Lots of wandering (Patan)

We ended up taking a taxi to Patan which is about 15 minutes from Kathmandu. We made a lame attempt at finding a bus that goes there, but the two buses we asked weren't going to Patan, so we just went by taxi.

When we got to Patan, the first thing we did was find food. After that, we started wandering around the city, at times going to places that we clearly did not want to be. So we wandered around some more.

Throughout our wandering we came across quite a few kids playing around.

Eventually we made it to places we wanted to see, like the Golden Temple and the Durbar Square of Patan, while stumbling across other areas of interest.

We chilled out at Durbar Square for a bit, where Claudio was having fun entertaining some Nepali kids, or maybe the other way around? haha.

We then decided to go to the Patan Zoo, so we got in a taxi and headed there. Of course there were lots of cute animals! ...as well as others, haha.

There was also a mini lake where we were able to rent a pedal boat! yay!

Shortly thereafter, it started pouring, so we hung out under shelter waiting for the rain to subside... The animals took shelter as well.

After the zoo, we made our way back to Kathmandu.

Off to Nepal I go! (Kathmandu)

I had absolutely no plans to go to Nepal. But in Delhi I met an Irish guy (with a completely North American accent) and an Austrian guy who were planning on going to Kathmandu and spending a few months in Nepal. (They had just spent six months in Hampi, in southern India.) They were staying in Delhi with a Brazilian, Claudio, who decided to go to Nepal with them. So after learning the three of them were going to Nepal, and me being unsure of my plans, I just decided to go to Nepal as well! What's better, Kaushik had an upgrade voucher, so with Jet Airways I flew business class from Delhi to Kathmandu!

Once we got to the airport, we got the visa on arrival, and headed outside the airport. Claudio and I called up Badri who came and picked us up. We then went back to Badri's house and rested there for a bit before we went out to dinner in Thamel, an area that can be called the foreigner's hangout.

From Badri's house, we took a taxi to Durbar Sqaure, where there was a good amount to see. We got a guide to show us around.

In the following days, we also visited a few temples and stupas, including the monkey temple (where there were lots of monkeys!), saw bodies in the process of being cremated (forget which place that was!)... and more. There was definitely lots to see and lots of walking to be done.

We went back to Thamel a couple of times, and we also had our first experience in a cycle rickshaw... for some reason that was quite an entertaining ride!!

And we were definitely in the mountains, everywhere you looked there were mountains, it was wonderful!

Minimal sightseeing (Delhi)

I headed up to Delhi thinking there's a lot to do in the Delhi region. I didn't have any set plans, but figured I could decide once I got up there what I wanted to do. So I took an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore to Delhi.

Once in Delhi, I was determined not to do any touristy stuff, as I decided I would save that for later. However, my host gave me a mini drive around the city, and so I saw the India Gate, as well as the President's House and the Parliament... and a few other things that he pointed out as we were driving around. He also took me to see the Supreme Court of India--special privileges!

Oh... (Bangalore)

So when we got back to Mumbai, I went back with Anand to his place and rested there for a bit. Then I headed out with time to kill until it was time for my train to Bangalore to depart that evening. The train ride was a bit longer than I expected. (Yes, indeed I am learning India is a big country.) The Chalukya Express from Mumbai to Bangalore was about 24 hours.

And I guess I should write about the city itself. Although to be honest, I don't really think I am in any position to comment on the city. I really don't even know why I went to Bangalore. It was really because I didn't know where to go after Aurangabad.

And I had my first horrible-tasting lassi. It was sad. Every lassi I had up until that point had been delicious!

The main (only) thing I did was meet up with someone at one of the oldest pubs in Bangalore... and I think it's the only pub that still plays their music using cassettes? Or something?

And I felt I was constantly covering my mouth from all the pollution.

But I will admit, I did not give Bangalore a fair chance.

Finally made it! (Aurangabad, Ellora, Ajanta)

Well. I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it to Aurangabad. I wanted to go to visit the World Heritage sites of the Ellora and Ajanta Caves in the region. I originally made plans to go to Aurangabad with someone... and then he came down with jaundice. Then I made plans to go to Aurangabad with someone else... and then we were at the bus station, had purchased our tickets, when he had received a call saying that he had to be at his office early the next morning... so we didn't go. And then we made plans to go the following weekend, and then news comes that he has to attend a funeral! He really wanted to go to Aurangabad, and we made tentative plans around the schedule of the funeral, but instead I ended up going with his friend Anand and Anand's friend.

Anand and friend were in Mumbai, and I was still in Pune, so to make it easier on myself so I wouldn't have to travel to Aurangabad by myself and be lost there, I decided to take the trip back to Mumbai to meet them there.

They are working people, so it was going to be a weekend trip for them. I met them Friday evening, and we headed to the bus stand to catch the 10pm overnight bus to Aurangabad. Mumbai to Aurangabad by bus I believe was around a 10 hour ride. Surprisingly, I got a decent amount of rest! It wasn't a sleeper, but the seats reclined back pretty far. Initially it was hot since it was non-AC, but once we got going, the breeze from the windows helped.

So we got to Aurangabad early Saturday morning, and we hopped off the bus. I gave Ranjeet a call so he could give us guidance in the city, and he came and picked us up. He then took us to his guest house so we could drop off our stuff, which is where we stayed.

After that, he took us for a little drive around Aurangabad. He had a friend who sold electric motorcycles and suggested that I try driving one. Okay, I had never driven a motorcycle and I was like, sure let me try. WELL! I definitely could not handle it! Even going a short distance was a wee bit of a challenge for me. So, I most likely will not be attempting to drive a motorcycle for quite awhile. haha. Following that, Ranjeet took us to show us around his furniture plant. It kinda turned into a business meeting between Ranjeet and Anand... kinda funny. On the bright side, I learned the meaning of "acha," as Anand was constantly using the term! haha. (It means good, okay, well, etc.)

Anyway, after that Anand arranged a car (and chauffeur) to drive us out to the Ellora Caves, about 30 km from Aurangabad. There were 34 caves which were all carvings, and were split up, so you first walked around and saw one group of the caves, and then went around to the other side to see the rest.


Following the Ellora Caves, we went back to Aurangabad to visit the Bibi-ka Maqbara aka the Taj Mahal replica aka the poor man's Taj. Then we met up with Ranjeet again for dinner.
On Sunday, we drove out to the Ajanta Caves, about 100 km from Aurangabad. These caves had a different set up than the Ellora Caves, and there were lots of steps and ramps. (Yay! Me like!) So it was a slight work out getting to see the caves. These caves were not only carvings, but lots of paintings as well.
We headed back to Aurangabad and made our way to the market area. We also went in search of an internet cafe to see if I would be able to find a train ticket to Bangalore. (I was! Anand was actually surprised, he thought it'd be sold out.)

We then headed back to the guest house to grab our belongings, then headed for a quick bite, and then on to catch an overnight bus back to Mumbai. The ride wasn't so bad, as it was a sleeper bus!