Taj Mahal, Agra

Just like Eiffel Tower to Paris, Taj Mahal is basically the symbol of India, which also means it is heavily visited by tourists. Too many tourists that it loses its magnificence. I just wanted to leave as soon as possible once i stepped into the building. It is a mausoleum for a king and his beloved queen, but they wouldn't rest in peace because there are too many of disturbances. You can't imagine how noisy the interior of Taj Mahal is. It is where their tombs lie. Even there is a sign board saying silence please, many people just want to test echo effect inside the Taj Mahal by speaking loudly and shouting. Not to mention the flashlight of cameras, cameras are everywhere. As a reminder, it is also forbidden to take photo inside the main mausoleum.

One thing to praise about Taj Mahal is, the government is doing a good job protecting this particular heritage. For exemple, there are 3 main entrances, and every road around these entrances is pedestrians' area, means no cars is allowed. However, tuk-tuks are the exceptions.  

So in the end, is it worth visiting? Yes, it is marvelous, but only from architectural point of view.

Slums in Mumbai

Slums in Mumbai, famous most probably because of the movie, "Slumdog Millonaire". Actually there are several slums in Mumbai. I used to think that there is only one slum in Mumbai and it is the biggest in the world. Apparently not. So i did a little research online, and the largest slum in the world belongs to the Neza-Chalco-Itza in Mexico City.

At first, i was planning to go for a tour in the slum in Mumbai. But in the end, i didn't because i don't know how i supposed to react in front of such poverty. Plus i came here as a tourist, what i can do for them is too little and this cruel fact just makes me sad. 

As my mom and me were going to leave Mumbai to Udaipur, we passed by a slum by taxi. I didn't even know we were going to pass by a slum at first. Our hotel was in somewhere near the Azad Maidan. But we had to catch the train to Udaipur from the Bandra Terminus, which is around 10km away. So taxi is the most common way for tourists and the most convenient for us too.

All the following shots were taken with me sitting inside a taxi. 

The other entrance to the Bandra Terminus, where the taxi driver dropped us. 

I still don't have any idea of which slum we passed by on that day. But it was huge. The Bandra Terminus is nearby the slum. Plus the driver dropped us at the other side of the station, we were so shocked when the driver said, "We arrrive!"  I was so shocked, i doubted and asked the driver again. I couldn't do anything but to believe the driver that this is Bandra Terminus. Luckily after asking several different people, we were sure that this is the one. 

The slum is like nothing i have seen before. I simply cannot imagine how to live in such an environment. What i just saw is just parts of the slum beside the main road. Imagine deep inside the slum!

Osian - Staying with the locals at the edge of Thar

Osian is a small village not very far from Jodhpur. It can be reached by the local bus, from Jodhpur to Osian, around 1 hour journey. Me and my mom had a short, 1-day, stay with a family outside the Osian. They live at the edge of Thar desert. Once we arrived in Osian, we had a 4-hour camel ride to their house. 

Inside the bus from Jodhpur to Osian.

Our ride. Two English also joined us for the trip, James and Hanna.

Pimp my ride!
My second camel ride, this time in Thar desert.

Heading towards their house. It was a long way.

We didn't really go into the desert, we just hanged around the edge of Thar.

Traditional house in the remote area of Thar.

Lunch time!!! We are their honoured guests :)

Our lunch. Home cooked food is always delicious. Yum yum.....

So this is where we stayed for the night.
No roof since rain is not a concern in the desert.
The roof would have blocked the beautiful starry night sky.

Our beds viewed from far.

These two goats provided all the milk during our stay. 

An evening walk to a spot, for a better view of the sunset.

He is the head of the family, super nice guy.

Sunset.

Hanna, James, my mom and me ^^

It's time to wake up!!!

Breakfast - sweet porridge with milk and sugar, fried salted chapati with onions
and a cup of milk tea. A great way to start a day.

She is chef, cooking every meals for us during the stay.

The next morning after the breakfast, we headed back to Osian bus station by jeep.

Osian bus station.

This is another good memory during my trip to India. It is always great to escape to the remote area, away from the civilisation and from the honking sound of the crazy traffic in India. 

Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai

My mom and i went to the Dhobi Ghat during our stay in Mumbai. We went there with a hired guide. Without the guide, we simply would not walk there because we are just not familiar with that place. A guide is totally recommended.

Me and our guide.

My mom and our guide walking infront of us. 

The Dhobi Ghat. The hotels around the area always send the clothes here for washing.
Using washing machinesand electricity is apparently too expensive according to our guide.
Our guide also said, the whole ghat is divided for different owners,
there are actually many different owners there.

Almost every clothes are hand-washed.

Clothes everywhere......

The white powder in packets is washing powder,
and the black liquid is some sort of  bleaching agent.
Black bleaching agent, that is just strange logic.

Ironing clothes.

Some rich owners actually have machines doing the work.
So not all the clothes are hand-washed.

Like many, my first impression about this place is a total mess. Guess what, not at all! The place is very organised. Every clothe is carefully labelled so that it won't be lost. I am totally amazed by the way they sort things, especially in the ghat where there are so many clothes there, and it is so happening. A totally serious buisness is going on there. People are doing some honest work there, to fight for a better life.  

Amritsar, Golden Temple, Sikhism

Sikh, the first thing that pops out of my head is, Sikh = security guard. This is just a stereotype though, no offense to anyone. Since i was small, i was told like so. There are Sikhs in Malaysia, but minority. I only know Sikhism as a religion, but other things, totally no clue. So i went to Amritsar, visited the Golden Temple, and started to learn a little bit about them. 

Amritsar is really nice to visit. It is clean, the cleanest city among the all the cities i had been to in India. A visit to Amritsar will totally give you a new perspective on Sikhs.

The main road leading to the Golden Temple.

The Golden Temple at night.

The Golden Temple during daytime. Too bad it was raining that day.
Otherwise, the temple will shine under the sunlight.

Many people lining up to go into the central shrine.

Inside the central shrine. This is the only picture i took inside the shrine.
Take less photo and feel the Holiness.

Guess what, a Nepalese Sikh, and his friend. Both of them working as volunteer there.
And he speaks chinese. Cool!
It was him who invited us to have dinner in the canteen beside the temple.
Actually anyone can eat there. They provide 3 meals a day, 365 days non stop.   

The food is coming ^^
Improve your good karma, donate some money at your free will,
to support them continue to giving out free food. 

Every corner of the temple, there is clean water provided.
They are cleaning the drinking mugs by using some sort of dirt.
The dirt will adsorb the moisture.  

There is a canteen beside the temple providing free food. I think this is reason why there are less beggars in the town. Less beggars, thus cleaner. For everything i had seen in the temple, in Amritsar, i would like to praise Sikhs for doing such a good job. 

Sikhs are cool! I met alot of Sikhs in India, and all of them are super well-mannered. Sikh is totally one of classy people i have seen. What i am saying here is, not just rich Sikhs, poor Sikhs are also very classy, even they are poor, they always keep themselves very clean, and they wouldn't beg. It is not because of the temple is providing food and they have no worries about food. I had met some poor Sikhs outside Amritsar also. They just sit there and let you donate at your free will, unlike other annoying beggars in India. 

Sikhs, i salute you!