Dumbfounded in Ho Chi Minh City

Not sure how accidents don't occur. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how the traffic flows, but it works and it's very efficient. Over 7 million motorbikes in one city. Mind boggling.

Before I arrived in Vietnam I was wondering why was I going besides the fact I was to meet a friend there. After a bowl of pho and a Vietnamese sandwich I knew part of the reason was food. Then as we sped through the Mekong Delta I thought to myself again..."why?" Definitely not the action packed river tour I expected after watching the movie Apocalypse Now. But as I catch up with Hong I'm reminded how lucky I am, I'm thankful to be in great company enjoying the sights and sounds of a new place and people.

Best mate joining me for several months.

Mekong Delta.

Fresh fruit. Can't stop eating...

Local fish.

Last days in Kochi and Chennai

Was one of 6 attendees to see a Keryla traditional dance. The main attraction of the dancing wasn't impressive, although the facial expressions especially the eyebrows was superb. What rather impressed me was the drummer and the different rhythms he beat that evoked a variety of emotions and feelings and set the tone for the whole drama.

Stumbled upon another unknown Indian holiday of which there seem to be 365+. But this one also included feeding a huge male elephant with a magnificent headdress strolling through the center of the town. Such a calm and docile beast. Never would have thought I would ever get that close, just had to stretch out my arm and I could have touched it.

Now after a month and a half without beef, with the exception of a sandwich in Goa which contained some sort of mystery meat (and gave me food poisoning), I have been craving a juicy burger. My eyes are out for the crown of BK and the much coveted Whopper. Oooooh yeah!

Finally after many ups and downs shared with my travel buddy, I'm sad to say we'll be parting ways. It was fun while it lasted and I'm left with memories for a lifetime. Thanks SunYoung! Now it's off to Vietnam and the company of my best bud Hong.

Backwater Tour

Love eating with the hands

Chinese fishing nets

Fresh catch of the day. So grub.

Corona commercial...nope just Goa

Palm trees, sandy beaches, and endless waves.  The most relaxing time I've had in India and the first time I've like like I'm on a vacation.

Unexpectedly impressed by Jaipur

Most impressive attraction in India so far: Amber Fort. The Taj Mahal was impressive by the fact of it's shear beauty, but Amber Fort was impressive because of it's beauty, size, and complexity. In my opinion the best castle/fort I've been to in all my travels so far. To give you an understanding of what I mean by size and complexity; I kept getting lost through the maze of halls that led to purpose and utility. And I kept thinking "what an awesome game of hide and seek this place would be." Plus having elephant taxis up to the fort doesn't hurt my case.

Serenity and Sincereness in Udaipur

Warm weather, cool breezes, spectacular views, and a city where the people have been the most genuine in India...couldn't have asked for a better place for rest and relaxation.

Just lounging...

Anyone know what this is famous for??? (See below for answer)

 

 

 007 Octopussy

Broken vow in Jaisalmer

I've never been so sore, the allure of the desert is lost on me. After Egypt and the pyramids I vowed never to ride a camel again. I just broke that vow in Jaisalmer to make a friend's dream come true. The pain is back and I'm not sure if it was worth it...

I didn't even know they had deserts in India and the sand dunes were definitely subpar compared to the Sahara. As expected the camel ride was blah, but the people we were with made the whole experience worth the trip. A camp fire and a few brews was also a plus.

Walking through the streets in Jaisalmer Fort.

My camel. Named him Half Stroke cause it looks like half his his face had a stroke.

Celebrations in New Delhi

Celebrations in New Delhi

With the Ganges River in Varanasi and the Taj Mahal in Agra already checked off my list, the only other thing I wanted to see was an Indian wedding procession. I was lucky enough to stumble upon one within the first several hours of stepping foot into New Delhi. Traffic is literally stopped by the joyous dancing and singing through the streets while the groom rides atop a horse on his way to meet his bride. What a great celebration and tradition. Wanted to follow the procession the whole way, but decided not to creep. And as luck had it, I was able to see another one, and another...and yet another. I guess with over 1 billion people I'm bound to see a few within the month I'm here.