Pushkar

So Claudia has at last recovered from her gastro from hell, at last I have my travel buddy back!!

So it was couple of bus trips from Jaipur to Pushkar but we arrived and both of us felt the instantly mellow. No-one hassling us to buy clothes or craptastic puppets, just calm and serenity....and the usual gathering of cows and monkeys.

So Pushkar is a small and very spiritual town surrounding a lake. Ghats (stairs leading down to the lake to purify the body) surround the lake and with it come the many Holy men. Usually they are Brahmin as this is home to one of only two or three Brahmin temples. Thank God for the Lonely Planet who warned us against swindiling priests. It happened to our American friends who were here a couple of days before us. You are given a flower and invited place it in the lake as a blessing for your family and loved ones. After completing this apparently generous and spiritual act you turn to find the priest demanding however many hundred ruppees. Poor Americanas, how can you argue with a Holy man for money, especially when he slips in "your family isn't even worth three hundred ruppee??"

So when they came up to Clauds and I we said "We've already done it"

"Then where is your red bracelet?" ........dammit. They are clever, with a whole system of checks and everything. So now when they hand us the flowers I smile and say no thanks we just want to look. When they start there wheeling and dealing I smile,"these really are beautiful flowers. I won't put them in the lake but I will smell them as I walk and shop". They're happy to take the flowers off my hands at this point.

Pushkar seems to be divided between the holy and the hypocracy. There would be scores of genuinly holy men worshipping here but you can never tell which is which. Also there is a strict no drinking and no eating eggs policy, but Bhang is all the go. Bhang is a drink made from the roots and leaves of the marijuana plant. Suddenly the reason why the shop owners don't run after you trying to hock their wares becomes all too clear.

All that aside it is a beautiful place to relax. Yup, might go do that now

xoxo
Sim

It happened....

......Delhi Belly has struck.............NOT ME!!!! My travelling partner has been struck down with the mother of all belly bugs. I would like to take this moment to point my finger at my family and sing "Na na na na na, I'm not sick". You see lovely readers, my family has this pre-conveived notion about me that I am a sickly creature, prone to all illnesses and maladies. Not so! My guts are made of iron apparently, because living side by side with Claudia as she curses and monopolises the bathroom have found me, five days later, fit as a fiddle. And still craving curry, much to Claudia's disgust.

Something else to stump everyone, I have been vegetarian for 10 days and counting. "What's this, the woman who could consume 1kg of chicken for dinner is vegetables only?" I know, but it's so easy to be vegetarian here. When I go down south I will definately be incorperating seafood into my diet, but for now I really feel the difference in my health from my dieat and excercise.

I am living in my Aladdin pants right now. I got three pairs here, literally giant balloon pants that gather at the calf just like off the movie Aladdin. So cool and airy.

As Clauds lay in our room flicking through the 42 channels on television, all in Hindi, I was being chauffered around town by two locals, and I did it local style. Two bulking lads and then me on a motorcyle, the traffic is crazy here so I spent the whole time clutching on for dear life. When it became truly scary I adopted the game plan from my childhood, close your eyes and if you can't see it it doesn't exist. Worked like a charm and fun too!!

Had a great night out last night with the two guys, Claudia, and two awesome American ladies we met here. Went to a village set up to be a traditional Rajhastani village with traditional dancing and music, Henna, dinner, elephant and camel rides, women who walk on knives and glass, it was gold! Still can't get used to the fact that there are elephants and camels walking down the street here, so common people don't even look twice.

Funniest thing, when we were riding in an autorickshaw the driver was navigating the full on craziness that is Indian roads laughing maniacly, playing chicken with a bus and thinking it was funny to race up behind the cows on the street screaming like a fire truck. The guy was clearly insane, so Claudia and I instantly liked him. When turning to chat with us at one point Claudia and I both wordlessly screamed and pointed as he nearly hit a cyclist. He waggled his head and said with his thick Indian accent, "Don't worry.....chicken curry" I nearly laughed up a lung

xoxo
Sim

Holi Festival!!!!!

Where did I leave off.....ah yes, Delhi. It really is the most hectic of places, every moment is a swing between inspired and intimidated, amazed and appalled, giggling and gagging. We moved on after two days to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. We spent all day being driven around Agra, seeing agriculture farming, mausaleums, baby Taj, and of course the Taj itself. Amazing. I was stumped as to how they worked the beautiful shapes and images into solid marble that decorated the Taj, funnily enough the question was answered. Our taxi driver took us to the marble workshops where these modern day miracles were being made, the owners being descendants of one of the many families who did this work on the Taj itself. I have my eye on a table that is to die for if anyone wants to get it for me, on 3500 Aussia dollars, so cheap when you know the work that goes into it. Just to make you a little jealous, Claudia and I took our meals on the rooftop of our hostel with a view of the Taj to keep us company.

Then it was on the train to Jaipur. Funny stories, I was beckoned over to a train waiting on a platform by a woman, "come, come, my daughters want to talk to you", these little cuties spoke in careful and perfect English, asking where we were from and what our names were. We had sweets stuffed into our hands as thanks for the 10 second interaction. On the train, in a carriage where we were the only no-locals, a man asked to see my Ipod. When I checked back I found it was doing the rounds of half the carriage which made me giggle. When I asked a beautiful woman in a red sari what she was listening to she replied, "Nirvana!" As soon as you step out of the city the craziness of the people calms significantly, so much more room for locals to happily chat about where they think you should go and what to watch out for.



Today is Holi festival, a day when evryone covers everyone in bright coloured powders. After watching a Hindi film featuring it I was desperate to take part, and take part we did! Claudi and I ventured out into the street and were covered head to toe, eyeballs to inner ears, in blue, red, pink, green, yellow and purple powder. SO MUCH FUN!!! One father and his two sons stopped on a moterbike to say happy Holi and rub our cheeks with powder, next second we were surrounded by 20 people, "Happy Holi Happy Holi!!!" We looked like we had been dunked in a mulitcolour bucket of powder. Some teenage boys thought that this would be the perfect oppurtunity for some groping and bum squeezing, so the rest of the five minutes was spent arms crossed and throwing powder from afar. I must have missed that part of the procedure in the Hindi film.............

xoxo
Sim

Delhi Days

So I have been in Delhi for two days. Everyone told me that this is the most hectic place in all of India. 'So', I think to myself 'I'll be there first, get toughened up a bit, then move through the sub-continent with confidence and pizzaz'. I must of been dropped on my head as a child.

You may have read my apprehension in the last blog post, but walk out onto the streets I did. All the touts come up to you saying 'Hi, where you from? Come here?'. If you don't respond you can get the, 'Why you no talk to me? Why? Is it because I am Indian man?' Then there are the beggers, a two year old in clothes that may have been white once and holes everywhere, hands held together at forhead begging for food. A mother holding a baby, a blind man, a lame child, all of it as I was walking the 300m to my first meal in Delhi. It took me 20 seconds to feel like a bitch. I walked on, I didn't make eye contact, I ignored it and I hated myself for it.

I get the facts: They probably all work for the Delhi mafia equivalent, they mame themselves, they're not that poor.......and knowing that doesn't make one iota of a difference to me. Because I still walk down the streets feeling mean, in money and compassion. There are ways to make a difference, and I will be doing that, but to see it in front of me every day hurts my heart. Ignorance is bliss.

To juxtapose all this mayhem is the sites of Delhi, they act as beautiful retreats. The temples especially, I love walking around bare foot in them. The Red Fort is awe inspiring and the cities gardens are idyllic. Something that was surprisingly good was the Gadhi memorial, located at the house where he lived and was assasinated, I could have spent half a day there. So much information, so well presented, I even got to see his glasses he wore.

Claudi and I are off to Agra tomorrow to see the Taj Mahal. Hooray, more tourist prices and touts!!!!!

xoxo
Sim

Technically Here......

OK, I am in India.....technically.

I was on an all night flight from London which I didn't sleep on, distracted by new release movies! So we arrive at Delhi airport which we have (thank God) booked accomodation ahead of time and asked them to pick us up from the airport. Just as when I stepped off the airport at Rio and was inexpliciably ahppy, so I stepped off the airport in India and was inexplicably scared. Not in a, "Oh my God where do I go and who is that man with the shifty eyes?". But a more, "Wow, I seriously signed up for this, I finally get all the acknowledgments people were giving me about how brave I was going to India, cause I am little scared!"

I just keep telling myself that all it leaves room for is to be inspired and amazed....for the love of God let it be true.

So we were driven to our hostel which is in a typical back alley in Delhi, its OK I think. Though I haven't had the guts to ask what the hell that bucket full of unclear water and little jug are doing right under our shower.

So Claudi and I have slept all day, I have checked my Internet for love from home as courage, and now I face the outside world in search of food.

Wish me luck

xoxo
Sim

Master Simone says.........

.......travelling around Croatia in winter is like licking an ice block with its wrapper still on, you get the general feel for it but the flavour is completely lost on you.

And so it has been for our time in Dubrovnik and Split. Both beautiful old towns, old stone paths, walls, palaces and all that jazz. Beautiful to look at but we encountered some snags. On our self guided walking tour of Split that should have taken two hours was reduced to twenty minutes as Diocletians mausoleum and the temple to Jupiter were closed for repairs. This would be where all the meaty artefacts and friezes would have been, but I can't complain, I got a lung full of workers dust as comphensation.

While the weather might have been crap it left ample oppurtunity for the people of Croatia to shine, and shine they did. The owners of the places we stayed at were beautiful to us, having coffee waiting for us the moment we woke up, or not letting us leave the house without our jumpers on. Its all very paternal here.

So tonight we are starting the ardious journey that is Split to London. A six hour bus to Zagreb, wait for 5 hours for our plane to Budapest, then wait for six hours for our plane to London. As you can see we opted for the most efficient route, not wanting to waste any time. I could learn a useless skill in all that time, maybe communicating telepathically with mice........

xoxo
Sim

Family Matters II

I just read over my last blog and relised I left out a family componant, the Steels of Saffron Waldon!!

I spent a day being spoiled by Marie-lise and David. I was fed to the brim with a three course meal starring one of my personal favourites, Nasi Goreng! Then I spent the rest of the day laughing and catching up on all the family news. Excellent!!

xoxo
Sim

Family matters

The last few days of my London stay were such eventful times. Mum and Auntie Moira were in London and I got my dose of family that I needed so much! Mum, Auntie Moira, Dave and I went walking around London together, laughing and being the silly buggers that we are. Dave and I were forced to have a photo on top of a lion statue in Trafalger square, so in retaliation we made Mum and Moira drape themselves all over a cute policemen guarding the Prime Ministers house. Then Mum, Moira and I went on a great tour to see Stonehenge, Windsor castle and Bath. I have seen so much in London this trip that I am baffled as to what I did on my last trip. I think I must have holed myself up in the British Museum for five days and cried with happiness to see what I had studied for five years inches from me. So I had to say goodbye to Auntie Moira, my Mama and then my best friend all in the same day. It was all laughs and hugs and kisses, but Dave got me at the end of this long day and I couldnt help but cry a little. I quote Forrest Gump when I say, and thats all Ive got to say about that.

Then the next morning it was hello to my new travel buddy Claudia, a sassy little Sydney sider with a passion for food consumption that challenges even me, (who knew such a person existed!). We flew from London to Budapest, then Claudia had to hold my hand as we walked onto the plane bound for Zagreb. This thing was so small it could only sit three people across and ran on its two propellers. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT HERE PEOPLE, AND IT HAD PROPELLERS!!!!! I nearly cried, but somehow I managed through it to experience what was the most pleasant take off Ive had in a while, then it was straight onto an 11 hour bus ride from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, basically the entire length of the country in a night. One hour in it starts to snow and then snow some more. I begin to worry that I may be a human icicle because I didnt expect it to be colder than London, but thankfully the further south we travelled the warmer it got.

It has been raining in Dubrovnik for the last two days so we have taken shelter in a seafood resturant where the local septagenarians have taken a shine to us. They were all born in Croatia but have lived in Australia for 50 years. I have never had so much as a drink bought for me in Sydney but HERE I have been spoilt with a seafood dinner, many drinks, and good conversation to chase the cold away.

The sun finally came out today and Claudi and I ran to do as much as we could. We walked all the wall surrounding Old town, then investigated every nook, cranny and church inside it. We even enjoyed a walk around the headlands to see the islands and beaches. Lifes tough

xoxo
Sim

Bye Bye Baby

Well the siamese twins have parted ways, we should write to the Guiness Book of Records for our ability to still think and breathe apart. Dave has been the best travel buddy I could ask for, we laugh, he tells me if I swear too much, we laugh, I tell him he is looking in the mirror too much, we laugh, we are inspired by our surroundings, but mainly we laugh.

Miss you already my friend xoxo

P.S. Adventures from London and Croatia to be posted soon

Hijacking Air Simone

At last, I have control of her blog.

My voice can be heard by tens of, well, tens of people around the world.

Simone is about to embark on her sub-continental adventures and I think there are few things to share with the people of her world before she hits the Ganges...

#1: Simone loves talking about her sicknesses. Example quotes: "Have you ever had a nose so blocked it felt like you can only breathe through a hole the size of a pin prick?" "Have you ever had that rash that comes from too much sand in your swimmers day after day?"

#2: If you do ANYTHING wrong, distract her with food. Any food. Cardboard with a dash of maggi sauce will do. She'll forget within seconds.

#3: In times of emotional upheaval, she is the only one you'll want around. And if she's not there, imagine what she'd say... you'll be surprised at how much smarter than you she is.

India won't know what hit it.

Good luck beautiful.

Your Dave

London Lady

London is chilly!! So I chase the cold away with visits to the British museum, plays in the West End and the many bars of Soho. Last night was originally going to be dinner and bed.......which turned into dinner and one drink.........which turned into round three.....which turned into 'hey where did all these shots come from?'

On our stumble home to bed at 3am I find that I have lagged behind Dave to talk to some friendly folk on the street. When I realise I jog to catch up and am suddenly inspired to run and jump onto Dave who looks ready and prepared to catch me, maybe even spin me around a bit. How it went was I lumbered towards Dave like some Amazon, yet he amazingly still managed to catch me. It was gravity that was our ultimate enemy, I was slammed back first onto the pavement with Dave sprawled on top of me. The punch line is that all of this took place, (unbeknownst to me at the time), in front of a captive audience. A gaggle of Paparazzi who were hanging outside a club to see Kelly Osbourne. A mere 15 minutes after I limped home Kelly and Kate Moss exited exactly where I had been sprawled on the pavement, their pictures all over the papers today.

Go my urban adventures.....

xoxo
Sim