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The 15 Best Markets For Taking Stunning Pictures

By on 11. January 2016 in Bolivia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Ladakh, Mali, Myanmar, Oman, Senegal, Vietnam

A Personal Selection of Markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East and South America

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar - The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar – The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

No matter where I travel, I immensely enjoy visiting markets. Many of them, especially in Africa & in Asia, but also in the Middle East & in South America, are an assault on your senses: colorful and at times disorientating, aromatic or even intoxicating, vibrant and eventually hectic places… But this is where “the real life” can be found, so different from touristic highlights (though some markets have turned extremely popular in the last years, also amongst tour groups…) Continue Reading →

Rajasthan – A Selection of 70 Pictures

By on 9. December 2015 in Asia – Photos, India, Photo Galleries

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

In April 2012 I had my first brush with India, to be precise Eastern Rajasthan: for 11 days I gazed at the most incredible Moghul architecture in Agra and Jaipur. I also threw in a bit of wildlife by visiting Ranthambhore National Park. When I returned in March 2013, I headed for the Southwest of Rajasthan for 12 days, to marvel at these impressive forts & palaces in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Bundi, Chittorgarh and last but not least Pushkar & Ajmer. Delhi was my hub during both trips.

In March 2015, I went back to Rajasthan for one full month, and made an extensive loop through this area of India: Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri & Abhaneri, Jaipur, Pushkar & Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Kumbalgarh & Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner & Nawalgarh. I ended the trip in Amritsar (Punjab) to marvel at the Golden Temple.

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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Rajasthan

By on 9. December 2015 in India

Grand Architecture, Vivid & Colorful Street Life And Holy Cows

Witnessing one of the many processions (this time for peace in the world…) in Jaipur

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In April 2012 I had my first brush with India, to be precise Eastern Rajasthan: for 11 days I gazed at the most incredible Moghul architecture in Agra and Jaipur. I also threw in a bit of wildlife by visiting Ranthambhore National Park. When I returned in March 2013, I headed for the Southwest of Rajasthan for 12 days, to marvel at these impressive forts & palaces in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Bundi, Chittorgarh and last but not least Pushkar & Ajmer. Delhi was my hub during both trips. Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Rajasthan

By on 8. December 2015 in Country Budget Guide, India

One Of The Cheapest Places To Splurge A Little Or Upgrade Your Travel Style…

In the streets of Bundi, Rajasthan, India

In the streets of Bundi, Rajasthan

Type Of Travel

The 3 trips to Rajasthan were quite different, and this shows in the budget spent:

  • During the first 2 trips, with limited time at hand (each time 12 days) and India being a rather cheap country, I opted against traveling low budget. Instead I frequented “mid-range” hotels or Havelis and pleasant local restaurants (classic Flashpacking trip). This trip could definitely be done a lot cheaper than spending 44 and 48 Euros per person per day (this amount does not include the international flight or the visa fees).
  • The third trip, I was traveling with my 77 year old father and went for the “upper mid-range” type of travel to ensure a nice level of comfort and enhance the mobility: nice Havelis or small Boutique hotels, nice restaurants, at times a car with driver… The budget almost doubled.

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10 Lesser Known Highlights In Rajasthan

By on 20. November 2015 in India
Kumbhalgarh Fort and the "Indian Great Wall", Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, India

Kumbhalgarh Fort and the “Indian Great Wall”, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan abounds with stunning but extremely popular highlights, so it is extremely tempting to stay “On The Beaten Track” and focus on a very classic route, rushing from one monument to the other, especially if you have a limited amount of time at hand. This is all the more true as regular trains connect those major points of interest very efficiently and very cheaply, keeping you focused on few places. Continue Reading →

The Golden Temple In Amritsar

By on 15. November 2015 in India

A Photo Essay

Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) or Darbar Sahib, also referred to as the "Golden Temple", a prominent Sikh Gurdwara or Sikh temple, at night, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, also referred to as the “Golden Temple”, Amritsar, Punjab

At each of my two visits to the Golden Temple, my expectations were very high and as we all know, such are usually not met. But Amritsar proved this theory wrong, both times! Continue Reading →

5 Highlights In Delhi

By on 10. November 2015 in India
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, India

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi, India

Often overlooked as only an entry and / or exit hub, Delhi has a lot to offer and is worth at least a few days to cover some of the major highlights of this city. Of course, with only a few days at hand, you will only be able to focus on the “Tourist Hotspots”… Continue Reading →

Fortresses Of The Thar Desert: Jaisalmer & Bikaner

By on 5. November 2015 in India
Fortress of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Fortress of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

After passing through some lush-green and fertile areas of Rajasthan, it was a shock to enter the Thar Desert west of Jodhpur. An endless plain of dust, dotted with small trees and bushes, and random greenish fields scattered through parts of this desert. None of the romantic images one might have of mighty, windswept sand dunes, but a lonely, dry, dusty, sun-torched landscape that merges somewhere with the horizon. Continue Reading →

Jodhpur, The Blue City – Just Get Lost!

By on 24. March 2015 in India
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajsthan, India

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajsthan

Do not even try to read a map when strolling the Old City of Jodhpur, simply useless in this maze of narrow streets lined with shops, street vendors and houses that were once blue. Add honking auto-rickshaws, motorbikes, bikes, pedestrians, men pushing heavy carts, cows, dogs and you realize – Jodhpur is a city to stroll aimlessly. Continue Reading →

Udaipur’s Many Highlights

By on 15. March 2015 in India
Udaipur-101

View of the City Palace, during a Boat Ride at Sunset, Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan

With its stunning lake view, its magnificent temples, its Havelis and palaces turned into museums or hotels and Rajasthan’s largest palace, it made Udaipur to one of our favorite places in Rajasthan. The stunning view of Lake Pichola is what really got us hooked. It made such an impression on us when we stepped onto the terrace of our hotel! We simply held our breath. But there is a lot more to Udaipur…

 

 

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