[GPGT] North India Backpacking :)

[majormao]

I finished Taj Mahal quite early at about 11am. Not knowing where to go next, did a little search on virtual tourist (i've 3G india sim card bought from airport, data only works around area near delhi) and decide my next destination for the afternoon would be fatehpur sikri located 40km from agra city. Took a rickshaw to idgah bus stand (paid 60 rupees) and took a public bus from the terminal out to fatehpur sikri (paid 40 rupees and it takes about an hour or so to reach there).

Met a couple (Indian from kolkata + Czech) on the bus. Thought the indian guy was local, asked him some directions and then realised he is new to the area too. Hence, we decide to tour fatehpur sikri together for the day.

 

[majormao]

Our tour guide

 

[majormao]

 

[majormao]

We went back at around 4.30pm to make sure we are able to catch the bus at the terminal (last bus leaving is around 6pm if im not wrong). We do not want to take any chances since taxi drivers will definitely jack up the price if they know we do not have any means of getting back. Had dinner somewhere near a dodgy restaurant but surprising the food turns out to be quite tasty. my stomach also feels fine the next day =)

We said goodbye to each other after dinner and parted ways. Again feel abit sad of leaving since I really enjoyed the afternoon trip and their company, especially the conversations we had along the way. Next stop will be Jaisalmer, desert area and looks nothing like india, located near Pakistan. Stay tune =)

 

[Bak_Chor_Mee]

Amazing photos bro!

 

[majormao]

Amazing photos bro!

Thanks!! more to come, will upload them by tml

 

[iCuteCube]

Really? All the locals said that? All the police i met are helpful and i always ask them for help or directions. I dun get hassle by touts too when police are nearby.

Most of the locals i met there are very friendly and quite a few of them wanted to take photos with me or dun mind me taking photos. (except touts, rickshaw/tuk tuk drivers, or anybody that is over friendly towards me. Normally those normal locals going about their own business and dun bother you are the nicest people i've met, if you manage to strike up a conversation with them) Normally when i see them looking at me, i just smile at them and shake my head and then they will come and talk to you But have to be careful not to take photos of beggers/touts/corpse in the burning ghat, they will ask you for money .

Interesting.

I went Pune, its very far from the place you went. Probably different culture.
You mind meeting up over a coffee to share your experience? Tempted to go this June, still have business visa till September.

 

[majormao]

Interesting.

I went Pune, its very far from the place you went. Probably different culture.
You mind meeting up over a coffee to share your experience? Tempted to go this June, still have business visa till September.

Its my pleasure to share what i know pm u my contact see when u are free for meet up

 

[majormao]

Arrive at Agra Fort train station at around 9+am to catch my 1030am train to Jaipur before transiting to Jaisalmer. Original plan was to reach jaipur around 5+pm, explore for a few hours before catching my night train at 12am to jaisalmer. At first, saw that the train will b delayed for 2 hrs. i thought the delay is not uncommon (from what i read from the papers), and was quite certain the train will arrive at their next estimated time of 1230pm. Then at 1230pm the board shows another 2 hours delay. Ok, to cut the story short, i wait for around 8 hours till 630pm before my patience snaps.

Saw a first class seat train arriving at the platform, i ask the conductor (they called it TTE , Train Ticket Examiner) if i can buy a ticket on spot. He assign me one of his boys to buy a ticket at the counter on my behalf and manage to get a first class ticket for sgd$12. Give him 50 rupees as tips and i boarded the train.

During my 8 hours wait, met a local who missed his train cause he overslept. We had some interesting conversation while i wait for my train. He does not speak much English, and we communicate mainly by drawing. Can see that when talking to me, he regret he did not study hard in sch. Keep apologizing to me that his English is not good, cause he did not study hard enough. I told him it doesn't matter because he is practicing with me now. He treats me an indian burger and refuses to let me pay for it. In return, he asked me if he could drink my mineral water. I gladly share the water with him (its not uncommon for indians to share things like mineral water even though they do not know each other, this is what i notice in the train rides. Its not rude at all. Of course, they won't touch the bottle lip while drinking.)

 

[majormao]

School teacher i met at the station. He is bringing a class of small children on an excursion trip in Agra. Super friendly.

First class express train that i took to jaipur. Treated like a king during the ride, forgot how many types of food they serve during the entire ride. Only bad thing is that there is a 100 rupee mandatory tip. I tried not to give but gave in at the end cause everyone in the car had tipped them expect me (i was sitting right at the back).

 

[majormao]

Arrive at about 11pm in jaipur. Just nice to catch my 12am train to jaisalmer.

interior of 2nd class (2 A/C) carriage. Comes with air con. keeps you warm and cosy in the middle of the night compared to a sleeper class that does not come with air con. Comes with a more hefty price tag of sgd$20+ compare to an avg sleeper class ticket of around sgd$8.

Morning time, a few more hrs away from jaisalmer.

 

[majormao]

Breakfast at one of the stops. I only had a cup of chai, dont feel like eating, as you can see, by this time, i am a little bit sick of indian food already haha

Finally reached Jaisalmer.

Once out of the station, saw alot of people holding hotel name cards offering free rides to their hotel. I was glad to see them, as this save me the trouble finding a hotel on foot. I picked one (guy in yellow holding the card) call the mystic jaisalmer cause i remember reading it from hostelworld.com. Told him i did not make any reservation, he told me its alright. We continue to wait for about 15mins for 2 more people whom had made their reservation earlier. They did not show up and luckily for me, i did not have to share the small bike with them.

 

[majormao]

Gave the guy 20 rupees tips upon reaching the hotel. While checking in, the owner asked if i was interested in their camel safari and i said yes. Paid 1500 rupees (if i rem correctly) + 200 rupees for 1 bottle of beer. He arranged the trip, told me there will be 3 Italians joining and it is going to start in 2 hours time. Had a quick lunch and shower and off we go to the outskirts of jaisalmer.

 

[majormao]

Cotton plant

 

[majormao]

My camel, only one that is black haha

 

[majormao]

We settle down at a site and then the guides proceed to prepare dinner.

 

[majormao]

After dinner (vegetarian), we sat around a campfire and the guides sang some songs. When it comes to our turn, nobody wanted to sing lolz. As it got later into the night, everybody just blankly stare at the camp fire and nobody talks. Guess everyone is tired from the day. The silence becomes quite awkward and after awhile we all decided to call it a night haha. We had our breakfast the next morning and head back to where we came from.

Back at my dorm. I'm the only one occupying the room and it feels good to only pay $6/night for it haha.

Stay tune for more pics within jaisalmer city =)

 

[a1v1n_]

a very interesting trip! thanks.

 

[majormao]

a very interesting trip! thanks.

Thanks!!!

 

[majormao]

Spent the next few days lazing and chilling around the city.

Jaisalmer Fort