After 120 days, 5,000km of train time, 2,200km of prayers on the roads, a humid 75km boat ride, 90mins of flight and countless haggling with auto beanies, I finished my 500th cup of chai and excused myself from the grand dame named India.
It's been a good close to a month break since we arrived via a noisy and eventful flight back home, only to repack and join my family for my little brother's wedding in Perth. Besides reacquainting myself with the great whites and some reds of my ever favourite Margaret River, I indulged so very little bit in some lamb and great Australian clear blue skies that were always a treat. Down Under, the horizon did look a tad more special. The wedding couldn't had been more special and I was very moved by some poignant things that I never thought my brother (he was still that little lad with the sad puppy eyes all these years!) would say to me. Bless them, I think they will enjoy this thing called marriage very much, and that they make an adorable pair too didn't hurt! This was a wedding that felt very much that everyone in the room loved these two so much and that none of the speeches were a drag. Plus the food and wine were actually stunning. Threw in an evening sunset by the waters, it was very hard to forget such a magical day.
And now we're filling up PRC's visa application forms, back home in a hot and windy Malaysia. The next round of our continuing journey would be the Big Kahuna. It's going to be a stretch and we are going with absolutely no guide books. Yes, no LP, no RG. Just a good map and maybe very little Internet usage. The unknown holds the greatest lure. In looking at the many comments we had been getting, many had assumed that we're two "lucky lot" with "loads of cash". In a way, I agree with the former, but lucky more so in being blessed but also due to the reason that we prepared and decided for this opportunity and executed. We certainly didn't sit on our heavy bums and waited for the sky to land on our laps. I disagree with the latter. Yes, budget but it isn't that we are cruising on a luxury liner. It isn't that we are staying on a floating yacht. There is the odd time-out at a resting abode that actually had automated flushing systems but most of the time, it is well and truly at the mercy and charity of life.
This arvo I took the initiative to look back at the many moments - some candid, some posed (!) - of the scenes behind the lens, of Yours Truly working through every moment in the now. Some days it was hard work, squeezing into tight alleys, standing on rubbles, dodging a potential spit from a drooling camel, some days it was pure bliss watching the world go by with hubby. As always, it is him, my angel who always find delight in portraying me through his lens. Thank you honey, you rock my world so good.
First bazaar trip here, New Delhi
Peeping through the old fort, many followed later - talk about herd instinct!
At the Jama Masjid, at dusk
You would too, if they make you wear those hideous polka dotted garb!
Couldn't resist a little bit of succumbing to helping the economy!
Lake boat ride, the "winter wife" heater, Srinagar
Shooting in freezing rain, moving boat - thrill, score!
I sucked at making a snow angel but had heaps of fun laughing at myself :)
Trying to sell ice to an Eskimo? Slanting eyes due to forgetting to bring my sunnies...
Arriving at Gagangir
By the great river
Couldn't brave the water's temperature, shooting was a much warmer option
Setting out on our first trek, Kashmir
Cha Cha and I, chilling out after dinner
Third day hike near our village
Final day, feeling quite proud of myself! (ps: and can't wait for a warm shower!)
Waiting to get past border checks towards Dharamsala
Hot choco break in the arvo, people watching for free
At Jaipur, hot!
Looking for my next subject...
Fluffing around in Bikaner
Getting to know things on shooting sunsets in the desert
Pit stop for lunch - for us and the cows
Lots of these - stopping for trains, perfect time to take a leak or pose for the camera!
Catching our first sunset at the Great Thar
They didn't quite fancy being profiled - I would too if I had to carry tourists the whole day!
Daybreak at our first open night camp
Made a new friend at brekkie - I gave him my hard boiled eggs, what a sweetie!
Our real hike out far, my camel peed on my left leg (don't ask)
This darling was one-day old, found alone in the desert
Second camp, no tent tonight!
Good spirits before we set off back to base the next day - funny how the windbreaker got taken off so fast later!
At the fort lookout, Jaisalmer
Life beyond, sunset
Now what was the Maharani thinking?
Jodhpur, second largest city in Rajasthan - best headphone guides I ever had!
Being an agent isn't all a bed of roses...
Night at the markets
And now you know, that's how!
Definitely one of the best markets to photograph
Done for the night, en route to some local dinner
Sunrise, Pushkar
The beanie came in useful, it was too cold to be macho
Some of the best parts of travel is meeting the like-minded (and making genuine friends!)
Part of the fun being a woman - "look is free!"
Your mum was right - the sarong has a multiple of usage...
Hanuman Ghat, Udaipur
This guru was a toughie. Getting those do-re-mi was fun though!
Udaipur is filled with spectacular spots to photograph
On one of those epic overnight train rides (would I get a roachie as a bunker mate tonight, hmmm?)
Transit at the wee morning hours - I was so not in the mood to even stay awake :P
Sometimes, it's when you're away from home that you meet your closest friends, the Dyckerhoff's residence
One of my worst hair days, using the iPod to getaway with my book (ps: the grim face is due to reading Mulk's!)
Keeping busy on the go, in an auto
Downtown Mumbai!
Waiting for my pick-up, all smutty from the smog and sweat but the city made it all worth it
Night at the Queen's Necklace
Sunset, Haji Ali tomb
Peak hour traffic, we looking for our driver and vice versa
Shooting the ancient, it's been hidden for 1,000 years!
Being far away from home, someone's initiative at making our day special (thumbs up to the Lemon's housekeeping!)
Some moments are for life
I had seen lots of Labs, but there's only one Zacko!
Zacko didn't like us sleeping in too long, Bengaluru
Christmas eve, Mysore
Random village, Hampi
At the Ramayana's stage
My only arsenal against those bloody mozzies!
The best vegetarian thali, by the padi fields
At Hanuman's birth place
It's a bolder of a climb up there but a sunset to die for
Sailing old school style, up to the ancient ruins
Taking a cool respite, Munnar
Did I say again how much I love those colonial tea bungalows?
Morning walks, I swear it adds a few moments extra to your life!
Elephant's sanctuary, off Periyar (yes, that's a calf from a cow)
Not bad huh? (Given I just climbed down (and then up) a dam)
Trying to look brave - at this point I had already fed three leeches from my thighs
Okay, I love old bungalows and jeeps!
"Oh, is the lobster lunch ready honey?"
Boat rides aren't my favourite things but they were a great way to travel into the veins of the unseen
Making friends, Kanyakumari
Final train ride, Tamil Nadu
