The broadway play has really nothing to do with this city--the play was named for a nude French painting. That doesn't make it any less fascinating. The city had a name change in 2001and today is known as Kolkata. The city population is 4.5 million growing to 14 million if the surrounding areas are included.... Continue Reading →

It has taken several days with van, train and plane trips to work our way up the east coast of India along the Bay of Bengal. After a 13 hour overnight train we arrived at Hyderabad--an industrial and high tech city of about 9 million people. These are some pictures of a train (all the... Continue Reading →

We got into to the port city of Kochi and had three nights there because we were connecting with our new group and guide. I was soooo grateful because I had come down with a dreadful cold/cough that had been infiltrating our group. I only got out of bed to go to the pharmacy for... Continue Reading →

After our overnight train from Mumbai, we had three days at the beach in Goa. The season had not started yet so a lot of restaurants and beach cabanas were not ready for us. The Arabian Sea was pretty ruff with "red flag" warnings for riptides. Lunch was a yummy papadum (a cracker like baked... Continue Reading →

I do mean BIG! Twenty Two million people live in Mumbai. One view is of modern skyscrapers, high rise condos and a ton of construction cranes: Turn the corner and you can find tree lined streets with lovely blocks of attractive buildings and private homes. If I didn't know better I might think I was... Continue Reading →

The distance between these two cities is a overnight train but each seems to exist in a different century. India has 70% rural population with many living the same "ways of" their ancestors. If it were not for the tv dishes and motorcycles I would think I was "Alice and fell down a huge tropical... Continue Reading →

India is an amazingly beautiful country and this (little only 1 million population) City is a "jewel ". There are 7 lakes that border the city with a beautiful palace/hotel in the middle of the biggest lake. This was the summer retreat for royalty: The official palace is gigantic and the King still occupies a... Continue Reading →

After an afternoon train ride to Jaipur (population: 5 million and known as "the pink city"), in Rajasthan we arrive at our hotel that was a turn of the 19th century "honest to God" Palace. The place was old and worn but beautiful and a great setting to stay in on my continued journey back... Continue Reading →

Pictures don't do justice to the Taj. It is bigger, better and more beautiful than the shots I've seen. We had plenty of time to walk around and admire this white marble tomb. There were some restrictions --no large bags or video cameras. We were provided with cover ups for our shoes when we enter... Continue Reading →

We spent a whole day driving through the Himalayan mountain foothills to Shimla the largest and "queen" of India's hill stations (another "pray for your life" van ride). This charming city built on the tops of seven hills is an architectural wonder. Set at an elevation of 7,260 ft, Shimla was the summer capital of... Continue Reading →