#he pink winters of Delhi

[khajjiartourpackages]

Top 10 best places to visit in the month of December in India for a Holiday

Nothing beats those December winter chills ducked inside a duvet and sipping on some hot chocolate. We have got the best places to visit in December in India to make winters an epic affair. he pink winters of Delhi and Jaipur bring out a different side of both these cities, the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir and Himachal make some of you pose like a movie actresses and the list is endless.

[vijayasena]

Abhi na jao chod kar ke dil abhi bhara nahi.....

[ ram x female reader ]

summary - when your husband loves you too much that it started to get visible in every action of his and the heart cherishes the feeling of unconditional and hopeless long lasting bond you both share... [ fluff lots and lots of fluff ]

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No one's p.o.v.....

The sun started to set earlier than the usual in Delhi these days.

winters striked the capital quicker and the atmosphere was causing the bones to get freezed in the chilly air. it looked like mother nature was having mood swings these days.

the greenery of the distant rooftops shined because of pearl drops of dew covering them.

Green plants looked refreshed and newly bloomed flowers attracted bees in such a surreal way that the atmosphere looked heavenly .

Sun provided enough warmth but not that enough to get rid of the cold that was threatening to put the body on freeze.

Distant rooftops glowed like blush pink loaves of bread scattering the hue of reddish and orange tint across the wet pavement of the roads shined through the street lamps illuminating the wet cold roads, as if making it look like engulf in flames.

the faint noises of kids playing under the giant black sky .

and the mothers and women of houses wrapped up in warm shawls shared evening talks with a cup of chai in their hands while watching over their kids.

the capital looked quiet peaceful and it looked like everyone was contented and happy as a peaceful environment engulfed everything and everyone.

whereas the men were engrossed in talking about how the world was changing and the politics was taking place in the changing world of cultures and traditions.

the brown eyed man walked silently sighing taking a deep breath lost in the void of his mind the never ending silent thoughts of his made him get trapped inside his own head. as he came across the door of his house as he stepped inside taking a small shaky breath a sense of calm and serenity passed his quiet yet loud mind .

the smell of sandalwood and jasmine hit his nostrils making him feel very calm and relaxed all of a sudden as a big yet tired yet so beautiful smile spread across his face, as if his soul found its solace all of a sudden the smell always ready to send him in comfort providing so much comfort and warmth that he just wanted nothing but to immerse himself in it.

his exhausted eyelashes closed as his irises dilated a bit searching for certain someone he needed after such a tiring and bad day that was the person his heart craved the presence of and soul surrendered to. passing through the living room he sighed as the familiar warmth of his home the essence of his comfort zone fit in a comfortable silence echoed inside the walls of his house.

his eyes desperately and impatiently searched for his wife.. as he came inside the another room and passing through the dining hall he found her and his steps halted a bit, and breath hitched in his throat.

as if every time he saw her he fell in love with her all over again it was always visible in his actions and behavior that how much he loved his wife his ardhangini his better half and his forever.

he loved her so much that sometimes it physically hurted sometimes she was his heaven on earth and his only thing to be his everything. he always prayed and wished to vishwanath watching upon him to keep his wife safe and healthy he always prayed for her well being because she was all that mattered .

that always made sense' that only made and keep him sane no words in the world were capable and beautiful enough to describe the love Ram felt for his wife, if he could give her one thing in life it was always going to be the ability to see herself through his eyes only then she could be able to realize that how special she was for him. and what her existence meant in his life.

because at the end of the day she was the person he wanted to come home to, the person he wanted to tell how his day went, the person he wanted to share his happiness, sadness, the frustration and success the sorrows and everything with she was his comfort place after all.

they were arranged it was all just awkward and strange in the start but she was enough she was the one he always needed she was doing amazing things to him.

she had a smile that could easily change the world, that could do more than she could ever think of and more she was always more than she thought.

he knew he might not be able to tell her everyday but she meant the whole world to him the day she stepped her lakshmi like steps in his life changing everything for forever for something meaningful and beautiful .

he never realized how much she felt like home to him until he found himself thinking about ho much he wished she could be with him the times hadn't been.

thinking about how he wanted to experience every damn kind of emotions ups and downs and problems and adventures of the life, the fight he had for his land for his people for his nation with her by his side the saying -

" home is whenever i am with you" had never been more clearer to him . she as his home and he was homesick without her.

She made him feel human again, her touch, her laughter her breath everything showed him what it was like to be a person a living breathing human being.

she came into his life at a time when it looked like everything was going to be finished when everything was against him, everything would kill him. She showed him everything he had to live and fight for.

In that short period he called her his she made him feel like there were galaxies in his veins, and the stars made their home in his eyes.

He was forever grateful for the universe and the Vishwanath for bringing her to him for being his wife his better half his everything.

his hopelessly in love with my wife demeanor was factually visible in that sweet smile of his, the loose lazy relaxed walking and a calm look in his chocolaty brown eyes.

that seemed to shine even more now seeing his priyatama looking like an enchanting apsara.

she looked like a blooming flower refreshing and soothing despite coming from such a cold weather just entering in the house seeing his wife made all his senses wash away.

like a wave of sea taking away everything ready to hold him in the home of her arms kiss his forehead lovingly and hold his hands in hers never letting him go. saving him from the world saving him from himself. from the demons inside his own head.

"Ram?" he snapped out from the reverie of his thoughts upon hearing the sweet soothing voice reaching to his ear like honey being poured right into his ear drums.

he was definitely unconditionally, irrevocably, and hopelessly so in love with the woman standing there in a red saree.

he gave her a big beautiful smile of his which was only reserved for her to see. because no one else in this whole world had the capability of making ram feel such way the way his wife made him feel.

his heart swelled with joy, seeing her lips stretching in the same grin as soon as her eyes found her husband .

The one her heart and soul yearned for and the one she was surrendered to.

The red cotton fabric hugged her body as if the cloth was made only for her. increasing the vibrancy of her soft tan skin shining under the golden bulb of their bedroom.

And her eyes looked like flames engulfed in fire urging him to lost himself in those kohl decorated beautiful eyes.

putting the clothes down she was folding on the bed .and keeping the already folded ones in the closet she smiled softly at her husband.

walking towards him as he sighed taking a deep breath oh how he could do anything in his power to make her smile like that every moment for his life.

that damn smile his most favorite thing to witness in the whole world whenever she smiled it was like the universe was in peace.

" how was your day bangaram ?" he smiled softly before engulfing her in a sweet tight embrace closing his eyes taking a contended sigh.

the meaning of this hug was unexplainable as it held the emotions he was so bad at expressing sometimes, but was able to make her feel what he actually held for her in his heart.

the sweet smell of gandharraj and sandalwood the smell of her. that scent that was the reason for his peace of mind and there he stood holding his everything in his arms.

" shouldn't i be asking that question ?" she chuckled hugging him back with the same love and willingness that he did sighing in peace closing her eyes as well. The hug.

This hug... ram held her more tighter he had once read in a novel that it was just about one person . and one day there would be a person who was going to hug him in such a way that all his broken pieces would be fixed back together.

the female was sure of one thing nothing was more right nothing felt more home than being in his arms.

she had seen him she had been with him since day one . though it wasn't like same as now but still he was someone she could tell without doing or saying anything that she was blessed to have him as her partner. if he really thought that he could bear her for the rest of his life she as ready to surrender her soul that was his.

in his eyes she could see ruins of scarred heart mystery tragedies. but for her that was what made him beautiful the way he could bear replicas of his yesterdays, the way he put it in display making him present more vibrant and astonishing and as he was amidst every chaotic day. the one thing she was always fond of was his eyes.

Ram's eyes... those brown almond eyes, he had wonderful eyes not the type which always drowned her in, but the type which made her feel a little more alive.

the one's which always looked cold but deep inside give warmth they were beautiful they made her beautiful . but sometimes beneath those long lashes and brown irises she could see the emotions or the things which he never told.

some fears, and some regrets the silence narrated stories with the soft roaring waves, it held so many secrets so many lies as well which he hated to tell as well.

something that was imperfectly perfect for her she found herself falling like never before . she found something in his nothing something she needed to hold on some fears some tears and some illusions maybe that she never wanted to end.

she held him letting him take his time she knew he didn't like speaking all together but took time in pieces. so she just hugged him not saying anything letting him hold her. she caressed his hair locks running her soft fingers through them.

" had a bad day ?" she whispered softly rubbing his back soothingly while he just sighed nodding a bit pulling her more close if possible the woman in red smiled a bit " its okay you are okay everything is fine" she smiled.

her words calmed him down actually as he broke the hug holding her shoulders giving her a soft nod " what about you ?" he asked she knew he didnt wanted to talk about it, so she didn't forced him to.

that's the thing Ram admired most about her she never forced him or pestered him to do something he didn't wanted to, and always supported him in every decision of his . she knew when to stay silent when to not ask much about anything and when to just listen to him.

" working on a new article they are confiscating the plantation fields of farmers in eastern side making estate businesses for the company illegally that's what i am working on. "

she told him smiling a bit her eyes were tired but an exhausted smile still played on her lips. this was the another thing Ram loved about his wife she was independent.

and she knew to speak about bad and unjust he always supported her decision of working even when society didn't liked and let women work outside of the house.

so being the senior editor in newspaper publications . the male couldn't be more happier and proud of his wife. she was perfect in every possible way and working for better causes for their motherland in fact even encouraged other women as well .

he frowned a bit " are you tired bangaram ? is the work being too much ?" he asked in a soft tone caressing her cheek looking down at her.

she shook her head shaking her head " no i am fine don't worry " she chuckled giving him a reassuring look patting his cheek as he nodded a bit he knew she could get exhausted by working all day, and then doing the house chores as well .

Ram was never a person who acted like that dominant husband giving orders to their wives he was always so supportive and helpful.

he always helped his wife in household work and that increased the love and respect she had for him . More than she could ever imagine from cooking and cleaning to everything he always was a big help and the female couldn't be more lucky for having such a perfect man like Ram.

" you get fresh i will serve the dinner " she nodded walking towards the kitchen to serve the dinner, but he caught her wrist pulling her back shocking her through the core as she baffled looking at him with wide eyes .

" ram!' she exclaimed in surprise and shocked tone not expecting this from her usually shy husband he chuckled wrapping an arm around her waist .

" stay for a bit ?" he asked softly looking in her eyes giving her a tender smile before laying down on the bed putting his head on her lap. she looked down flushing more red sighing taking a deep breath running her hands through his hair giving him a smile .

" guess we both are tired ?" she asked looking down at him while he hid his face in her torso as her saree felt so comfortable isn't that what he wanted to live for all his life?

he felt so serene and calm . " we do" he nodded muttering softly while she chuckled " well my husband i need to prepare dinner let me go" she tried cupping his cheek .

while he looked up at her smiling looking at her with so much love and affection, that she turned away smiling slightly shaking her head as her cheeks turned a shade of red .

" god you look so beautiful when you blush " he whispered making her sigh " stop it now okay ?" she look at him as her lips threatening to break into a shy smile.

" can't help it when i got such gorgeous wife ?" he said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear going all in awe with the beauty she possessed.

" ram please god " she looked at him giving him an amused smile " okay okay fine" he chuckled getting up sitting and looking at her . " go and get fresh i have put your clothes on the nearby cabinet of washroom" she rushed out so as to not show her blushing face making him laugh .

these small moments were the one's he always cherished . with all his might these moments were the one's that made their life more beautiful and she was the only thing that gave him a reason to live .

oh how his heart always started to throb in his chest whenever she was around and near him she was all he needed to live and survive.

" oh come on its nothing its just some vegetables i can cut them will you stop now ?"

The female put her hands on her hips shaking her head t her husband because he was so stubborn he never listened "its okay let me help its just some vegetables right ? Then what's wrong if I help?" he took the knife and plate from her as the brown eyed female huffed.

She knew he would never listen so she turned back towards the kitchen to fry the fresh pooris.

" You know I like helping you in household chores" she heard him saying as she sighed shaking her head with a smile " and you amuse me sometimes because of how good you are ?" She chuckled kneading a dough of the flour.

When a hand came to get her strands of Hair behind her ear a kiss was being planted on her right cheek. " I am no good I am just doing a normal thing and helping your wife isn't a big deal." he smiled as she turned to look at him her eyebrows raised.

The usual shy husband was acting so bold of a sudden what's wrong suddenly?

Her breath hitched in her throat as her hands stopped their moments and she turned to look at him only to find him already staring shaking her head at his antics. " there is something seriously wrong with you today "

she sighed as hearing that hearty chuckle erupted so many butterflies in her stomach she admired him for a moment. .

" I don't know just found you so pretty today" The female was compelled to roll her eyes to mask her blushing face at that moment . as she put the dough aside giving him a look and turned towards the cabinets to take some other stuff out.

" what do you mean? I don't look pretty any other day then?"

She bit down her lip to not smile as seeing his expressions changed all of a sudden she knew what he actually meant . but wanted to have some fun as well and tease him a bit.

he immediately shook his head in no " no ban-bangaram that's not what i meant" his voice was a bit shaky as the female in red chuckled .

" oh yeah ? then what did you meant ?" she turned to look at him raising her eyebrows leaning against the counter.

Ram's heart throbbed loudly against his chest this was the effect his wife had on him which always took him by surprise.

he sighed looking down opening his mouth to say something again but nothing came out that was when he heard her magical laugh. oh! that laugh he could die to hear that laugh again and again. as it felt like music to his ears.

this was the time of the day when he could easily forget the reality, the guilt, the self hatred, the disgust, all he had for himself. and just melt and surrender himself in the arms of his wife in such a way that reality used to fade like fog somewhere from where he didn't wanted to jump back in.

because that was the life he hated the reality. in which he was being a facade being something he didn't wanted to doing something he didn't had to, how much it took to be that. and how easy it was for the woman in front of him to accept him the way he was and made him feel human and alive again.

" i was pulling your leg jaan relax"

she chuckled shaking her head as a smile broke on his face as well . he didn't even remembered if he smiled as much as he as he did with her ever before.

his life was too much in a dark turmoil before her but she was there to save him to be his sun when he was drowning in rain.

she was mature, independent had a confident aura and a kind smile the most beautiful eyes and most generous and sweetest behavior he really was so lucky that he got a wife like her .

did he needed anything more when he had her ? The answer was no.

the sweet chiming of her anklets echoed in the atmosphere . as she silently served the dinner for both of them. while Ram help her set up the dinner table.

even after she said no countless times her husband was too much of concerned about her that he didn't even let her do the dishes.

all time she just wondered why he was so perfect ? and what she did to deserve someone as perfect and amazing as him.

standing near the window staring at the sky she wrapped her arms around herself .

when he came and hugged her from behind she smiled softly as soon as his arms wrapped around her waist and he put his chin on her shoulder " what is it that my wife is so lost about ?"

she leaned more on to him cupping his cheek from one hand . closing her eyes feeling all the love at the moment his arms were her home as well. whether he liked that or not but she always crave these long hugs.

" that how i got so lucky to have you as my partner of life ?" her voice so soft and slow while her heart increased its pace.

" isn't that something i should be thinking about?" his grip tightened while tone got more calm as if the universe was asleep.

" maybe we both should be thinking about that ?" she whispered turning in his arms putting her hands on his shoulder he took a deep breath before planting a sweet kiss on her forehead giving her a smile " maybe" he answered feeling bliss.

" maybe" she said back hugging him as well. and that was the moment she realized his love was visible in every action of his. and maybe she was just a little more lucky than him.

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[ashesandhackles]

A Thousand Eyes

Written for @harrypocter event "Winter Sun" Prompt: Parvati Patil Summary: The Patil twins at The Malfoy Manor. Set in April of PS timeline, canon compliant. Trigger warning: Description of racist imagery

It sat on top of the yew hedges rising on either side of them. Shimmering white plumage under the overcast sky. The peacock’s tail tapered down; the thousand eyes of the feathers sat closed.

Parvati tugged at her sister’s robes, letting their parents go ahead on the straight lane to Malfoy Manor. 

Parvati breathed, “Have you ever seen a white one?”

“Quite unusual,” Padma muttered. “Not like the ones we had seen in Delhi.”

The ones they had seen in the ruined sandstone forts of Delhi were joyful, iridescent blue, fanning out their shining emerald tail feathers in celebration of a downpour after a sticky summer. She remembered quite clearly, the smell of the rain, the cry of the dancing peacock and the glow of the thousand eyes of its tail feathers - violet around amber, glowing in the greyscape.

“Hello,” Parvati reached out with her arm, even though the hedges were quite high. The peacock watched them with its blue eyes.

“It’s not an albino,” Padma commented, as the peacock shuffled away. “Maybe it has been bred this way?”

“Parvati, Padma!” their mother called from ahead. “Stop dawdling, we’re getting late!”

“Mum! Look at the white peacock over here!” Parvati called. 

“We can come back and look at it - it’s not going anywhere,” their father said.

Padma dragged Parvati away, towards the manor where diamond-paned windows glittered. -------

It was Padma’s idea. She had wanted to see the art collection Mr. Malfoy boasted of. As they had nothing better to do except sit on a couch and tell people how to tell them apart (“Padma wears blue, I wear pink”) or listen to Draco brag about his prowess on a broom to Pansy and how unfair it is that Harry Potter gets to be on the team, Parvati followed. Mrs. Malfoy sent Dobby with them (“As a guide,” she said sweetly.)

Dobby eyed Mr. Malfoy warily, but he seemed to be deep in conversation with their father. “Let’s go?” Parvati asked. Dobby nodded as he led them away.

The room set aside for art collection, like everything in the manor, gleamed with opulence. A magnificent carpet covered the stone floor, cloths of silk hung over sculptures in the middle of the room, an ornate cylindrical vase at the corner had a collection of peacock feathers and every inch of the wall was covered in paintings that followed their every move.

“Master Armand Malfoy,” Dobby indicated towards the painting of a wily man looking at Parvati’s gold bangles with interest. “Master Armand brought my Master’s ancestors to this land. The family has lived here for over ten centuries.”

Padma nodded as Parvati adjusted her bangles. Dobby took them through many paintings - some of ancestors, some of the countryside, some of dogs of different breeds, some of different kinds of game found on the land and they finally came up on paintings where the subjects didn’t move. “These are the paintings acquired when Lucius Malfoy the First had been courted by Muggle royalty,” Dobby recited.

“Royalty?” Parvati asked curiously. 

“This was a time before the Statue of Secrecy, Miss,” Dobby said. “Master would not like you to think he flouts laws.”

Parvati moved closer. It was curious these paintings didn’t move - a richly detailed painting of men in horses ascending the highlands, men with spears and arrows and a chariot blessed by the rays of sun. She saw more: ships landing on shores - Black men and women offering baskets of fruits at the dock. Images of brown skinned women dancing in congregation of men, tantalisingly veiled but breasts exposed. An image of a ship deck, a brown woman clutching at the feet of men, looking up in simpering gratitude. A Black man waiting by the river with horses and a collared dog, his arm full of discarded clothes.

“Dobby,” Parvati asked as her sister was silent too long. “What are these paintings about?”

“Slaves,” Dobby said. “Like Dobby.”

Something empty burrowed its way into Parvati’s chest. She glanced at her sister, whose eyes were bright with an emotion she could not name. “Let’s go back to the party,” Padma finally said.

Parvati nodded, and the three of them trudged back to the drawing room. They entered to find Mrs. Parkinson waiting for them, dragging Pansy by the upper arm. 

“I was looking for you both!” she whispered, ushering them in and almost knocking Dobby out of the way as though she couldn’t see him. “She was acting like a boy! Getting too friendly with the Malfoy boy. It won’t look good on us if she doesn’t act proper!”

Pansy scowled at her mother but didn’t dare say anything. Dobby scuttled away out of sight.

“We’ll be around, Mrs. Parkinson,” Parvati said dully.

“Thank you,” she brushed her fingers through Parvati’s hair fondly while Padma shrunk to escape her gaze. “You know, these robes do look good on you. You will grow up to be a beautiful young woman one day.”

Pansy’s eyes flashed with hurt. Parvati struggled to smile.  Her gaze flitted away to windows, where she could see the rain start to pour. She wondered if in this chilly repressive rain, if the white peacock was dancing.  Read on AO3 here.

[mojoflight]

Don't Miss These If You're Visiting Jaipur

India is full of beauty and history, and if you are planning to travel through the country, you better add Jaipur to your list. Jaipur is a city of historical monuments, palaces, and traditions. If someone wants to know about authentic Indian culture, they should definitely try Jaipur. Wanna know an interesting fact? Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur are called the Golden Triangle, making them the most visited tourist attraction in India. The Pink City of India holds so much authenticity with its hundreds of years old history and traditions that one must witness it in person. 

Okay, let’s start with a question, an important one. Do you know why Jaipur is called Pink City? In 1876, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert came on a royal tour to India, and to make this tour more special, The King of Jaipur painted the city pink. Pink is a representation of hospitality and warmth, and the moment Prince Albert saw the city, He called it The Pink City.

Now that we are familiarized with basic Jaipur knowledge let’s talk about what you are gonna do on this Jaipur tour. Oh, and we will tell you some things you shouldn’t miss during your Jaipur visit. Shall we start? Alright, here we go.

Amber Fort is a must. The fort is sitting on top of a hill. Yes, amazing, right? Amer Fort consists of 6 forts in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The fort started building in 1592 after Maharaja Man Singh I ordered it, and the subsequent rulers kept adding to it until 1727. In 2013, the fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hawa Mahal is a world site in Jaipur. Even if you’ve not been to the city, you still know about it. That’s how popular Hawa Mahal is. If anything, the architecture is what captivates the tourists here. The Palace of Winds is made of splendid pink sandstones and made into a beautiful honeycomb-shaped architecture. It was an extension of City Palace made in 1799, so the royal women could look out windows and see the world. The total number of windows Hawa mahal consists of is 953, to be exact.

Jal Mahal creates an illusion where you think the palace is floating over the water. In fact, there are 5 stories and 4 pillars engulfed by the water. Sadly, entry to this marvelous beauty is prohibited now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ponder it from afar.

Jaipur City Palace is in the heart of Jaipur with its mesmerizing beauty. Maharaja Sawal Jai Singh commenced its establishment in 1729. The details on every gate, wall, and archway are very intricate and beautiful. Its medieval architecture is enough to take you to a fairyland far, far away.

Jaipur City Walking Tour is what you need to delve deep into the root of Rajasthani culture and traditions. The local and authentic Jaipur can only be seen via walking city tours. A walking tour through Jaipur city will show things that you won’t be able to see through tourist spots.

The Pink City is genuinely delightful and a must-visit for travelers looking for an authentic Indian experience. As we said earlier, Jaipur has an abundance of places that would never make you feel bored. Nope. Not a dull second. It doesn’t matter if you are there for a weekend or a week. Jaipur will serve you the best of tourist experience on a royal platter. Winter is here; plan soon and book the earliest flights to Jaipur. Winer is also the best time for a Jaipur vacation. No hot weather, no sweaty walks around the city with water in one hand and ice cream in the other. 

For your convenience, we have put some popular flight routes to Jaipur in case you want to book a last minute flight ticket for a spontaneous trip.

Mumbai to Jaipur Flights

Ranchi to Jaipur

Hyderabad to Jaipur

Bangalore to Jaipur

Jaipur isn’t far if you’ve made up your mind. Still, let us know if you need help preparing for the trip and some travel suggestions regarding Jaipur flights. We will try to concoct the best Jaipur itinerary for you. Have a royal journey.

[moustachescapes]

Golden Triangle India

The famed Golden triangle trip is the greatest method to gradually get to know India if you're visiting for the first time. Three cities make up the golden triangle tour: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

1) VISIT IN NEW DELHI Since its founding in the sixth century BC, this interesting city has experienced ups and downs, including the reign of the Pandavas and the British Raj. Visit the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India and a Shah Jahan creation. The mosque's courtyard has enough for roughly 25,000 worshipers. Take a rickshaw trip through Old Delhi's main market, Chandni Chowk... tumultuous, loud, and distinctively Indian. It is still important today because the Indian flag is raised and the Prime Minister delivers a speech from its walls on Independence Day. Before heading to Rajghat, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, drive through the India Gate, the President House, and various other governmental structures in Edwin Lutyen's Delhi. The place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948 is marked by this unassuming monument. Visit Humayun's Tomb, which was built in 1562 on orders from Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum. It was the first garden tomb constructed on the Indian subcontinent using a sizable amount of red sandstone. Delhi overnight.

2) DELHI - AGRA Drive to Agra and continue on a half-day city tour. Visit the Red Fort, which Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, ordered in 1565. The structure is a stunning example of Mughal architecture, both beautiful and intimidating. Visit the Taj Mahal later; it was created as a memorial to the late Emperor Shah Jehan's adored queen Mumtaz Mahal. Its construction, which was regarded as an architectural marvel, required thousands of employees over 21 years to complete. Agra, overnight.

3) DRIVE AGRA - JAIPUR Travel by car to Jaipur Observe the historical structures of Fatehpur Sikri, which the Emperor Akbar erected. Akbar intended to establish Fatehpur Sikri as his administrative centre, but he was forced to leave it because of a water shortage. The Sufi saint who lived a pious life here is commemorated in the Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti. The UNESCO has designated Fatehpur Sikri as a World Heritage Site. Continue your trip to Jaipur, where you can check into your hotel. The state of Rajasthan is lovely and active, and Jaipur serves as its entrance. Take a stroll through Jaipur's markets in the evening to look for traditional clothing and footwear, as well as curio stores and blue pottery. Jaipur overnight stay.

Sightseeing of Jaipur Continue on a full-day tour to Jaipur, commonly referred to as the "Pink City," for sightseeing. The state of Rajasthan's capital, Jaipur, is renowned for its vibrant culture, forts, palaces, and lakes. The warrior monarch Sawai Jai Singh II, who founded the city, is responsible for giving it its name. Check out the Amber Fort. Riding an elephant up to the fort is the ideal way to explore it. The Diwan-i-Aam, a hall with hundreds of tiny mirrors, the Ganesh Pol, which has a lovely painted depiction of Lord Ganesh, and the exquisite Sheesh Mahal are prominent buildings inside the fort. Later, make a pit break to take pictures of the stunning Hawa Mahal, popularly referred to as the "Palace of the Winds." The women of the palace were given privacy when looking out through the ornately carved latticework windows on this lovely façade. Later, you'll go to the City Palace, which blends Mughal and Rajasthani design elements. The museums in this region include rare and antiquated texts, 15th-century weaponry, and former royal attire. Visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory later on, which has tools for tracking stars' orbits and calculating time geometrically. Jaipur overnight stay.

Also See:

Kedarkantha Trek

Brahmatal Trek

Chadar Trek

Kheerganga Trek

Kasol Kheerganga Trek

Kasol Tosh Kheerganga

Kasol Weekend Trip

Golden Triangle India  (https://moustachescapes.com/blog/golden-triangle-india/)

Triund Trek

Hampta Pass Trek

Desert Safari Jaisalmer

Winter Spiti Tour

Laka Glacier Trek

Bhrigu Lake Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek

Dayara Bugyal Trek

Kuari Pass Trek

Har Ki Dun Trek

Roopkund Trek

Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek

Indrahar Pass Trek

[eclecticcollectionsuit]

Classes Notes

06 de April 2021

13 de April 2021

The ten largest cities in the World

Cities                           Countries

1. Tokyo                          Japan

2. Seoul South                Korea

3. Mexico City                 Mexico

4. New York City             The U. S.

5. Mumbai                       India

6. Jakarta                        Indonesia

7. São Paulo                   Brasil

8. Delhi                           India

9. Osaka                         Japan

10. Shanghai                  China

Negative statements and yes/ no questions with be

I am                         I'm                    not

you are                   you're               not

she is                     she's                 not

Yes, He is              No, He's            not

it is                         it's                     not

we are                    we're                 not

you are                  you're                not

they are                 they're               not

20 de April 2021

Countries and Nationalities

·China

Jackie Chan is from China.

He is Chinese

The united States (The U.S)

Donald Trump is from The United States

He is American

·México

Eugenio Derbez is from Mexico

He is Mexican

Colombia

Shakira is from Colombia.

She is Colombian

Sweden

Zara Larsoon is from Sweden

She is Swedish

England

The beatles are from England

They are English

South Africa

Nelson Mandela is from South Africa

He is South African

Canadá

Justin Beiber is from Canada

He is Canada

Spain

Enrique Iglesias is from Spain

He is Spanish

Honduras

Ana Jurka is from Honduras

She is Honduran

Guatemala

Sofia Gomez is from 

She is Guatemalan

27 de April 2021

Numbers and ages

11= eleven                    21= twenty-one                          40= forty

12= twelve                    22= twenty-two                          50=fifty

13= thirteen                   23= twenty-three                       60=sixty

14= fourteen                  24= twenty-four                        70=seventy

15= fifteen                      25=  twenty-five                       80=eighty

16= sixteen                    26= twenty-six                          90=ninety

17= seventeen               27= twenty-seven                    100=one hundred

18= eighteen                28= twenty-eight                   101= one hundred (and)one

19= nineteen                29= twenty-nine                    102=one hundred (and) two

20= twenty                   30= thirty                              103=one hundred (and) three

Wh-questions with be

What’s your name?         My name is Jill

where are you from?       I’m from Canada

How are you today?        I’m just fine 

Who’s that?                    He’s my brother

How old is he                 He’s twenty-one

What’s he like?               He’s very nice

Who are they?               They’re my classmates

Where are they from?     They’re from Rio

What’s Rio like?              It’s very beautiful

04 de May 2021

Personality

Thoughts

Feelings

Behaviors

Apparence

Beautiful

Pretty

Elegant

Funny

Cute

Handsome

Clothes

Tie - Corbata

Shirt - Camisa

Belt - Cinturón

Jacket-Chaqueta

Pants - Pantalon

Coat- Abrigo

Shoes- zapatos

High heels- tacones

Skirt- Falda

Blouse- blusa

Scarf- Bufanda

Bat- Gorro

Sweater- Sueter

Gloves- guantes

Jeans- Pantalones

Boots- Botas

Socks- Calcetines

Sharts- Pantaloneta

T- srirt- Camiseta

Cap- Gorra

Colors

White                     light gray                              gray

Dark gray               beige                                     light brown

Brown                     dark brown                           black

Red                          Pink                                       orange

Yellow                      Light green                          green

Dark green               Light blue                            Blue    

Dark blue                  Purple

Possessives

Adjectives                 Pronouns           Names

My                               mine                   Pat’s blouse              /s/

Your                            yours                  Julie’s jeans              /z/  

His                                his                      Rex’s T-shirt            /iz/     

her                               hers                      

our                              ours                     Whose  blouse is this?  It’s Pat’s

their                          theirs                  Whose jeans are these? They’re Julie’s

The letthers and sh

1. suit           socks             scarf

2. shirt          shorts            shoes

11 de Mayo 2021

His shirt is green

Patric 3

Alex 2

Beth 6

Ana 5

Greece 4

18 de May 2021

Weather and season around the world

It’s spring in Brazil

It’s warm, It’s very sunny

it’s summer in south Korea

it’s raining. It’s hot and humid

It’s fall in the U.S.

It’s cool. It’s cloudy and windy

It’s winter in Russia

It’s snowing. It’s very cold.

Present Continuous

How to form the present continuous?

subject + Am/is/are + Verb+ing

Present continuous statements; conjunctions 

I’m                                I’m not                  OR:

You’re                           You’re not             You aren’t

She’s wearing shoes     She’s not             She isn’t wearing boots. 

We’re                             We’re not              We aren’t

They’re                          They’re not            They aren’t

It’s snowing                     It’s not                  It isn’t raining

Important definition

Conjunctions are words used joiners.

And                       But

And: Join equals to one another

But: Joins two contrasting opposite ideas

So: Shows that the second idea is a result of the first idea...

Activity #1

Look 20 verbs and write it in your notebook.

Talk = talking.

Mix = mixing.

Play = playing.

Stop = stopping.

Run = runnig.

Begin = beginning.

Dance = dancing.

Bake = baking.

Close = closing.

Lie = lying.

Tie = tying.

Die = dying.

Write= writing

Call= calling

Know= knowing

Look= looking

Say= saying

Find= finding

Get= geting

Ask= asking

25 de May 2021

Conjunctions

It’s snowing,

      and it’s windy

It’s sunny,

      but it’s cold

It’s windy,

      So it’s very cold

Quiz

1.

 = h

=c

=a

=f

=d

=e

=g

=b

2.

Min-ho=  tall,  friendly, talkative

Ryan=  serius friendly short

Angela= heavy, nice, friendly shy

Helen= funny serious, quiet

3.

Season= Winter

Color= Sky blue

Clothes= Blouse

4.

Rain 

Jennifer Lopez

Jackie Chan

Robert Patinsom

[save-the-spiral]

InkWizTober Day Twenty: Tread + Sleeping In

Welcome to Inktober Day Twenty! This is basically just a sapphic love poem masquerading as prose. I did a tiny bit of research, if any of my lil hints of things were wrong please tell me. I have never traveled, T_T

(link to prompt lists) (link to inktober tag)

Mari woke up to a soft kiss on her bare shoulder, loose t-shirt fabric bunched down her arm, her brown skin on display. Her confused mumble are muffled by her pillow. 

“Good morning sunshine.” Irisi’s teasing voice, Krokotopian accent thicker with sleepiness, was the siren song that truly woke Mari.

Rolling over in their huge shared sleeping bag, Mari kissed Irisi, missing a bit so it was only half her mouth, but they both huffed with amusement at Mari’s clumsiness. Irisi was already dressed for the day of hiking, her tank-top leaving freckled, toned arms bare and making Mari stare far too obviously.

“C’mon, Mari. I made breakfast already. We gotta get going if we don’t wanna miss the sunrise.”

Mari groaned, rolling over and flopping against her pillow pathetically. “Remind me why I let you drag me out in the middle of the Japanese wilderness?”

“Emrys wanted to go to all those museums to learn about his culture and you didn’t wanna stick around for when he looked for his biological dad, remember?”

“Oh. Yeah. He didn’t want us around either.” Mari got up, accepting her fate, and rummaged through her duffel bag for proper clothes. Camping in Japan was amazing, the spring blooms making every view gorgeous, every moment worth staying in forever. 

Their tour of Earth had started in America, where they had some connections, and they quickly got what they needed to forge passports and such to be able to get to where they wanted to go. They toured Europe, then traveled around northern Africa and lingered around Egypt, where Irisi was fascinated by such a similar culture to her own. Then it was India, where Mari wanted to stay forever, to really learn and exist where she came from, to be absorbed in the very ground there and become one with it. 

India was Mari’s favorite. She convinced them to stay for the whole winter, only leaving after Holi.

Now they were in Japan, and Emrys, her brother, was more closed off than ever, trying to understand the hurt that lead to him being left alone by his parents. Trying to understand what it actually is to be half Japanese, besides something he can idly mention when talking to close friends about Earth. Then they’d go to South Korea, Emrys’ other half, and he’d start all over again over there, except hopefully the reunion with his mother would be better.

In Mari’s opinion, his biological parents didn’t deserve to see what an amazing, intelligent man they missed out on raising. Irisi insisted that would be rude to say.

Mari looked into her backpack to find it full of the supplies they’d need today for their hike. She’d have to nag Irisi about getting more sleep later, her girlfriend had a habit of waking too early and not even trying to sleep again.

She grabbed Irisi’s jacket, and once she pushed out of the tents’ flaps, threw it at her girlfriend. 

“It’s not a desert here, you’ll catch your death.” Mari said tensely, trying not to snap with her own tiredness.

“Someone’s bright eyed and busy tailed.” Irisi muttered, snorting as she shrugged the jacket on in the pitch blackness of the morning.

Mari laughed, nudging Irisi with her hip as she pushed past her to look at their little food set up. “Tofu breakfast burrito? You spoil me.” 

Irisi kissed her on the cheek, passing by to grab her own bag. “Anything for you.” 

They worked together to pack up the tent and their chairs, all without any magic to aid them. When their contact got them to Earth, they were told to never use magic unless a life was on the line. Unfortunately, carrying their heavy camping gear up a mountain didn’t count.

It was still hard to see, and they had to use flashlights to navigate in the darkness. Mari sometimes was passively able to shift nature to their advantage, instinct over need causing it. Ambient magic seemed to pulse off of her as she got more and more into her element, reveling in the beauty around her, how it was all so alive, new and growing.

She and Irisi rarely talked on their hikes. It was almost meditative, and a kind of peace settled over Mari that she hadn’t felt in years. Not since her quiet youth of gardening in Mooshu, of always sunny days and no quests to save worlds.

Maybe Japan was her second favorite country.

They got to a flattened out seating area along the trail, not the top of the mountain, but near enough that the air felt thinner than usual. A campsite would be nearby, and they’d set up for the day, but for now, they’d rest on this little sanctuary within the sanctuary of Mount Takao. 

Lazy dawn light was beginning to show, pale and shy. Irisi grinned, almost throwing down her bags and going to sit closest to the ledge, back against one of the concrete foundations of the picnic tables. Mari sighed, but settled her stuff down next to Irisi’s, grabbing the bag for camping chairs and also their fluffiest blanket from Switzerland. 

Being the sensible one was exhausting. Mari now knew why she never bothered before.

“Mari! Come on!” Irisi yelled, disturbing some birds.

Mari set out the chairs, popping them into place and looking at Irisi. “Slouching against concrete isn’t good for your back.” 

Irisi snorted, but upon seeing the blanket she got in her maroon camping chair and wiggled in it to move closer, making silly grabby hands at the blanket Mari had. 

They leaned together, Irisi resting her head on Mari’s shoulder, now fully cuddled into their blanket. Pinks began to light up on the horizon, the canopy of trees below a mesh of greens with patches of pink from cherry blossoms. 

Mari was transfixed. The sunrise filled her with the same awe that hollowed out her chest like New Years fireworks, like joyful children painting each other every color possible in the streets of New Delhi, like the pyramids of Giza, like seeing Irisi for the first time.

It was amazing in a whole new definition, taking her perspective and twisting it artfully, a wire sculpture of geometry she couldn’t even understand, in a dimension beyond her own three.

It felt spiritual, and before this trip she had only idly considered those kinds of things.

Warm tears traced lines down her cheeks, nothing but two twin tree trunks, two blades of grass, two stems to alien flowers. Magic and something she couldn’t name swirled within her, soft and welcoming, like coming home again and again.

Mari wanted to travel forever. To find every one of these moments and crystallize them in her memory, make them something tangible and real. She wanted to bring them back to the magical side of the Spiral, shove them in wizards’ faces and ask why they thought magic was what made them worthy, when no magic could make this kind of moment.

Irisi was snoring softly on her shoulder, and the sun was continuing to rise, the pretty colors gone, leaving only beautiful blues. Mari rested her head against Irisi’s, knowing she’d probably have a crick in her neck later, but let herself fall endlessly into a soft warm sleep.

They’d sleep for a few more hours, lovely and delicate, whole and there as two people in love could be.

[khajjiartourpackages]

Top 10 best places to visit in the month of December in India for a Holiday

Nothing beats those December winter chills ducked inside a duvet and sipping on some hot chocolate. We have got the best places to visit in December in India to make winters an epic affair. he pink winters of Delhi and Jaipur bring out a different side of both these cities, the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir and Himachal make some of you pose like a movie actresses and the list is endless.

[lsjpr2497-blog]

Best Places to visit in Jaipur.

Jaipur city is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its vibrant colors and culture. It is also known as Pink City. .Initially, the foundation of the city was placed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder, and the ruler.

Jaipur is the foremost part of the ‘Golden triangle’ (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra) and is the hottest destination for tourists. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in India. If you want to explore the beauty of this city, you can plan your travel through a travel company in Jaipur.

It is a very beautiful place. This city is also known for its beauty and its traditions. The old fort and culture here attract all the tourists. The best season to visit Jaipur is during the winter season. There is a lot to visit here and you can get help from a travel company in Jaipur.

Jaipur has many cultural sites like Jawahar Kala Kendra, Ravindra Manch and many more. Jaipur has lots of traditional shops selling antiques and handicrafts. Jaipur displays a cool presentation of urban lifestyle and it provides budgeted travel companies in Jaipur.

The city is very famous for its food. The food here is different from any other state cuisine. Here are some famous dishes that you must eat if you are visiting Jaipur are Dal Baati Churma, Missi Roti, Gatte ki Sabzi, Ker Sangri, Make ki Ghat, Bajre ki Ghat, Bajre ki Roti and Laal Maans.

The Maharajas and their royal families, the palaces where they lived are so exquisite that today, the city has become popular because of them. The famous forts of the city are Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, Albert hall museum and many more to visit.

Amber Fort                                                                              

It is situated 10 km from Jaipur city. It was the residence of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The fort was established keeping in mind the choice of the ruler so that he would not have any problem. This Amber fort was accomplished in two centuries.

City Palace

The palace was established at the same time as the city of Jaipur. The history of City Palace is closely linked with the history of Jaipur. The palace was built by Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.

The City Palace is the present-day residence for the current Maharaja of Jaipur. Govind Devji Temple is a part of the City Palace Complex.

[lizartgurl]

So for your ocs could you do numbers 1 through 15?

1. How many different places have they lived?

Emma: Has traveled the world and speaks at least five different languages fluently. Can communicate somewhat effectively in ten others.Eliza: Has lived in Dakota City her whole life until she moved to BYU Idaho for school, and then Barcelona, Spain for a mission.Astra: Lingkyra was and always will be her home. Her spirit lives with those of her people. Mount Justice is welcoming, but can never measure up to her Ancient Utopia.Samantha: Sand Diego girl through and through.Kiran: Travels a lot to explore with her parents, but she’s only ever lived in Washington DC and Delhi, India.Jaina: There’s Coruscaunt, and unnamed secret planet for the protection of her and her brothers, Yavin IV for training, Mount Justice, Ossus, and then Coast City. The universe is her home.Lorena: Also a San Diego girl. But Atlantis is amazing too.

2. What is their dream vacation?

Emma: Anything where she or her family don’t have to fight crime. Even a staycation would be fine if Bruce wasn’t so focused on catching Calendar Man of all people.Eliza: She likes cruises so long as her parents aren’t helicoptering over her and her health all the time.Astra: No vacation. The Universe must be defended.Samantha: Family reunions are the best! Even a house full of flies is great, so long as she’s got her cousins, silly aunts, musical uncles, and the rest of the family (based on a true story)Kiran: Visiting Archaeology sites isn’t exactly a vacation for the Singhs, but it’s got the sightseeing built in and Kiran gets to skip school so she counts it. She loves spending time with her parents.Jaina: Just let her have peace and quiet for a few seconds that’s all she’s asking.Lorena: Hawaii. 

3. What is their favorite color?

Emma: RedEliza: BlueAstra: PurpleSamantha: RedKiran: Pink!Jaina: Purple and GreenLorena: Silver

4. What is their favorite book?

Emma: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. She reads it with Kaldur.Eliza: Secrets of the King’s Daughter by Renae Weight MackleyAstra: She has only ever really read the history of Lingkyros, but the myths and legends are entertaining.Samantha: Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day GeorgeKiran: The RamayanaJaina: It’s childish, but her favorite will always be the Little Lost Bantha Cub. Her parents reading to her and her brothers will always be her favorite memory.Lorena: Goose Girl and the other Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale.

5. Have they ever cheated on anyone before?

No

6. Have they ever been cheated on?

No, though Kaldur betraying the team feels a lot like being cheated on to those who loved him.

7. How many partners have they had?

Emma: She’s only seriously been with Kaldur’ahm, but she has dated Donna Troy, Luke Fox (he’s so cute, okay!), Frankie Charles, Nadimah (from the BG of Burnside), and a couple of people who are dead now.Eliza: Eliza has been on many dates, but she has only seriously dated one or two of them (Kaldur, and a guy from BYUI when he went dark)Astra: TwoSamantha: *Sammy voice* “Ain’t nobody got time for datin’!”Kiran: She’s been so wrapped up with her studies and her parents that she never really thought that anyone would want to be with her until she met Kaldur.Jaina: Jagged Fel, Kaldur’ahm, Tenel Ka, and Zekk PeckhumLorena: She had a “boyfriend” in middle school but it was a kid relationship. She eventually thought it was dumb and broke up with him. And now she’s with Kaldur

8. Already answered

9. Already answered

10. Introvert or Extrovert?

Emma: She’s in the middle there.Eliza: Introvert, unless she’s onstage. She gets spiritual support on her mission.Astra: Extrovert.Samantha: More introverted. She likes to keep to herself but when she does talk to other people or strike up a conversation with a stranger she can make them feel very special by the questions she asks and the attentions he gives them.Kiran: ExtrovertJaina: IntrovertedLorena: extrovert

11. Have they ever been arrested and why?

Emma: A few times as a hero, mostly when she was first starting as Finch, but she always escapes. She got a DUI once, on a bad day. She has never drunken again since.Eliza: Never. She is scared to death of police cars.Astra: She was never arrested on her home planet,t he model princess, but she gets approached a few times when first acclimating to Earth, but they were never good enough to actually bring her in.Samantha: NopeKiran: How dare you accuse my perfect angel.Jaina: So many times for various offenses during her rebel teen phase, which is strange because she’s supposed to be a Jedi. She is single-handedly responsible for half of Leia’s gray hairs.Lorena: She’s too good to get caught.

12. Who would they sacrifice their life for?

Emma: Literally everyone except the Joker or Lex Luthor.Eliza: Her parents, Raquel, Kaldur, the team, baby Amistad, and it’s not a person, but she would sacrifice everything for her belief in the LDS church.Astra: All the people of LingkyraSamantha: Her family especially, but also her teammates and the people of San Diego.Kiran: Kaldur, her kids, her parents, Kamala, M’gann, Artemis, Zatanna, Raquel, Gar, and Cassie.Jaina: The entire Universe, which she just might have to do.Lorena: Her family and all of Atlantis.

13. What are their spending habits?

Emma: She likes to be wise with her money like her parents taught her, but Bruce is a billionare so either way he sends her 5mil at the beginning of every month like he does the rest of his children.Eliza: She works very hard to earn money herself for her mission and her car (her parents insisted on paying for college, and they agreed that a mission was something to personally save for). She will always splurge on clothing, accessories, and stuffies. She owns a zoo and an aquarium of plush animals.Astra: She is very conservative with her money, only authorizing insane amounts of money on necessities like food, shelter, water, education, and protection for the people of Lingkyra.Samantha: Her parents can also pay for her school, but she has to save up for a mission. She shares a car with Abby when she gets old enough, but she doesn’t really like to spend too much money, unless it’s on food or books.Kiran: Is drowning in unused notebooks and pens. She loves to spoil Kaldur, and they both love spoiling their kids.Jaina: lol what money?Lorena: Gets an allowance from Aquaman for superheroing and spends so much time trying to think of how to spend it in a way that shows him and her parents that she’s responsible so she usually ends up putting it in savings.

14. Do they like hot or cold temperatures better?

Emma: She likes it in the middle, like fall/spring weather.Eliza: She likes the hot weather. Better for swimming. And outdoor theater performances!Astra: Lingkyra has a temperate climate over the whole planet, so extreme temperatures bother her to the point of sickness. She is not allowed to fight and of the ice or fire villains. Junior always tries to flirt with her anyway (she has that effect on people)Samantha: She likes the cold because then she can wear her scarves, hats, and favorite boots.Kiran: She doesn’t like desert heat, or winter cold. So let’s say in the middle. Fall has such pretty colors, and she can wear her favorite shawls (it’s like carrying a blanket all the time)Jaina: She does not care. Either way, she’ll adjust. And she’s probably seen worse before.Lorena: She likes warm wetter, also better for swimming.

15. Are they religious?

Emma: Yes, Christian.Eliza: LDS Christian.Astra: There are many religious sects on Lingkyra, but she has never participated in one, even though her parents were devout worshippers of their own sect.Samantha: LDS Christian.Kiran: Hindu.Jaina: Does being a Jedi and believing in the force count?Lorena: No.

(I really like making my characters religious. It’s very rarely seen respectfully in media, and religion plays such a big part in my life, I want to see it in others too.)

[blogwritetheworld]

The Write Place: ‘Tis the Season - My December

by Lisa Hiton

Looking for the right advice on pursuing the writer’s life? You’ve come to the write place!

My family is Jewish. We don’t celebrate Christmas. And yet, isn’t going to a movie and eating Chinese food while the rest of the world closes down for a day a kind of ritual—its own kind of made-up holiday? I’m sure that these details seem usual as well. But, dear writers, a lot more is there than meets the eye. Your family’s traditions, rituals, and habits—no matter how ordinary they seem—can be made extraordinary by turning them into words.

Family Hanukkah with multiple Hannukiahs! These are different than menorahs as they hold nine candles instead of seven.

PANNING FOR GOLD

An easy way to describe your holiday season to someone else (and kickstart your writing process) is to make a list of traditions and rituals that you think of when this time of year comes around. Mine looks something like this:

Tuesday before Thanksgiving

take a train into the city

to go to the Art Institute with my mom

followed by shopping for new art supplies

and a nice dinner

and train ride home

Thanksgiving Eve and Day

prepare spinach balls

set table

cook cook cook

eat eat eat

play games with cousins

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

hang Hanukkah stockings

attend Cathy Nathan’s x-mas party

cook a big breakfast including eggs, fresh squeezed OJ, and bacon

open stockings

hang out

go to a movie at the theatre

cook a nice dinner (Chinese food takes too long in my hometown since we live in a pretty Jewish part of Chicagoland)

watch holiday movies with mom and brother, especially The Family Stone

Winters in Chicago can be brutal; there’s no better antidote than playing in the snow! Here I am enjoying the snow with my first friend, Rebel.

Are you bored yet? This isn’t even counting Hanukkah since it doesn’t always fall near Christmas! All of these things may seem pretty usual. That might be true if you make your list of traditions as well. You might decorate a tree, hang twinkle lights, go caroling, go to the same person’s house every year to celebrate, leave out cookies for Santa, etc. Most neighborhoods and cultures have their usual lists of traditions. Part of your goal as a writer is to pan for gold among them.

Looking at this list, I began to ask myself, Why is it that my mom, brother, and I do these same things every single year? Some of it seems like the larger culture, but some of it was made by us. As I think about why, it’s clear that a lot of these rituals are in some way related to my parent’s divorce. Through that lens, I might start panning for my own gold—to sift through this litany to find something that might be worth more than meets the eye. Each of these seemingly usual bullet points, in fact, triggers different memories for me. In that field of memories, where might I find a scene that begins a longer story? How might I organize these scenes and memories into something cohesive for myself and my readers? I’ll begin with my freshman year.

My freshman year of high school marked the first year of spending winter break with divorced parents. While breakfast time was never particularly special in my house, Christmas day posed a dilemma: what would my mom, brother, and I do in this new situation, just the three of us? Especially since nearly everything is closed on Christmas day and people are with their families, filling the time posed some anxiety for my mother and me, especially with my young, shy brother.

To be sure, I already had thrown one tantrum about adjusting to these new circumstances. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. In elementary school and middle school, I normally had that day off as part of my holiday break. In high school though, this was not the case. It was second period when I received a pink slip during chorus to report to my advisor’s office. As a self-proclaimed academic, I was not used to be in trouble. With a room full of eyes on me as I left the choir room, my angst only increased.

It seemed my senior leaders had gone to my advisor worried about my general sadness. In my humiliation that anyone had noticed such negative energy, I proceeded to have the first of many tearful conversations with my advisor about adjusting: to high school, to a new home situation, and more. My mom came and picked me up from school so we could play hooky and keep our one ritual of going to the Art Institute of Chicago. I knew it was a temporary solution to a larger problem, and that this was just one of many adjustments I’d have to make. Yet, the gesture helped me persevere despite my pain.

That choir room would continue to serve as a literary backdrop for growth and tough love throughout high school. It was also a common community I kept throughout high school while everything else changed. For our annual fundraiser, we sold grapefruits and oranges by the box. When the trucks pulled up to the high school, we passed the boxes one by one down the line, just like the who’s down in Whoville, singing all the while in the face of another frigid Chicagoland winter.

While I’m more of a night owl than a morning person, and certainly not a big breakfast eater, this introduction to ripe grapefruits became my exception. Cut in half with a little bit of sugar was all I needed to jump-start my day with a jolt of Vitamin C. And so when the week of Christmas came around, my mom picked up a citrus juicer. The morning of Christmas. My brother and I sat on the island in our kitchen cutting oranges in half. We took turns pressing oranges onto the machine as it whirred and whirred. In an absolute mess of pulp, we finally squeezed enough halves for three cups of juice, just as our bacon was coming out of the oven. It was a new tradition, mundane as it may seem now, and a way of lightening the day and passing the time on a holiday that is not ours.

Christmas may not be our holiday, but it would be a boring day without our own tradition of “Hanukkah stockings”. My brother, Merrick, and I still give each other socks and chapstick as a ritual!

AMONG THESE ROCKS

Among the rocks in the river, there are some that are worth spending time with as a writer, and others that probably don’t add much to the larger story. The larger story in a personal essay is not always about a narrative arc. In the passage I just wrote about making orange juice, the larger story is about recasting the family unit as three instead of four, connecting to my younger brother, and trying to lift my spirit despite how hard it was to start high school with divorce at the forefront of my thinking and feeling. While all of that may not have come out precisely, writing this little passage is a signal that with time and effort, I could write that longer essay. Now as a writer, it will be up to me to describe these anecdotes as scenes, make characters out of my self and my family members, and reflect on the meaning. If this can all be done well—the showing and the telling—then it’s likely the reader will feel a similar sense of nostalgia.

The house where I grew up is on a hill whose swale leads to the north fork of the Chicago River. My fondest memories of winter are sledding down that hill and walking on the frozen river. Here I am teaching a new friend, Miriam, about these prairie-land games.

That is, perhaps, the most important way to approach material. If something is significant, memorable, or worthy of reflection to your own sense of self or personal narrative, there is probably a way to translate that to your reader in writing. Take for example Vani Dadoo’s My December piece from last year, “December in Delhi”, about waiting for the train:

Winter is not good for a polluted city like mine. December, being the main month of winter in India, is always the coldest.

All things in nature huddle together in winter, trying to find, or steal, some warmth from the other.

The clouds creep towards the ground. The fog and the smoke meet and embrace, and together try to steal the little sunlight before it touches the earth. The smog becomes denser, trying to wrap the earth in a heavier, grayish blanket, like the people sleeping in woolen quilts in their homes.  Evening darkness approaches faster than before, as if the smog did succeed in robbing the sunlight. Even after twilight, the smog refuses to diffuse. The air becomes thicker, but the world puts on an old, dull, sweater and wraps a muffler around its neck and walks on.

Some evenings, it coughs and some mornings, it can see its breath. But most days, it can’t peer into the distance.

This year, my father decided to travel to escape the harsh winters. “Migration over hibernation,” he called it, and, “better to get the sun somewhere than get closer to that old, rusty heater at home,” is what he said. We decide to journey to the western coast around Mumbai by train. Indian Railways was a part of family, as all cross-country trips; from Himalayan foothills to the Rajasthani deserts, were made by train.

As we take a cab to the New Delhi railway station, the moon is rising. The moon is a blurred piece of white in the black sky, clouds and smog. The street lights, though, filter through this, illuminating every speck of dust. The cars zoom past on the highway.

One can rarely see stars in my city.

Dadoo wavers between a present-tense meditation on December, and a swell of memory related to waiting for a train in Delhi. While these may be ordinary in another context—waiting for a late train or reflecting on the season—Dadoo weaves these two threads together, a double helix, to arrive at grand statements of the human condition: that like waiting for a train, we wait for a season’s end so that we may be carried into a new one.

Dadoo also brings us Delhi in her sensory details. From the opening passage about all things in nature “huddling together”, Dadoo mirrors her descriptions to match the crowded and polluted city around her. Just as Dadoo was able to give the details of December in Delhi while waiting for a train, you can give your own details as you think about your family—their traditions and rituals, the personalities of each member, and the things that make you nostalgic.

A reader gets a clear sense of a train station in Mumbai from this piece. If you’re familiar with such a place, you will get swept up in a shared nostalgia. If you’re unfamiliar with this land, you may find these descriptions to be exotic. In both cases, the very things that are both familiar and new bring the reader into a shared sense of the human condition with the writer herself. That shared humanness is the the entire point of sharing stories! And all of that came from writing about waiting for the train!

So, dear writers, as you think of Decembers past and enjoy your current December, what memories and rituals are for keeps? What gold will you find in waiting for the train, cooking with your grandmother, visiting a museum, playing in the snow? Show us your favorite places, traditions, and people at this time of year by tagging your stories and images with #MyDecember on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Lisa

Lisa Hiton is an editorial associate at Write the World. She writes two series on our blog: The Write Place where she comments on life as a writer, and Reading like a Writer where she recommends books about writing in different genres. She’s also the interviews editor of Cosmonauts Avenue and the poetry editor of the Adroit Journal.

[keywestlou]

MORNING STEW #30

Morning Stew time again!

I have 2 days of notes to share. The reason being I limited yesterday’s blog to the UN Madrid meeting and a climate change solution discussed. Kill people! Too many people on Earth contributing to CO2 emissions.

Someone commented I should have discussed Brexit instead of the environmental issue. The reason I did not is the professional media highlighted Johnson’s victory.

Most are aware of Brexit and Johnson. Very few are aware of murdering a portion of the population to slow down global warming.

I open today with a short bit re Brexit. Technically the United Kingdom withdrawing from the Euro Union. Unintended ramifications may result however.

Johnson supports Brexit.

Johnson concerns me. He is an ultra right conservative. I suspect in the same mold as Trump. I sense England traveling the same path the U.S. has the past 3 years.

Enough re Brexit for the moment.

Not through with Johnson and Trump, however. Both are peroxide blonds. Their hairstyles best described as radical.

The English have compared Johnson to a “potato in a blond wig.” He also has a wayward tongue as Trump does. During the campaign Johnson claimed that voting for his party “will cause your wife to have bigger breasts.”

Trump has had his day(s) for insensitive negative comments about women.

Johnson and Trump are birds of a feather. Yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow.

A New Delhi convicted murderer says he should not be hanged because New Delhi’s air pollution is already killing him. India has some of the world’s most toxic air. Certain regions are referred to as “gas chambers.”

The man’s crime was the torturing and then raping of a woman on a bus.

One of the more extreme Republican Congressmen is Matt Gaetz.

This past week during the House Impeachment hearings, Gaetz raised the issue of Hunter Biden. The issue of Biden’s alleged drug and alcohol abuse.

He was immediately stopped by Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson who said, in effect, beware! Intimating Gaetz might be the pot calling the kettle black.

Gaetz’s father was a powerful State Senator.

Gaetz had his wayward moments. One DUI. Several others whose records could not be found. Re the one recorded DUI, Gaetz refused to take the breathalyzer test. An automatic one year suspension of a person’s driving license. His license was not suspended.

It is also claimed Gaetz had 16 speeding tickets between 1999 and 2014.

Gaetz not an Obama supporter. He was a prominent proponent that Obama was not an American citizen. He also claimed Obama had “homosexual tryists” with Massachusetts Governor Devan Patrick and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Interesting since some claim Gaetz is reputed to have an alternate gay lifestyle.

I am not sure what is true and what is false re Gaetz. I have shared that which is out there.

FOX News is not always correct. Re the following, I am in complete accord however. FOX’s representation that “iguanas have turned Florida into Jurassic Park.”

Florida is finally encouraging its homeowners to kill iguanas found on their property.

Current iguana problems include: Battling each other, showing up unannounced in people’s toilets, digging underneath house foundations, chewing up power lines, and destroying sea walls.

Florida has finally recognized that the iguana population is exploding exponentially. Florida fears it may have waited too long to deal with the problem.

Iguanas began showing up in the 1960’s in Miami-Dade County. Native to the Caribbean, Central and South America, they were shipped to south Florida as pets. The pets left their new domiciles and became marauders.

Melania Trump is anti-bullying. One of her pet projects is discouraging bullying. Her campaign is labeled Be Best.

Greta Thunberg is a 16 year old environmentalist from Europe. She has been traveling the world discussing the need for everyone to combat climate change and global warming.

Time Magazine last week recognized Greta as Person of the Year. There she was on the cover of Time Magazine.

The President was apparently unhappy with her selection. So he bullied her. He tweeted: “So ridiculous…..Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend. ‘Chill Greta, Chill!'”

I never cease learning. Today, blue whales.

Described as the largest known “animal.” It is an “animal.” A marine animal.

So big. Bigger than the dinosaur.

Up to 100 feet long, weighs 200 tons, tongue weighs as much as an elephant, heart as much as an automobile.

Why so big interesting. Food availability. Prey. Other fish. So many in the ocean that each time in gulps a mouthful, the intake is huge and adds to its size.

Popeyes finally opened in Key West thursday. I drove by. Traffic in parking lot and in line in road heavy. When things quiet down, I will try Popeyes’ chicken.

The noted poet Robert Frost spent the winter of 1934 in Key West.

It was the heart of the great Depression. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was President. He began the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

Julius Stone was appointed Administrator of the Southeast Division. Included Key West.

Stone envisioned Key West as a tourist attraction. An astute observation! He worked at making it so.

One of the first things he did was to make Key West an attractive place for actors, authors, artists, etc., to visit. That is how Robert Frost got to Key West the winter of 1934. He was part of Stone’s program.

This morning’s Citizens’ Voice carried another complaint about the price of tickets for performances at the relatively new Key West Amphitheater. The complaint: $99 tickets “robosold” within seconds to “scalpers” who in turn resell them for $400.

Locals are left out in the cold.

Recall, I had this problem when I went to buy Willie Nelson tickets.

The City should look into the problem. I have a developing concern. I worry the City may be getting a pay back (probably legal) from the operators and scalpers. Or, perhaps the operators themselves. Again doubt it is illegal. It is not right, however.

Let’s find out how the system works. And if possible, make it work for the benefit of Key West locals also.

Penis fish. Yes, there is such a breed.

Look like a penis. About 10 inches long. Even has what appear as testicles at one end. Some describe its appearance as that of a “wiggly pink sausage.” Others as a  flotsam from a wrecked bratwurst freighter.

Pink penis fish have been around 300 million years. Live 25 years.

They are found only from south Oregon to Baha.

The penis fish live under the sand in the beach area near shore. The underwater beach area. Called the intertidal zone. A strong storm occurs. It pulls the penis fish up and out and throws them on shore. Thousands at a time.

Syracuse plays Georgetown at 1 today. An old rivalry from Big East days.

The President’s Cup is tiring me out. Being played in Australia. A much different time zone. Kept me up to almost midnight 2 nights ago and last night till after midnight.

Today the final day. Twelve matches. I have no idea when they will finish.

Kim Jong Un keeps testing Trump. Trump keeps doing nothing. Trump claims he and Kim are friends so he is not concerned.

This past week, North Korea tested another super dooper missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching the United states.

Appears to me Kim is saying to Trump: “Up yours!”

Kim has set a deadline of the end of the year for the U.S. and North Korea to work things out.

The “love affair” has obviously ended.

Another of Key West’s exciting attractions tonight. The Christmas Boat Parade. Many dressed up boats participating. Thousands on shore watching. For personal reasons, I will not be participating.

Enjoy your day!

        MORNING STEW #30 was originally published on Key West Lou

[khajjiartourpackages]

Top 10 best places to visit in the month of December in India for a Holiday

Nothing beats those December winter chills ducked inside a duvet and sipping on some hot chocolate. We have got the best places to visit in December in India to make winters an epic affair. he pink winters of Delhi and Jaipur bring out a different side of both these cities, the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir and Himachal make some of you pose like a movie actresses and the list is endless.

[tajdaytours-blog]

A Beautiful Sunrise and Sunset Tour of Agra Taj Mahal from Delhi

Taj Mahal Tour is most searched and booked package by foreigners or Indians. People on business trip of India must steal some time from their schedule to visit enormous beauty of The Taj Mahal. Known as symbol of love and affection of a couple attracts newlyweds couple towards it every year. They capture the image of one of the wonders of world in their camera with their partners. This tour becomes more stunning with sunrise and sunset view of the monument for which tourist book Same Day Agra Tour.

The mesmerizing beauty of Taj at sunrise with sun rays falling on the Taj built up of white marbles is stunning. If you visit Taj in winter season you will find Taj camouflaged with white snow glowing in yellow sunrays and bathed with a soft morning glow.  Example of perfect mughal architecture with perfect measurements tells hard labour of workers. He best view of Taj Mahal can be viewed from little octagonal tower of Agra fort. The inside reflects an interesting blending of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles which are simply amazing. The Mughals were great patrons of art & crafts and they approve each art step with keen sight.

After sunrise view you can proceed to baby taj also known as Sikandara where mughals third emperor Akbar’s mausoleum is situated. Four gateways that lead to the tomb reflect a unique combination of different styles of architecture - Hindu, Muslim, Christian and a patent mixture of Akbar's typical style. The main tomb has different square design mosaics of glazed tiles or colored stones.

Other spot is Jahangir palace which was originally built by Akbar, father of Jahangir to keep their Rajputana wives comfortable and touched with their culture. Here you will find a small garden and sculpted panels, pillars entrance gates. Aram bagh is a garden where a river flowing can be seen in middle of the garden. If you have plenty of time in your hands you can visit Soor sarovar bird sanctuary with more than 100 species of exotic birds. Here you can get relax with your loving partner in man-made Keetham lake.

36 km away from central Agra is fatehpuri sikri which is a ruined part but a world heritage site.

Built of marble, this tomb is on the banks of River Yamuna. Referred to as ‘Baby Taj Mahal’, it is a fine specimen of Indo-Islamic architecture. Viewed from above, it resembles the shape of a jewel-box set in the middle of a garden. Taj Mahal appearance changesits beauty with dawn and dusk.Taj Mahal is known for its pearl white colour that appears pink in the early morning hours, white during the day and golden under the moonlight. Agra is the birthplace of the world famous Indian sweet, ‘Petha’, which is of Mughal origin. This unique monument is a mausoleum to Noor Jehan’s father Mirza Ghiyas Beg and is often called ‘Baby Taj’. Commissioned before the Taj Mahal was built, it has several structural similarities to the famous monument.

The interior decoration of the mausoleum inspired a similar decor inside the Taj. The stone screens that were decorated with the specific jaalis is something that was repeated with perfection in the Taj Mahal as well. And you can enjoy the beauty around the monument by experiencing a boat ride in the Yamuna.

View the intricacies of Buland Darwaza

Buland Darwaza was built to commemorate the victory of Gujarat by Akbar. At the very entrance of Akbar’s court of Fatehpur Sikri, this gateway is a masterpiece of Mughal art and architecture. The Darwaza has several inscriptions that quote Akbar’s Din-e-Elahi faith of interreligious tolerance. It is made of red and buff sandstone and decorated with several different kinds of marble. The Darwaza overlooks now the small settlement of Fatehpur Sikri, and standing at 176 feet above ground, makes for an impressive view from a distance. Getting clicked on the steps leading to this marvel is beauty in itself.

Attend the Qawwali at Dargah of Salim Chishti

The tradition of Sufis, or Sufism, is one of the most important aspects of the Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb. The Mughal culture that pervades the town of Agra cannot be described without mentioning the Sufi dargahs that dot the place. The chief and most holy is the Dargah of Salim Chishti, which is located in the royal courtyard of Fatehpur Sikri. Salim Chishti was the saint whose outlook inspired Akbar into his liberal views on religion. His Dargah is the place where a number of people come to pray for their loved ones. The troupe of qawwals, whose families have lived and trained here since Akbar, are one big attraction for culture enthusiasts. You can see their performances in the evenings on Fridays.

Admire the workmanship at the Taj

No roundup of Agra is ever complete without talking about the Taj Mahal. While it is the structure that leaves most wonderstruck, the intricate art inside the monument and on the outer walls is also a key part of its aura.

The inscription of Arabic verses of the Quran in the calligraphic font, delicate floral patterns and beautiful jharokhas, with intricate work in marble through the foyers and on the windows add a surreal micro dimension to the grandeur of the place. Witness this beauty at sunset and be mesmerised forever!

Apart from the monument itself, you can also visit the bazaars around the Taj, which sell beautiful local handicraft items. Pick mini Taj or amazing marble/brass items in these stores as a keepsake.

[rajasthantourplanner]

Rajasthan Monsoon Tour Package

In the month of August monsoons  set your imagination free to all the places that you could not visit before.  And what more of a reason can you look for, when the monsoon has created the perfect ambiance everywhere. This time of the year gives you lush green mountains, beautiful sunsets, crystal clear waters reflecting vibrant green surroundings and not to miss, the sky high waterfalls. Read out the list of some of the best places to be visited in Rajasthan during the month of August.

Jaipur Jaipur is the last destinations of Golden Triangle and known as The Pink City of india. The majestic fort and monuments are the special treat here. It is the perfect destination for those who wants photography, sightseeing and entertainment. This city is the symbol of royal culture, delicacies etc. Starting from walking through the streets to travelling in a hot air balloon, this city has everything for all kinds of travelers. This is the place with royal heritage and modern culture. The Major Attraction Of city are the Amber Fort. City Palace, Hawamahal, Jantar Mantar,  Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jalmahal (Palace In Water) And Much More Palces To visit in city.

Udaipur This chilly winters, a drink in your hand and the sight of the calm waters of Lake Pichola, with the imposing Lake Palace at its heart. You can turn this picture into reality by just driving up to Udaipur (11-hour drive from Delhi) and reveling in the relaxed life. This lake city of Rajasthan is truly breathtaking, and we can’t even put in words how romantic the sights are. During the day, you can check out the City Palace-it’s filled with tiny passageways that open onto gorgeous courtyards and enclosures. A few other places that might interest you are the stunning Jain Temple of Ranakpur and the Fateh Bagh Palace, which is now a heritage hotel. We recommend you pick a rooftop restaurant-like Ambrai or Uday Kothi–for the night to enjoy the twinkling views of the city.

Bundi Bundi is a town that you might have a picture of its in your head, but often struggle to place in the real world. Dotted with blue houses, lakes, hills, bazaars and a temple at every turn, Bundi is straight out of a fairy tale. It is believed that Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling penned part of his famous novel Kim in Bundi and this is what he had to say about the Bundi palace. Jaipur Palace may be called the ‘Versailles of India’. Jodhpur’s House of strife, gray towers on red rock, is the work of giants, but the Palace of Bundi, even in broad daylight, is such a palace as men build for themselves in uneasy dreams – the work of goblins rather than of men.’

Mount Abu Located near the Sirohi District, Mount Abu is the only hill station in the desert state of Rajasthan. It lies in the Aravalli mountain range at an approximate elevation of around 1,220 meters above sea level, with its highest point being ‘Guru Shikhar’ which is at a height of 1,722 meters above sea level. Being the only hill station in Rajasthan, it has been a popular retreat for the residents as a place away from the scorching desert heat. The place also has a significant place in the Hindu mythology as it is mentioned as the place where the Sage Vashistha retired. Today, the place is a great tourist destination, a hill station with the distinctive blend of the flavors of Rajasthan. The list of places to visit in Mount Abu ranges from formidable forts to ancient temples, and from serene lakes to dainty parks. With so much to fill your time, no moment in Mount Abu will be dull.

For visiting one city to another city and having accommodations in each night you need to book a customize tour packages from a tour operator company. we are a leading tour company and having best customize tour packages. Visit our website for more information.

[newsfromnewdelhi]

Adventures in Rajasthan

My trip to Alwar, the oldest city in Rajasthan.....

The train journey was pleasant as I’d booked an ‘executive seat’ in the first class carriage which included a meal.

Alwar is not on the tourist map, being a very poor city. Apart from the museum and fort there’s really not much else to see. On arrival at Alwar station about 8pm, it was dark, and the tuk tuk driver who was supposed to take me to my Hotel, as well as overcharging me, dropped me off at the wrong place so that the hotel manager ended up having to come and collect me on his motor bike! The hotel, although very modern looking was up dirt track quite a way from the city centre and my room was very small and smelt awful, although at least they did upgrade me to a much better (but still freezing cold) room.

The following day I caught a tuk tuk to the museum then the fort which from which there were incredible views over the city. The tuk tuk driver waited faithfully for me at each of the venues including Dominoes Pizza, so I shared my pizza with him and tipped him generously!

I should have just stayed one night at the hotel as the following day, I had 7 hours to kill just wandering between the main park (where a sari clad woman tried to weedle money out of me and two teenage boys asked me and for a ‘selfie’) and Dominoes Pizza. It made me feel very uncomfortable being stared at the whole time - a relief to get back to Delhi.

Alwar Museum

19th Century artwork, Bundi School. Krishna making an offering to an elephant, Gouache on paper.

Alwar fort. Good to be up above the smog.

Mud huts just the other side of the wall from the Hotel - view from my window.

Alwar station

Golden Triangle Tour

Pros:

You get taken everywhere and don’t have to worry about finding your way from A to B. We had a great driver who was very friendly and drove carefully so we felt safe with him the whole time.

You get a tour guide to show you around each of the sites. We had a different one for each of the cities we were in and all were extremely good. They knew their history and brought it to life through their great story telling skills.

The hotels were warm, clean and comfortable and I was lucky enough to share with someone who didn’t snore! Breakfast was included in all the hotels and dinner was also included in the third hotel in Jaipur.

There were just four of us on the tour so it was a nice sized group. We all got on really well together, two were from Ethiopia and one was from the US although originally from India.

It was good to travel by road to realise that it’s only the cities that are really crowded. Going in winter is the best time to see these sites as the heat is bearable enabling one to spend much longer out in the open looking around.

Cons:

The drivers recieve commission for taking tourists to certain restaurants for lunch. As these cater solely for toursists they are naturally more expensive.

The tour guides also receive commission for taking toursists to certain shops and cafes. For example, we were taken to a carpet shop in Delhi where they import beautiful hand-made carpets from Kashmir. We were shown how they were made and offered tea, but then came the hard-sell which left us feeling awkward. Because of this visit which wasn’t in the tour brochure, we missed seeing Humayan’s tomb.

Everyone needs tipping which gets quite expensive: The driver, tour guides, hotel porters, waiters etc. The venues where there is no entrance fee levy certain charges (e.g. the Jasma Masjid Mosque charges 300 ruppees to take your mobile phone inside, a fee for the robe you borrow and you’re expected to pay a tip to the man who looks after your shoes and another tip to the man who shows you Mohammed’s beard hair, and so it goes on...).

It wasn’t made clear in the tour guide brochure that the entrance fees to the sites were not included in the overall price, so there was a lot of extra expense for which we’d not budgeted.

All the sites have many, many people trying to sell you souvenirs. It can get quite exhausting constanlty having to say ‘nahin’; the sellers are extremely persistent!

It’s hard to process the fact that places like the Taj Mahal are making huge amounts profits whilst there is such abject and widespread poverty within a stone’s throw of these sites. Why aren’t the profits going towards developing the cities’ infrastuctures?

So here’s a brief run down:

Day 1 New Delhi:

The present New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens, and its main architect was Herbert Baker. In 1911 the capital of the British Raj was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. Today it is the seat of power of the country and a major Gateway to the country for the tourists.

Ghandi’s memorial

Raj Ghat is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial is situated here, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”

Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque)

Made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer at one time.

Mohammed’s footprint (supposedly).

The Qutab Minar

The landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top.

The India Gate (42m)

Commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13,516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, glows the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. 

Day 2 Agra A medieval city on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. Agra achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings. Most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

World famous monument The Taj Mahal overlooking the River Yamuna, is a classic example of Mughul architecture, with the Taj itself built as a mausoleum at the northern end of an extensive formal walled garden designed in the charbagh style and structured on the Islamic theme of ‘paradise’. The whole site was built by Shah Jahan between ad 1632 and 1653 as the final resting place of his favourite wife Arjumand Bano Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal) who died in ad 1631 shortly after giving birth to their fourteenth child. Upon his death in ad 1666, Shah Jahan was buried alongside his wife in the Taj.

The Taj Mahal... true love or megolamania?

Agra Fort was originally a brick fort and the Chauhan Rajputs held it. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. During the time Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz lived there, he he had beautiful marble rooms built for his wife and two daughters. His second eldest son, who wanted to be king, killed his brothers and put his father under house arrest, so Shah Jahan lived out his remaining years in a section of Agra fort from which he had a view of the Taj.

Beautiful marble rooms commissioned by Shah Jahan

The room overlooking the Taj, where Shah Jahan lived out his remaining years under house arrest.

Day 3 Fatehpur Sikri

A beautiful and deserted medieval city, built by Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. It was mysteriously abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city built at the height of the empire’s splendour.

Day 4 Jaipur Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh - II, the ruler of Amber, Jaipur was the first planned city in India.This town is also referred as Pink city for the colour of buildings in its wonderful old city. The city was painted pink to honour the visit of Prince Albert of England in 1882.

Amber City Fort is situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills around 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037. Massive gateways, courts, stairways, pillared pavilions and palaces recall the glory and wealth of Amber’s association with the Mughals.

The City Palace still houses the erstwhile Royal familyJantar Mantar.

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, with 1043 windows) built for the royal ladies to watch the activities on the market street below without being observed themselves.