A Journey to India

It had been years since I last visited India. I made 3 trips in the late 80's from San Francisco, and became one of the many who fell in love with India. I had been asked many times if I would consider a tour to India, so I decided to give it some thought.
I contacted my friend Rasool in Kashmir asking if he could help with the logistics, he said he would do Kashmir, and recommended a friend in Delhi who was well respected in the travel business. Raj has been terrific over the years bringing in the best prices by comparison, yet not skimping on quality.
I placed advertisments to entice others to join me on a real adventure. Why I attracted another group of women I have no idea, not many men even inquired. Fourteen of us, many of my regular women, from Cape Town, Durban, Berkeley, California, Seattle, Washington, and Pennsylvania connected in Delhi.
India offers the exotic, the magical, the mystical, and the spiritual for all who seek. You take what you need, and leave the rest.
You often hear that it is so colourful, beautiful, exciting, stimulating, exotic, thought provoking, exhausting, hot, dusty, dirty, and wonderful. You love it or you hate it. India changes people-she is a real leveller. She forces you to focus and be in the moment. You will never look at the world the same after a journey to India.
We begin our journey in Delhi, a big city (16 million) full of wonderful architecture, lush garden parks, and the lovliest flower filled roundabouts. We have a quick look around, visiting Chandi Chowk in old Delhi, pay our respects to Ghandi, and headed off by train to Rajasthan to explore Jaisalmer, and her honey coloured Haveli's in this fortress town in the desert.
I believe the best thing to do after a long train ride is to have a massage. The hotel's Ayurvedic massage therapists pampered many of us our first afternoon.
I had been hearing stories of Jaisalmer and it's beauty for over 20 years from fellow India travelers. It is not an easy destination to arrive at, but so worth the journey. It is on the southern border of Paskistan, on the ancient silk route from Persia and Kashmir. The wealth of the area came and still comes from trading. The Haveli's (3 story homes) were built by wealthy merchants and resemble honeycomb palaces.
There are several beautiful Jain temples you may visit. If you enjoy riding camels there is a late afternoon ride into the Great Tar Desert.
Rajasthan is known for it's bright colours and Jaipur is one of it's exceptional cities. The buildings are red and pink, the colour of the earth here. There are palaces of marble and mirrors. Piles of marigolds, rose, and jasmine necklaces, destined for the temples, are sold in the flower market. The scent consumes the air.
Elephants and camels are among the work force.
Men wear big turbans of red and of gold, and huge handle bar moustaches. Women wear the most beautiful jewel coloured saris, with sparkling bangles up both arms. Even the street sweepers, and the homeless women looked like princesses.
We stayed in a 19th century Haveli mansion decorated in period furniture.
A local gem healer came to the hotel to do individual readings, telling us the best gems and colours to wear for our well being.
There is a huge Ayurvedic school of medicine in Jaipur along with several massage centers. We were given a reference for one run by an Ayurvedic doctor, several of us indulged ourselves again. Shiradera (spelling?)is the slow dripping of oil onto the forehead. It is ment to release tension and rid you of headaches.
Riding up the steep hill to the Amber Fort on the backs of elephants was quite an unforgetable experience.