (Thank you, UD!!!)
