Our Map- or - the SPOT

When we were preparing for our trip Ana’s mom was worried about communication around the World. We were at our local adventure store and she told the salesman that if she could she would implant a locator chip in her daughter, just like the one in Maggie the Dog, this trip would be easier on her nerves. He laughed and then told her he had the human equivalent: the Spot!



With this little orange thing we can send a GPS location update that is mapped to Google*Maps with a push of a button. We can also, with a push of another button, send a pre-written email without the use of a computer giving all some peace of mind.

Our blog contains a link to Our Map- where you can find our latest location and follow us around the world.

*Ana does not always wear it on her forehead :-)

Day 19 Crossing the Border to Nepal Feb 24 2012

Today we left Varinasi at 6am and headed out to Lumbini, Nepal. Imagine a 10 hour Indiana Jones Ride similar to the Disneyland ride. We are exhausted and all we did today was sit!
We crossed the India- Nepal border on foot and went through immigration logistics quickly and smoothly. We also jumped ahead 15min in time- which confuses us even more.



The remaining ride in Nepal to our hotel in Lumbini seemed unreal. Only 10% of the truck honking and bells. A welcomed and serene change!

From dream talk to reality-or- how did this happen?

What couple doesn’t dream of traveling? We sure did! But woah this is so much more than we even dreamt of! How it really started was that Martijn was looking at the birthdays posted on the intranet of his company. He noticed the name of a guy who didn’t work there anymore and decided to let HR know that they made a mistake by including this coworker’s name on the list. HR had it right- this guy still worked for the company but was on a time credit. “Time credit?!?!” Martijn asked “What’s that?!?!? And how can I get Time Credit?!?!” And that is how this adventure began.

Or maybe it was Ana when she sketched this when we were talking about/drawing what we want in life.

Little did she know that that plane going around the world would actually be happening.

Day 18 Varanasi 23 Feb 2012

Today we woke up early for a Yoga session. Ana is still somewhat flexible from childhood gymnastics but Martijn, as he says, was not built to touch his toes when he sits.



After a quick breakfast at the hotel we went to an Ayurvedic Massage Center. We received three types of massages: Ayurvedic, Shirodhara, and normal. Shirodhara was a head massage with hot oil dripping onto the crown of the head/forehead that was worked into the hair through a motion of twists and pulls (at least for Ana) and rinsed with cool water. The Ayurvedic massage and normal type of massage were a combination of torture (we were pounded everywhere with a small hammer like tool covered with a herb stuffed cloth) and relaxation (strong pressured massage). All this was on the most uncomfortable wooden massage table!



In the afternoon we, along with two others from the tour group, went to a Hindu holy man who was going to read our palms, tell us about our past and future lives and provide us with a life solution, all for a small price. In the end we did not do it (we were told we would have to return to Old Varanasi in the evening and Ana was not having any of that nonsense) but we were told the price; for Martijn it would cost an equivalent of 100 Euros and for Ana, a mere, 1500 Euros. We cannot begin to understand the pricing scheme!



We ended our day with a quick dip in the pool followed by dinner at our old favorite: PizzaHut. No we are not just eating PizzaHut here! We are having plenty of Indian food! A few Skype calls with family, a few emails and a blog update!

Day 17 Sunrise to Sunset in Varanasi 22 Feb 2012

Today we took a Sunrise boat tour of the Ganges ghats (the name for steps leading to the banks of the Ganges).







We learned how local hotels wash their sheets! (kidding- but not sure)



We returned to the hotel for and Indian breakfast And shortly thereafter left for Sarnath, the site where Buddha gave his first sermon. We visited the Dhamek Stupa and the Bodhi tree where the sermons were given.









Lunch was at McDonald’s where vegetarian and chicken are the only options. Ana had chicken nuggets and Martijn had a potato burger. We shared an Oreo McFlurry!

An hour before sunset we were back on the Ganges where we saw the somber cremation ghat and the evening ceremony. We also saw about 2000 other tourists.



A late Indian dinner at a restaurant called Brownie and then to bed.

Day 16 Into the Ganges 21 Feb 2012

Before we headed out to Varinasi we went to the place close to Allahabad where the three holy rivers of India meet, including the Ganges. It was busy and dirty with a funnier smell than usual- we blame the cows and the birds sitting in the trash.





Now, just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. That started from a make shift port, aboard a tiny ship. We set sail today for a three hour tour. A three hour tour.* Martijn made it onto the boat safe and sound.


We enjoyed a nice boat ride and passed the Ramnagar Fort near Varanasi.



But upon disembarking the sand slipped from under Martijn’s foot and had it not been for, let’s call it good karma, Martijn could have fallen into the Ganges.



Instead he steadied himself and moved on. Ana’s heart stopped but afterwards she couldn’t stop laughing a nervous laugh. What if Martijn fell into the Ganges, what if…

*Adapted from The Ballad of Gillian’s Isle by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle

Day 15 Allahabad 20 Feb 2012

Today was a looong bus drive. India is huge! And these are typical sights all along the way.







We arrive in Allahabad and had a nice Indian dinner at El Chico, just the two of us. We met a French girl who was traveling India on her own for a month and we were both grateful to have each other and be doing this together. We chilled in the garden for a while and then headed to bed.

Day 14 Kama Sutra in Khajuraho 19 Feb 2012

Today we visited the erotic temples at Khajuraho. All very shocking and fascinating, both the detail and the subject matter.





Martijn made a little friend who reminded us of Maggie the Dog because the squirrel would be very interested whenever Martijn would make a crinkle noise with the bag- just like Maggie is with her treat bag. It jumped onto his shoe!



We had a rooftop lunch at Raja’s Café and after lunch biked to some nearby temples. However the birds of India became much more interesting and we decided not to go to the other temples by bike (it was also getting too hot) and did some bird watching instead.



We spent the afternoon enjoying the hotel’s swimming pool and a free Indian buffet dinner. We did not ask why it was all of a sudden free but this year, especially, we will not be turning away any free food.

Day 13 Bicycling in Ochra 18 Feb 2012

Yesterday we had made the plan to get up very early so we could rent some bicycles and follow a 12 km nature trail on the other side of the river. All started well, we got up very early- to see the sunrise over the river from our room- and we were able to find the Raju Bike’s where we rented bikes for about 70 cents per day (no deposit).



With our bikes we headed out to the nature trail –crossing a bridge- which is not that easy when a truck approaches from the other side and is more of less the width of the entire bridge. But we managed. It was amazing to see so many people washing themselves and their laundry in the river at 8 am.



After arriving at the national park we noticed that the ticket booth was closed. Nevertheless we continued on the road until we saw a sign suggesting legal action to people entering without tickets. After a quick retreat we continued to see the local market, the Raj Mahal palace grounds and Didi’s café established by an Irish/Indian couple where we had breakfast. Martijn has his first decent cup of coffee in India.
We hopped on the bus and headed out to Khajuraho.

Day 12 Turn left at the Cow 17 Feb 2012

Today another long, treacherous and bumpy bus ride took us to Orcha, a nice little village next to the Betwa river, where we stayed at a top hotel.





We slept on our first soft bed in India, a nice treat. After some laundry- we are officially stinky- we had the luxury of nice and long hot showers. We have showered everyday – some with a suggestion of warm water, some cold, but most warm and quick (before the water tank empties and has to reheat).

Day 11 Taj Mahal and Red Fort 16 Feb 2012

Martijn was all better again today, so after an early breakfast we headed out for the Taj Mahal, one of the 7 new wonders of the world, and it looked just like all the pictures we had seen before. Although, Ana had imagined it about 20 percent bigger. Impressive, moderately busy but not too extreme (considering we went at 10am and not at 6:30am as recommended), and quite smelly from the inside. We are wondering how it might be during the dog days of Summer.



Before lunch we also visited the Red Fort, where the creator of the Taj Mahal was imprisoned, during its construction and was never allowed to visit it. It was a luxury jail with a great view of the Taj Mahal.



For lunch we walked 2km/1.4miles (too far according to our guide) to the top choice restaurant according to the Lonely*Planet. Here we pretty much tried all the goodies and returned very satisfied to the hotel. After seeing a wonderful movie “My name is Khan” (highly recommended) that brought tears to our eyes, we ended the day with a visit to our Pizza Hut.

Day 10 Road trip to Agra 15 Feb 2012

Hoping for the best did not work out too well for Martijn. He felt a bit sick but no Delhi Belly!
After leaving Jaipur, we first visited the monkey temple, not its official name (Mandir Thlkana Shrl Galtajl), to find no monkeys.



After a climb up the mountain, passing our first cairn, it seemed all the monkeys were hanging out there, so our trip was not completely in vain.



On the top of the mountain in a little Hindu temple we had a nice view of Jaipur. A local gave us good luck bracelets and persuaded Ana to draw henna flowers on her hand.



We also visited Fatehpur Sikri an ancient fortified city. The coolest thing we saw were huge beehives on the ceiling of the mosque.



After spending a long time in the bus, we arrived in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, where we had some Pizza hut (conveniently located next to our hotel) for dinner.

Day 9 Bollywood 14 Feb 2012

Today we went to Amber Fort- just outside of Jaipur. A very impressive pink and yellow limestone building. Masses of tourist riding painted elephants were also there.



We had lunch on the way back to the city and then we took a walking tour through the Pink City (Jaipur- because of all the facades painted a pink/peach color) which was more as we imagined India than Delhi ever was.





At 6pm we headed out to the Raj Mandir Cinema- described by Lonely*Planet as a mix between a temple and Disney*land! And what an experience it was! Hooting and hollering at the screen when the villain and the hero would make an appearance. And whistles and shouts when the lady dancer made an entrance from behind a huge red silk cloth.

We thought it would be a perfect Valentine’s Day date- Bollywood romance and dancing-but it turned out to be a Hack and Slash movie filled with primal gore. But, they still managed to put in some dancing.



After the movie we thought we would have some Mc*Donald’s instead our tour guide took us to the Indian equivalent of an outdoor snack bar. We are hoping for the best.

Day 8 On the road to Jaipur 13 Feb 2012

A late morning followed by a long bus ride. The group decided to skip lunch and drive through to Jaipur and settle in at our little rundown heritage hotel.
Martijn did some laundry and we relaxed out in the courtyard.
Dinner out with the group and an adventure coming back to the hotel by Rickshaw- all four rickshaws filled to the gills were lost, trying to overtake each other and find their way back to the hotel. It reminded Ana of the show Amazing-Race. Here is a Dutch themed rickshaw! (translation- customer is king and together out, together at home)

Day 7 Staying in Surajgarh Fort 12 Feb 2012

After a long bus ride we arrived at our accommodation for the night, an old fort, with incredible rooms. A huge upgrade compared to the Spartan room we had during our first night with the tour in Delhi, where we were kept up all night by fireworks, dog fights, all kind of birds and a horde of people entering and leaving our hotel at ungodly hours of the night.



We walked around the little village full with rundown buildings, that still had some of the original beauty and Martijn ate some local chips! This guy will eat anything!



We were lucky enough to be in town during a Hindu festival, and could witness a prayer leader inspiring hundreds. Later when we were treated to an Indian buffet with local dance and song show, the locals had put on a nice firework, especially for us (or possibly for the festival). We went to bed early and had a lovely rest.

Day 6 Delhi City Tour 11 Feb 2012

Today we joined our tour group. After breakfast and a meeting with the other 6 members of our group and the 6 members of the ‘singles’ group that will travel the same itinerary we headed out for a city tour of Delhi.
After some pictures with the Red Fort we hopped on some bicycle rickshaws and headed into the narrow streets of Old Delhi- similar to what we had done on our bike tour- with one big difference: the city had woken up!





We ended up at the Jama Masjid Mosque (largest in India) and were the only brave tourists of our group to climb up the tower of 130 irregular steps for a spectacular yet hazy view.



Later on after having our first touristic lunch (we saw more Dutch, American and French people here than in the 5 days before!) we headed out to the Lotus Temple part of a new religion that accepts all people of all religions to worship together. After the tour we had free time so we went to an Indian mall and had some Pizza Hut with Indian pizza for dinner.

Ana’s Aunt Flo decided she wanted to see the sights and make the trip just a little more interesting, Thanks, Aunt Flo. Thanks.

Day 5 Lazy day 10 Feb 2012

Today we watched Sex in the City where they bleep out the curse words as well as “sperm” and “condom” and so many other mundane words in the Western World. They also blur out Carrie in a bra- but only the frontal view- side bra view was ok. Also the commercials are something different. We both enjoyed a commercial for Nivea underarm whitening cream.

We headed out for lunch, walked around for a bit, and later had dinner- at places we had tried before and enjoyed. Today Ana finally couldn’t take the street noise anymore and pulled out the earplugs- total lifesaver. Martijn however was close to a breakdown after the millionth person said that we were in sector B, D or F of Connaught Place while we were standing right under the sign and suggested a tourist shop we had to visit!



On a side note we also watched some America’s Next Top Model: Petite Model- since when is 5foot7inches petite?!?!?!?