So now that I am back from the trip from srinathji and jaipur it is time to start visiting people here in rajkot. All the jamvanus have already started.

Lets start with the trip to srinathji. This time was the first time we actually stayed at a hotel instead of patel samaj. I had great time going for darshan at the temple and it was the first time that I actually went to the 5 am darshan in the morning. We left rajkot at around 5 pm and reached srinathji at around 4:30 pm while stopping at Udaipur for lunch. After getting checked in at the hotel we went for darshan with loads of people pushing everyone I finally got my turn and then I went again just for the excitement. It was great fun. Then we had my fav FODINO AADU LIMBU SODA WITH GREEN CHILLES at the market square. It was awesome I actually had 2. Then me and jaan road a horse cart to the hotel. It was so funny.
Next day darshan at 5am and then we left for jaipur. All I can say about that trip was I saw what I wanted and there was nothing good about. BAD HOTEL BAD GUIDE BAD FOOD FOR LUNCH and it was just so tiring that writing about it makes me feel all red. All I can say is that I saw Amer fort, Navgarth fort, kanak vatika garden, jal mahal from outside, city palace, jantar mantar and hawa mahal from outside.

Next day we left at 7 for rajkot. Got home around 11:00 pm . It was a tiring trip to jaipur and never again would I go there without booking hotels from a website.

Now that I am back to rajkot I had my first ice cream yesterday it was BUTTER SCOTCH KING CONE and today we will have Pani puri. Well nothing else to report.

more updates

Well so lot have been done since last couple days.

well as i mention we did go to upleta , sidsar , bhayavadar and dhoraji on the same day. It was the first day since my throat was ok and i had a heafty drinking of CHAAS SODA. Took some pics of our home in upleta.

Sidsar was lot of fun met one of my friend from Australia. Did some darshan and pooja and had lunch there before heading out to bhayavadar and dhoraji.



That night was CHOKI DHANI night with nirav and his family (kids only though) . It was great fun had a chance to showcase my driving skills to the groom and the bride. Nice dinner. Thank you NIRAV.



Did not do much yesterday. Had some Gathiyas and stuff. Went to jaan's vadi for a while in the evening and topped it off at SANKALP DOSA for dinner.

Today going out with the groom to get his engagement album all taken care before going to the movies and then heading to jaipur and srinathji tommm early morning

Sorry folks no pics this time around

in India finally......

So now that i am officially walking with cows, buffalos and a camera i think it was time that i should start updating this blog while i am here in india.

so after a long sleepy flights from boston to london to mumbai the halt in mumbai for 7 hrs was very long and uneventful except the fact that we went to CCD had some major expensive sandwitches and ice teas. The flight was great from mumbai to rajkot specially the cutest of cutest airhostess who kindly thought i was cute and nice enough to fill out a special survey for the part of the flight

anyways once i got to rajkot hords of people were there to pick me , avani and jay up from the airport. Got home and ate dinner and went to sleep.

next day jan 30 was very eventful went to lot of people's house , saw my niece who just turned 2 mths old. had a TAVO at my in laws place not to be mistaken for TACO. Was tired so came home early last night and went to sleep

jan 1 st , today was Nirav's engagement and it was lots of fun spending time with nirav's cousin hanging out and stuff. Well now writing this blog and waiting to eat dinner at home before going out with jay and nirav and their cuzs to go eat GOLA's

please do comment so that i know everyone is reading so that i can put updates everyday and tell more details

The Magnificent Ladakh and Leh - 1

Pic 1 - The Landscape of Ladakh
Pic 2 - The town of Leh/Ladakh

Pic 1 - Panong Lake

Pic 2 - The town of Ladakh

Pic 1 - Road to Ladakh and Leh

Pic2 - Himalaya Ranges

Pic 1 - View of LEH from a Fortess

Pic 2 - View of a monastry in the evening

Ladakh / Leh situated in the ranges of the Great Himalayas is one of the most Visual Defining places to visit in the world. No where in the world will you find such a spectacular work of nature. Even Grand Canyon does not come close to what this little unknown place in India has to offer. This is the place where you can cross the borders of either China or Tibet. River that flows from India straight to China and vast culture surrouding Bhuddism.

Read More about Ladakh/ Leh HERE

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Place for Post wedding ceremonies and parties of Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar

Entrance of Umaid Bhawan Palace

View from Sky of this 26 Acres Palace

Interior of a Room

Interior of another room

Hallway of the Palace

The Back side of the Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace was originaly called Chittar Palace during construction, due to its location on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur. Ground for the foundations of the building was broken on 18 November 1929 by Maharaja Umed Singh, it was unfinished until 1944. Umaid Bhawan was one of the last royal constructions (and India's last Palace), built to provide work and drought relief for the poor. The building is dramaticaly illuminated at night causing some controversy in a city that continues to endure daily multi-hour power cuts

Built on the Chittar Hill in souteastern area of the Jodhpur, construction employed over 5000 men for six years. The building does not use mortar or cement to bind stones together, all of its pieces are carved stones joined together by a system of carved interlocking positive and negative pieces; a specially constructed train line was used to transport these large blocks of stone.

The Palace, when it was built, was the world's largest private residence, with 347 rooms.

The present owner is His Highness Gaj Singh, The Maharaja of Jodhpur. He has divided the Palace into three functional parts, one having a five-star hotel (in existence since 1972), one is the residence of the royal family and one has been opened to public where a small museum displays pictures, arms, swords, and other items relating to Jodhpur's royal heritage. Opening timings of this museum are 10 AM to 4 PM, it is closed on sundays.

The palace has an area of 26 acres (105,000 m²), out of which constructed area is 3.5 acres (14,000 m²) and 15 acres (61,000 m²) have been devoted to lawns. This is the most expensive hotel at Jodhpur and this is one of the largest private houses in India.