Central Asia - Part 1 Turkmenistan

Central Asia was just named Best Region to travel in 2020!! I cannot agree more. 

Many years ago I became completely fascinated by the Silk Road. The journeys, spices and textiles make it a cultural paradise. I wanted to maximize my time in the area and many friends raved about Lupine Travels - 5 Stans tour. Its a jam-packed and adventure filled two weeks. The days were long, but you really get a great feel of the region. Another reason I love Lupine Travel is the mix of people they get on their tours. After joining one of their tours a year earlier in Bangladesh and Bhutan. I knew the kind of people they attract on their tours. We had people from ages 24 to 70 and everyone meshed so well. 

The 5 Stans tour starts in Turkmenistan and ends in Kazakstan. If you are not a lover of long days and nights this is not for you. We were up most days before 6am and turning in for the night around 11pm. 

I decided to arrive a day early into Turkmenistan to enjoy a day of leisure before the big group showed up. We landed into Ashgabat in the early morning hours. The city was vibrantly lit up from the sky and looked somewhat to the Las Vegas strip from the air. Not what I had expected when we landed. I met up with my roommate and some of the group that morning. We decided to head out to the cable car and some locations in the city not covered in the tour. The cable car was interesting and it offers a great view of the city. I could spot this amazing looking building from the lookout point and after a bit of convincing the drivers took us. Who would have thought a broken ferris wheel within the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center would look so cool. Its been broke for a few years, but was really neat to get up close to. 

We headed into the Russian style market for lunch. It was filled with tasty goodies and fresh fruit and veg. Another gem I did not expect was the amount of candy stores we would find. I am talking wall to wall confectionary goodness. I brought back nearly a kilo of chocolate and ate triple that over the two weeks. 

We had a traditional dinner nearby the hotel and copious amounts of vodka, for you know medicinal purposes. That is pretty true for the whole tour, as stomach illness is fairly common for everyone in this region. 

The next morning we met up with the rest of the group to start our real adventure. We took a short city tour visiting Monument of Neutrality, Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Independence Monument, Memorial Complex and The State Museum of the State Cultural. 

We then setoff to the desert for our overnight stay at the famous gas crater. We left the large tour bus behind and started our convoy into the desert in 5 SUVs. The roads were less than favorable, but in the end its all an adventure. We arrived at the grater at dusk and awaited the guides to put up our allocated tents. The camping was one of the highlights for me as you are hours from any city. The star filled sky paired with the light from the crater was breathtaking. The guides made a delicious lamb and veg kabob meal and we drank by the campfire until nearly sunrise. 

Early morning departure to Dashoguz for an overnight stay before we headed into Uzbekistan. This day was quite a blur due to being fairly ill. Not sure if it was food or the amount of booze consumed, but I was in a pretty bad place. Lots of meds, water and sleep once we arrived to the hotel. The group enjoyed a tour of a temple and dinner that evening.  

Onward to Khiva we crossed the border in the most humorous way. There is a small bus you must use between the border. You pretty much pack in like sardines and allow the driver to toss you around for around 5 minutes weaving through barriers. 

To be continued in Part 2 - Uzbekistan

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina 

Sri Lanka – Land of such diversity

The country with beauty from within

The time spent in Sri Lanka can be days or even weeks. We had 6 short days to capture as much of this countries beauty as possible. We definitely did not see all of what this amazing country has to offer, but we did get an amazing sampler.

Our goal was to take in the ancient history, food, mountains, rice terraces, beaches, tea plantations and the native animals. We accomplished our itinerary with the guidance of our knowledgeable guide Rana. We decided to book everything on our own, but he does offer itinerary planning, as part of his services.

Day 1-

We arrived at 4:30am to the island; I had about 3 hours of sleep after a 14-hour flight. I was armed with some granola and coffee to get through the day. Our guide greeted us promptly and we set off from Colombo to Dambulla.  Dambulla is the site of the exquisite rock cave temples. The paintings with-in the monastery date back nearly 2,000 years.  Take your time here and make sure capture all the views from above the temple. If it is a clear day you can see Sigiriya from the distance.

Our intentions were to climb Sigiriya Rock next, but due to an injury prior to the trip the hike was not feasible for me. We made the most of the extra time and Rana set up a traditional herbal oil massage close by. This totally hit the spot after that long flight. I found myself relaxed and well rested after this experience.

As it was nearly midday we set-off towards the National Parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla to see the daily Elephant Gathering, which takes place in dry season within the parks. With the help of our guide he called to see where they had been spotted to ensure we picked a safari. We jumped in a private safari jeep and headed to Kaudulla where the elephants had been spotted earlier that day. I highly recommend getting into the park prior to 2pm if at all possible. When we arrived there was a handful of jeeps on the safari and 40 plus elephants on the pasture grazing.  We stayed on the park about an hour watching numerous elephant families play in the mud and fields. We even spotted a large herd of water buffalos along the lake between the parks. By the time we left the safari it was so crowded with dozens of jeeps trying to make their way down the one-way road into the park. Dozens more waiting for their time slot at the gate to enter the park. We finished the day at our remote hotel, the Ruins Villa in Polonnaruwa with a homemade dinner and sunset.

Day 2-

We had an early morning start to try to beat the heat as we headed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. A visit to the museum is a must to fully understand the history of the site. We spent around 2.5 hours across all the sites with our driver moving us along most of the complex to save my poor knee from giving out.  The temples are still in tact in most places giving you a real picture of what the village looked like thousands of years ago. We finished with a local lunch and made our way to Kandy for some more historical sites.

Kandy is known for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and for being the cultural center. I found it overwhelming, crowded and expensive. After spending time in the remote areas near the ancient city of Polonnaruwa where the only sounds you heard were that of the toucans and monkeys in the trees, the people in the city completely made me want to run back to our sanctuary in the hills. We had a few hours to kill before heading to the temple, so we caught a local show inclusive of a fire walk!!

 

After the show we braved the crowds and headed to the temple for the unveiling of the Tooth Relic at 6pm. The ceremony within the temple was incredible to watch, but the pushing from the large tour groups going up the stairs in the peaceful temple had me ready to escape. The monks were the only people not rushing people through the temple and allowing people to pay their respects. Here we stayed in a boutique hotel atop the hills called Sweet Kandy; which did not disappoint on amazing views.  

Day 3-

After another early morning start we headed for the hills, quite literally.  The area Nuwara Eliya (known as Little England) was filled with hills upon hills of tea plantations. The scenery changed drastically over the next 2 hours. The palm trees turned into large rolling hills filled with rows of tea plants. As it was early in the day we were able to catch some of the tea pickers are work. The tea plant blooms every 7 days so it’s essential that they are picked often for the freshest tea possible. Due to the delicate process women primarily pick the tea. We visited Glenloch tea factory for a close up view of the tea making process. You finish the tour with a small tasting session and a chance to buy any local tea.

We stopped off at numerous waterfalls and look out points along the way. We almost chose the train to come down from Kandy, but we would have missed a large amount of scenery that you could stop off at along the way. Nuwara Eliya was quaint and it was very apparent that the British had colonized the village. The buildings still had the quintessential look of a typical village in the UK complete with horse racing. We stopped into the local markets here to get a glimpse of how the locals shopped. We were spent and headed back to the hotel for bed and another early morning on the train to Ella.

Day 4-

We awoke with the sunrise to enjoy the crisp air. The weather in this area was far colder than any other place we have visited in Sri Lanka. The area was nearly 2,000 meters above sea level so the temperature change was nice when you do not have A/C in your accommodation. We took the more rustic commuter train versus the faster train down to Ella. While it was nearly twice the journey time on the train, the train offered far more character than the faster tourist train. All windows including 1st class opened on this train providing ample time for the best views.

Once arriving in Ella we stopped into Adam’s café for a quick lunch. To my surprise this was the best meal we had while in Sri Lanka. The variety of curry’s and fruit juices was fantastic. We stopped over at the nine arches bridge to see the last train of the day pass over. Based on recommendation from our driver Rana we booked the Srilak View Holiday Inn located in Haputale. All the food cooked in house is from their garden below the hotel. The views from the hotel are pretty damn incredible.

Day 5-

After a few days in the mountains we were glad to toss the coats and head back to lower ground. As we drove from Haputale to Induruwa we crossed rainforests, rice terraces and numerous beaches. I chose Bentota/ Induruwa based on recommendations for quiet less touristy beaches. It did not let us down at all. Most people flock to Mirissa and Galle for beaches due to the calmer seas in the south. We found the seas perfect to take a quick swim. The non-existent people in the area made strolls along the beach so peaceful and quiet.

We visited a local turtle sanctuary who rescues and launches turtles everyday. It was completely destroyed by the tsunami a few years ago, so the funds go toward rebuilding the conservation effort. They hold one of each type of turtle local to Sri Lanka within their compound for educational purposes. Some injured (like the blind turtle) and even the rare albino which have a short lifespan in the wild. There are quite a few excursions from here, but we chose to relax the last day before our long journeys home. 

While our time was short in Sri Lanka, it was unforgettable. Our trip could have not been made possible without our amazing driver Rana. He was flexible and adjusted the itinerary to make sure we got the most out of our itinerary. What I loved the most is that he does not take you to the huge tourist shops or factories. He truly has a love of his country and wants you to see if through his eyes at local restaurants and shops.

He does custom itineraries or just driver only packages.

http://www.srilanka-guide.com or on FB https://www.facebook.com/sarath.ranasinghe.18

Happy Travelling,

Katrina

* The recommendation is not to my benefit. I gain nothing for the recommendation. 

Uniquely Tokyo

When most people think Japan, they think technology. Japan is so unique in its own right, that Tokyo truly lives up to the hype. 

Imagine ordering food from a vending machine, cuddling cats in a cafe or riding Mario Karts through the city. Well its all available to try in Tokyo.  

I headed to Tokyo to run the 2017 Marathon. Having lived in Japan before, I already had my heart set on some of the top crazy things to do in the city. 

I used Shinjuku as a good base, staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel. The hotel was centrally located near metro and JR stations. The hotel offers a penthouse Karaoke bar if thats something to tick off your bucket list. 

Vending machine restaurant  

Tokyo is truly the city that never sleeps. Suffering from jet lag made it easy to wander out late to see what crazy things happen after dark. The night life is incredible and you will be spoiled for choice on what to eat and see.  I mean even the man hole covers are gorgeous. After a long day I headed in to get some rest before the adventure truly began. 

Man hole covers.  

Shinagawa Port Area

A lot of things in Tokyo book up in advance, so I highly recommend prebooking if possible. While I came for the race, a chance to dress up and drive go-karts through the city was a dream come true. I left busy Shinjuku for Shinagawa port. What I found there was ornately painted temples and beautifully done metal doors. Each one offering a different part of the port towns story. 

I turned the corner to find about 20 cars all tucked in and ready to tour the city. This experience is truly a MUST do!   

After 2 hours wizzing around Tokyo it was time to find more fun. Now off to see what the Cat Cafe and Robot restaurant were all about.  For a small fee you can go in and pet cats!! 

And if thats not enough. Go have dinner with a few robots. 

Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto, you know you were thinking it. Dinner was not open yet, so I did my robot moves out front and moved on. I was on a mission now and in search of the holy grail of Japanese treats, the KITKAT. No, I am not kidding. The flavours are unique and endless. Don Quiote is where you can find these magical treats. 

I loaded up on flavors such as red bean and sake. This store was packed with so much!! I decided a costume for the race was a must. 

I mean how many times will I have a chance to run in a Kimono with Pikachu and the gang. Tokyo lived up to all its expectations and a little more. 

Happy Traveling,  

Katrina

Temples, Sand and Sea- Myanmar (Burma)

Have you ever laid eyes on a place and thought, I must go there. This was my first thought when I came across a photo of the city of Old Bagan. It appeared to be untouched by civilization and just the type of adventure I wanted to end an epic year.

Getting there from the UK was half the adventure. It took 36 hours door to door, across 4 airports and half a dozen times zones. The feeling when I landed in Yangon was exhaustion and excitement. I met up with some incredible ladies, who months before agreed to jump on the trip with me. A few Facebook communications and the trip was booked. I will admit that planning the trip at first seemed overwhelming, not much has been written about it and finding trustworthy blogs with updated information was hard. That was until I came across this site: http://www.go-myanmar.com/ that offered the largest amount of accurate content and information.

Picking the right destinations for the 10 days was another battle. I wanted culture, sunshine, beaches and relaxation. Choosing Yangon, Bagan and Ngapali were indeed the right choices.

Spending around 1 full day in Yangon we stayed at the Hotel Esperado, which overlooked Kandawgyi Park and the Shwedagon Pagoda. The hotel was just a short walk to the Royal Barge and Shwedagon Pagoda. Shwedagon Pagoda is a great place to watch the sunset as the building seems to magically glow at dusk. Traffic was absolutely manic when we left Shwedagon Pagoda, so we ended up missing Old Town and the historic area. We used our time wisely and booked a few hours into the spa that evening. Feeling relaxed we went to bed for our early morning flight.

Coming into Yangon, I entered a 5 star airport, newly built and shiny. Leaving for Bagan from the domestic terminal was an entirely different experience. You enter the small building to the west of the international terminal. There were no fancy signs and the check in process was so relaxed. Handed over our passports and given simple boarding passes and our colored stickers placed on our lapels. These stickers are crucial into ensuring you make your flight. Once through security and into the waiting hall, we realized it was not as 5 star as next door. A small toilet area and café is all the airport had to offer. Thank goodness the hotel packed us a boxed breakfast, as this was a just what I needed in the morning chaos. About 15 minutes before our departure staff shuttled us outside where a plane had just landed, allowing some of the passengers to disembark. We jumped in our seats on the tiny propeller plane and we were off. I slept most of the flight as jetlag was getting the best of me. By the time I woke up we were coming into Bagan. If you are sitting on the left hand side of the plane, you will get to the see the incredible view of all the temples amongst the trees. This view was even more spectacular than I could have ever imagined.

On arrival into Nyaung U airport you will buy the Bagan Zone Pass that provides access to archaeological zone. The cost was 25,000 Kwat, it was about $20. Having done a lot of research I found that while many hotels in Old Bagan were closer to the famous temples, the hotels in New Bagan offered some of the best views for balloon watching. Having chosen B&B Hotel Manisanda, as the other travels raved that it offered the best views for sunrise over the temples. As you can see their reviews did not disappoint. There are a few ways to get around Bagan, and you can chose a taxi, ebike or horse cart. There are only two main roads running through the area, so it is hard to get lost even with no sense of direction like myself. The ebikes really allow you to get to some of the more remote temples.

 

Spending three days in the Bagan area was more than enough, as it allowed us to taken in the sites without feeling rushed. There is day trips to Mt. Popa and while it was a long card ride, it was a change of scenery from Bagan. You can set up a taxi to this for about $40 from one of the taxi shops off the main road where you can rent ebikes. Get one of the free maps and explore as many of the temples as you can. Many of them you can enter and get some great views of the whole area. Some of the temples caretakers expect a small tip to allow you to view from the top. I brought quite a few dollar bills for this, as it was suggested by another blogger. I have to admit we did not try many restaurants as the first trip to The Moon 2, we were hooked and kept returning.  

Concluding our amazing time in Bagan we headed into Ngapali for some sand and sea. Amata Resort Suites was just what we needed after long fun filled days in Bagan. On arrival the resort met with us and put us into a bus to transfer to the other end of the bay. Amata is one of the last resorts along the bay providing a nice secluded beach area. The lack of tourists made it feel like utter paradise. The spa, beach and happy hour were just what we needed to relax.  

 

There is not much to do once in Ngapali, but if looking for a livelier atmosphere stay closer to the airport. We saw quite a few bars, cafes and tourists. If looking to relax head to the end of the bay.

 

Leaving Myanmar (Burma) was so hard. It was one of the most amazing trips that I have ever planned. The country offered some of kindest people in the world. Always willing to help and making sure you enjoy their beautiful country.

 

Happy Traveling,

 

Katrina

Dubai on a dime

Going to Dubai was at the top of my bucket list, but the pretty penny it costs to stay totally deterred me. I was afraid I could not do it within a reasonable budget. I was so wrong and let me share some tips I learned to save money vacationing in Dubai with my family.

Madinat Souk entrance

I followed numerous sites that offered discounts on Dubai through facebook. This was everything from hotels to bus tours. I signed up for a free Emirates card which also helped save 15-20% on food. We were going for sites, but the biggest thing we wanted to do was water parks. These are high ticket items in Dubai so being thrifty was key. 

While it was unplanned at first, going during Ramadan was the best decision we made. During Easter some Dubai hotels offered BOGO nights and flash sales for a few nights stay. One of the offers was on Atlantis which included unlimited waterpark access daily and unlimited Lost Adventures aquarium for everyone in the family. Jumping on this offer saved us nearly 50% because we no longer had to pay for waterpark access. The thing about Ramadan is during the day the city is quiet. I mean this was an introverts paradise and my husband who does not like crowds was in his element. My friend Hannah who lives there swears by the Entertainer app as you can get discounts on waterparks and meals all over the city. In which she cashed in on the Dubai Aquarium while we were there. 

Dubai Aquarium in Mall of Dubai

Due to our flights arriving late we decided to stay closer to the Mall of Emirates. The Akas Inn Apartments fit the bill at about $100 for two nights stay which fit 4-5 people. This was self catering with a roof top pool. Which is perfect during Ramadan as unless you are at a resort or food court you will not find many places open during the day.  

Now that I have shared some tips to save. Here was how we planned our 5 days in Dubai. The first full day we headed over to the Madinat Souk, which most shops were closed during Ramadan there were a few open just after lunch. We headed down to the Jumeriah beach area as one of the hotels had a large place where sea turtles are kept during recovery from injuries. 

Sea Turtle Rehab

There was surprisely a Costa open so we stepped inside to grab a quick lunch and headed over to the Mall of Dubai. Taxis are cheap in Dubai and you can also use the Metro for about a $1 a ride.  The Mall of Dubai houses the Dubai Aquarium and anything for sale you could imagine. To my shock there was a Texas Road House in the mall. 

Texas Roadhouse

As it was Ramadan and food was not served until 7:15pm the lines start to form around 6pm. We went to a restaurant that had inside and outside seating near the famous fountains. While they had fans it was still 100 degrees out while we waited for them to break the fast. Be Social did not disappoint with service, food or the view. It was perfect as the fountains started at 7:30pm so we were in place for the first show. They continue to play every 30 minutes. After a exhausting day we headed back to hotel to get a good nights rest. 

View from Be Social

We got up early to catch the first Hop On Hop Off bus leaving from the Mall of Emirates. We went with Big Bus Tours as they offered free water and we were able to eat on board. Seats were free all over the buses for each time we got on. The ticket included three water cruises as part of the ticket. This was great as the Abra in the Madiant was 100 AED a person and this was free now with your ticket. It also included the Marina cruise which has a great view of the Palm Jumeriah. The last cruise is the river cruise in the old town which we were unable to see due to timing. We rode the Blue and Green lines most of the day as it was the best way to stay in the AC and see most of the sites.

We could check in at 3pm into Atlantis this day so it was perfect that on the last round of stops we went and grabbed our luggage from the hotel to finish the scenic tour right into the Palm. This was genious was it drops you off right at the hotel entrance. Saving us again money on transport. Upon check in we were told that due to Ramadan upgrading to a full food package was the best bet. We jumped on the offer for the Imperial Club which included breakfast, afternoon tea, and happy hour cocktails and snacks.

Go to the club in the West Wing as its larger and food for afternoon tea and happy hour was enough to not grab a full lunch or dinner. We had breakfast in the Kaleidoscope and it was the largest buffet I have ever seen. This options saves us nearly $200 a day in meals alone. So if its offered jump on it because it also gave us jump the line at Aquarium and Aqua Adventure waterpark. At the waterpark towels were included as well due to the upgrade which renting them each was 40 AED. Remember the Emirates card I talked about early? That will save you all over Atlantis so put it with your room key for safe keeping. 

Atlantis from Beach

The waterpark was great and as it does not open till 10am you can spend the morning in the many pools or explore the property. You will get a new color armband daily to enter the park. We did this on floor 12 each morning as it saved us lining up at the park. The waterpark was empty!! I mean we rode every ride a dozen times, pop over for afternoon tea and came back till it closed. 

Empty corridor midday

There are so many places to eat on site and I highly recommend booking on arrival if you truly want to get a seat. We found it quiet this time of year, but I am sure it is not always this way.   

Hope this helps enjoy your time in Dubai on a time crunch and budget.  

Happy Traveling,  

Katrina

Taiwan- Taipei and Taroko Gorge

Taipei and Taroko Gorge

View fullsize

Taiwan was on my 2012 Bucket list as it was known for the worlds fastest elevator and underground shopping throughout the city.

We chose to stay at the Taipei Garden Hotel which was a quick metro ride away from most of the site including Taipei 101. For Asia hotels the room was spacious and the hotel had a bar connected just outside. The city was easy to get around especially with the metro being less than $1 per ride. Major sites for us were the Presidental building, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Traditional Taiwanese Temple and National Palace Museum. 

The city felt like any larger city in USA with shopping districts and restaurants lining the streets. It was a true shoppers paradise with high dollar items and lower priced items in the shops under the city which were connected to the metro links. The best shopping was under the main train station and it went on for miles with lots of markets and full of all sorts of clothes, shoes, and purses. The locals loved us in the city. We were seen posing with many of them as they would grab us to take photos with them and their groups.

 

We witnessed a changing of the guard at the palace which was caught really by surprise, but it was at 10am so this is something you could do if you made it over there earlier enough. The buildings in Taiwan can be overwhelming as they are vast in size. The courtyards are usually bigger than football fields. We found the local Hello Kitty sweet shop. It is well worth a visit if you want to enjoy everything in the shape of Hello Kitty. The place was decorated and staff were dressed in suits ready to serve your pastries on silver platters.

 Taroko Gorge

We did a day trip to Taroko Gorge which was definitely the highlight the trip. If you have read my other posts you will know I am sucker for waterfalls and trekking. They collected us early morning for our flight from the tiny airport in the center of the city. The flight was about 45 minutes through the mountains and onto Taroko area.

We visited Eternal Spring Shrine, one of the most photographed scenes around the gorge. If in Taiwan it is a great stop over to beat the hustle and bustle of the city. Random fact we found a Cold Stone Creamery and tried the merlot ice cream. Booze and ice cream is was a tasty combination. After we finished the trekking through the gorge we headed to the rock beach for some fresh drinks and cool down after a long day.

 

 

Happy Traveling

 

Katrina

 

 

Singapore - Fun for all

Fun for all ages

Singapore is a great stopover location in Asia. Many low cost carriers leave from Singapore and the it has many direct links to Malaysia and beyond. We stopped in Singapore for a total of 3 days as we embarked on our cruise through Asia. The best way to describe Singapore is envision Disneyland. There is so much to do and see for all ages. 

Zoo and promenade

On arrival we negotiated a fare with the taxi to watch our bags and take us around Singapore before we set sail. We set off on our first stop to the zoo. It is known as one of the largest and most prominent zoos in the world so we had to check this out. Take my advice and pay the extra money for the tram, as I cannot explain how huge the zoo is in words, but rather blisters and sweat. There is a reason it is deemed worlds best zoo and it did not disappoint. the pandas were visiting from China on our visit so that was an exciting experience. After the zoo we set off into town to see the famous Merlion and the Marina Sands Hotel. A walk along the promenade, a detour to Starbucks and off we set off on our cruise.

Culture

We stopped in Singapore again on Day 4, but this time armed with a map of sites to see. We decided to focus on the temples and cultural side this visit and then headed to Little India area which is the oldest area of Singapore. We used the MTR to get around which had great connections all over the city and a short walk from the main cruise terminal. 

Sentosa

Day 8 we stopped over for our last stay in Singapore, but this time porting on the island of Sentosa. This can too be reached by the MTR if you are on the other side of Singapore.  The island has Universal Studios, Hard Rock and numerous outdoor and indoor activities. We just spent a few hours walking around and located the bridge that led us to the southernmost part of Asia sign. The beaches provided lots of facilities for families. We rode the Luges down the side of the island, if you have older kids this is a nice way to get the adrenaline running.  

Good tip: 

A great tip while in Singapore its the hub for most Asia airlines so for under $50 you can get to Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Indonesia, Thailand and even India. 

India- The Golden Triangle and Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal and beyond

With less than a month before we left Asia I knew I had to tick off a big bucket list item, a trip to India to see the Taj Mahal.  I decided the best time to go would be in May as it is low season. While the temps peaked at 117 degrees there, but the cold water and A/C made it worth it. I went with three other women and it was an amazing time. 

Things you should know before adding India to your bucket list:

• 3-star in India is far lower than 3-star in the states, meaning it is like a road side motel. However, the price is right.

• Hotels do not have hot water, and most hotels have the shower, toilet and sink in one area.

• Pack toilet paper (lots of it); TP is hard to come by in many places in India as people there tend to spray their underparts clean.

• The season to get sick in India is monsoon season which runs June to September. This time of the year it rains a lot and food is harder to transport, so many things get ruined and are still served. I avoided the “Delhi Belly,” as they call it, by taking a Pepto daily for precautionary measures, eating lots of bread and NO dairy. Just do not go crazy and eat off the street vendors and you will survive.

• India is cheap in a sense, but the places you will eat will be 5-star standards, so you are fine. Do not drink the water, but ensure you stay hydrated for the tours.

• Pickpocketing is the worst in Agra and Jaipur, so keep your belongings close. As far as clothes, you can see in the picture(above) we dressed modestly and covered our shoulders and knees at all times. Many times I thought it was still not enough in most temples.

This was our itinerary:

This did not include tips for guides or driver. The standard is $5 per person per day. The driver is with you the whole time and for 5 days a $100- $150 tip is the norm. Also extras such as elephant rides, temple fees and camera fees are right at $70 a person.

Day 1: Arrival-Delhi – Arrival at Delhi airport and pickup by representative, then proceed to hotel. Later city tour of New Delhi & Old Delhi covering Birla Temple, India Gate, PM House, Lotus Temple, Humayuns Tomb, Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk (by walk or Cycle Riksha), one of the main oldest markets of the Delhi. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi-Sikandra-Agra- 205 km – After breakfast proceed to Agra. On the way visit Sikandra, the mausoleum of Great Mughal Emperor Akbar. On arrival at Agra check into hotel. Later city tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal, the symbol of love,Agra Fort and Tomb of It-Mad-Ud-Daulah. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: Agra –Fatehpursikri-Jaipur- 235 km – After breakfast proceed to Jaipur. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri – Akbar old capital city. Visit Shrine of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Palace of Jodha Bai, Panch Mahal and various attractions, then continue drive to Jaipur. On arrival at Jaipur check into hotel. Evening visit to Chokhi-Dhani (an ethnic resort) to enjoy rajasthani food, cultural program, and folk dance. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 4: Jaipur-Delhi- Tour Completed – After breakfast proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent to the Fort. Amber Fort is the classic romantic rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in1592. Later visit Water Palace, Royal Palace Museum, Observatory, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall and Birla Temple. Return to Delhi. On arrival  at Delhi, dinner and then transfer to airport for return flight.

Accommodations:

Delhi – Nandkartar Suites

Agra – Taj Galaxy

Jaipur – Residence 66

We booked all the local stuff through the agency below. They have solid reviews on Trip Advisor and our experience was enough to know we made the right choice. My biggest recommendation is to get the flight from Jaipur to Delhi the last day. The roads are non-existent on that route home and two of the girls were feeling car sick from the bumpy adventure.

A-1 Tours & Travels
Shop No- 51, First Floor, Arcade International Complex, Civil Line, Ajmer Road, Jaipur- 302006
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Website: www.rajasthantraveltrip.com or www.a1toursindia.com

All in all it was an amazing trip and a MUST do. The food, people and the culture was something that will last a lifetime in memories.

Tips to stay safe: The theory is to not smile or make eye contact with men and you will be safe. I would advise DO NOT take public transit if you are a woman traveler in India.

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina

Siem Reap - Cambodia - An Adventure of a lifetime

Ankor Wat and Siem Reap

The adventure to Cambodia was an amazing one. With an abundance of temples and delicious food it was a top choice for myself and friends to visit on a long weekend. 

We stayed at the Tara Angkor, which was centrally located. The staff at the hotel were so respectful. We were greeted on arrival with cool towels and tea. The rooms were large and spacious. We shared a triple and found it the perfect size for everything we brought. The hotel has a full-service spa, which was pricey based on Cambodia standards. When I say pricey, a one-hour massage cost $25 versus $18 in town. The spa was gorgeous and inviting. The pool area and court yard are picture worthy. We were on tours most of the time so no pool time was really available.

We went during May and the weather was doable. We were told it was the start of the rainy season. It rained at night and a few spurts during the day, but not enough to ruin the days. Again, I would recommend booking a private tour as it was nice to sit in the air conditioning after we had been trekking through temples all day in the heat.

The time frame we went was perfect, as I was able to get nearly every picture with no one in them. It was hot and humid, but not as bad as it gets in summer. I wore a dress one day and was not allowed into a temple because my dress was sleeveless. So when packing, bring capris, cardigans, Bermudas and some t-shirts.

Another note: English is widely spoken and the U.S. dollar is preferred currency, but you can get the Riel if you like from small vendors.

You will notice the people are nice and accommodating to your every desire. I wanted to ride elephants and they made that happen. Right down from Angkor Wat complex is a place where monkeys live, and we were able to feed them twice on our stay. The monkeys really didn’t care for the bananas the children were selling so I recommend highly recommend picking up some fruit from market for them. Lychees are cheap and they enjoyed them the most. We also ventured to the temple where the famous painters live and observed them painting some very large murals. The paintings were incredible and quite affordable–less than $50 for a huge one!

We went to the dinner theater one night and it was a fantastic experience. The hotel can book this advance for you. Watching the traditional dancers and trying some local cuisine was indeed a highlight from the trip. The last day was a free day so we went shopping for some local goods and went to Tonlé Sap Lake. That was an experience in itself. The people live, bathe, and wash dishes in the lake that can only be described as a wasteland. The lake experience is not something I would recommend if you have not done your research on the region as most of the people living on the lake are Vietnamese and living in poor conditions.  It was $20 for the tour and lasted about an hour. We headed to the alligator farm at the end (more like alligators piled in a small pen). All-in-all the experience was great and a learning curve even for the well traveled explorer.  

Take note, if you decide to drink the fresh coconut please do in moderation. Apparently it’s a natural laxative! I brought right at $250 cash and was able to buy everything I wanted with that over the course of 4 days. 

Happy Traveling,

Katrina