Nepal, around the Annapurna and out of communication range for two weeks

I finally reached Nepal with my travel companion Amelia and I’m starting to trek around the Annapurna today. So, for the next two weeks, I’ll be out of communication range.

I can’t wait to trek the Himalayans again, more when I’m back.

Varanasi, a travel update and some new pictures

My time in India is coming to an end. I just arrived in the holy city Varanasi on the holy river Ganges, with holy cows, a holy fire - a lot of holy shit, to cut a long story short. After basicaly travelling for 40 hours I - and maybe also the people around me - are in real need I take a shower.

The last days, I´ve visited Bikaner, the rat temple in Deshnok before going to Nawalgarh and Mandawa in the Shekawati Region, famous for the painted havelis. Arriving in Bikaner, I was lucky to find two travel companions, Aia from Japan and Anna - Doctora Anna - from Spain. In Bikaner, I found the Bollywood Poster I was looking for all the time - and I also found a place allowing me to take it. Just have a look and the picture - I don´t think anyone can disagree that this is one of the best souvenirs one can get in India. Wandering through the awakening Old City in the early morning was an endless photo opportunity. As is the fort, with one of the finest and best preserved interiors I´ve seen so far. 

While Aia had to travel on, Anna and I went to Deshnok, to visit Karni Mata the famous rat temple. And the temple is inhabited by rats, hundreds of them, runnig all across the temple, many of them sick and or deformed - a result of generations of incest - fed by the worshipers. Among them, a few white rats exist and spotting them should bring you good luck. We spotted one, so let´s see what the future will be like.

Early next morning, we took a busride of horror Nawalgarh, to visit the painted havelis in the Shekhavati region. Although most of them are decaying, fading, crumbeling, there´re well worth a visit - and tourism is the only reason some of them are renovated and preserved. The rich merchants who build them have left the region and so for many years, nobody cared about them. After two wonderful days it was time to travel on, Nepal is calling. So, after retourning to Jaipur for a bus to Delhi, I was a solitary traveller again, as Anna went on to Udaipur, whereas I took a bus to Delhi and jumped on the departing train to Varanasi.

There´re some more pictures of people online, enjoy.

New Pictures online

I´m in Jaisalmer for another day, then moving on to Bikaner, Delhi and Varanasi. Varanasi will be my last stop in India, before I´ll reach Nepal in about a week from now. Trekking! 

A few more pictures are online, Amber Fort near Jaipur. Enjoy.

New Photos and my whereabouts

After a few days in Delhi, I´m back in Jaisalmer (interesting itinerary, I know, but it actually does makes sense. At least for me). And I even managed to upload a few more pictures, this time from the ghost town Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Build as a new capital, is was abandonend as soon as possible (after the emperor´s death). Enjoy