monkeys, silly bands, and the taj mahal

This morning we woke up at sunrise to see the Taj Mahal. After passing groups of kids playing badminton (at 6 AM??) and monkeys who looked like they were playing badminton, we got our first peek of the Taj. It is a pretty special place, especially as you approach closer and see just how intricately it is decorated. I can't really describe it in words, but hopefully I will load some pictures soon.
I wanted to bring something fun to hand out to kids here and couldn't think of anything better, so I brought silly bands. Don't worry, I bought the animal shapes not the Jewish shapes (I'm not THAT ethnocentric :) So far the kids seem to like them, at least after the initial confusion wears off. I'll let you know if they become the new "thing" here like they are (were?) in the US.
We are touring Jaipur tomorrow, a city in Rajasthan that is known for its nearby tigers and for being painted pink by one of its rulers. After that we are heading back to Delhi for a night and then going to Udaipur, which is a lake city that is supposed to be a lot calmer. Hope things are going well back home!
Namaste-

Delhi

I arrived safely in Delhi and met up with my friend Abby with absolutely no issues. It was pretty incredible to see her halfway across the world after 24 hours + of travel. We had a great day together in Old Delhi. It has been a bit overwhelming, as I expected it to be. The heat (over 100 degrees), the smells, tastes and sights are all very intense. A highlight of the day was the spice market where it was literally impossible to breathe because of the smell of curry and hot pepper. Everyone was sneezing and coughing, even the workers. I helped Abby pick out some spices to take home and am looking forward to purchasing some for myself at the end of my trip.
We also went to a service at a Sikh temple. After washing our feet and hands we sat on the floor and listened to the service leader, (whose tone was strangely reminiscent of a rabbi giving a sermon!) Even though I have no idea what he was saying, it was nice to sit and reflect in the beautiful temple after hours of navigating the streets of Old delhi. When you leave the temple everyone put out their hand and this guy ladled a big scoop of unidentified mush and placed it in each person's palm. It was oily and surprisingly sweet. I'm not totally sure what it was... Sanitary? No. Delicious? Yes.

Right now we are sitting in an internet cafe watching BBC News discuss Osama Bin Laden's death. It feels strange being so close to Islamabad with all of this happening. However, I think it is a good sign that the Indian men in the cafe changed the channel and decided to watch cricket instead of news about bin laden. I guess sometimes sports trump even the biggest international news stories...

That is all for now. We are going to spend one more day in delhi and then head to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Sending love from India!
Jodie
p.s. if you need to call me for any reason (this is for you, family) here is my number: 91-971-723-0885

first step: flying away!

Tomorrow I leave for India. I will meet up with Abby in Delhi and then continue on by myself until mid-June. This blog will be a way to document my journey, though I will also be in touch through email. I've always wanted to start a blog (for absolutely no reason - which is why the url for this is "lamahlo.blogspot.com," which means, "why not" in Hebrew). I thought this trip would be the perfect opportunity to force my friends and family to read all of the superfluous and unnecessary things I have to say. Lucky you. :)

Look for a new post when I arrive in India, assuming I find Internet somewhere....

Sending love!

Shabbat Shalom...