Crow with cobra
Taken in New Delhi on our first day in India. Crow was embarrassed to take part in such a tourist spectacle but hey, we got a good photo!
Camel safari
In the Sam desert near Jaisalmer.
Note to self: bring soft pillow for saddle when riding camels
Ugh.
Note to self: Brush daily
After our desert camel ride, this man and his son offered to play a few songs for us. Yes, it did feel quite touristy to find this kind of thing in the middle of the desert, but it was still nice.
Desert performance art.
Note to self: respectfully decline Baryshnikov's invitation
Even out in the middle of the desert, somehow it still feels crowded....
Sadhus
These are holy men with few possessions who travel India on a spiritual quest.
Note to self: bring rupees when taking photos of Sadhus
Indian ladies
These women were washing their clothes at a temple outside of Jaipur locally known as The Monkey Temple. Ahh, yes, the monkeys...
Red-faced monkey
This creature is evil and extremely aggressive. One of these guys attacked Crow from behind and ripped her skirt!
Note to self: red-faced monkeys, BAD
Black-faced monkey
This is a very gentle lovely monkey that lives in harmony with the Indian people and tourists. The monkey shown above is pondering the meaning of life.
Note to self: black-faced monkeys, GOOD
Black buck
This animal is an endangered species. It exists only in a region where the Bishnoi people hold all animal life sacred.
Note to self: when hunting, don't kill black buck
Wild peacock
Found in the countryside all through northern India.
Note to self: peacocks are pretty
Crow with little Indian girls
We met these little girls in a small village. They were eager to beautify Crow and Margaret's nails with their lovely fuchsia nail polish.
Note to self: fuchsia is not my color
Elephant festival in Jaipur
The elephant in the foreground with the yellow lion on its face won the grand prize at this annual festival.
A vendor selling powders for Holi. Holi is a Hindu holiday on which everyone throws colored powder on each other. Mike and Crow decided to brave the streets....
These kind boys offered to give Mike a free make-over to celebrate Holi. (Mike chivalrously offered to be the "target" so people wouldn't bother Crow.)
Note to self: stay indoors when teenagers are running rampant
Holi moli Mike
Mike relaxing and enjoying his make-over.
Note to self: In future, only get make-overs from paid professionals
M&M at Lake Palace Hotel
This was one of a couple of fancy dinners that we had while in India. The Lake Palace Hotel rises straight out of the water of a lake in Udaipur. It was featured in the James Bond movie "Octopussy" in which this hotel was the secret enclave of Octopussy and her tight-jumpsuit clad maidens.
Margaret's note to self: keep an eye on Mike
Typical street scene
People in India still lead a simple, traditional life. The sacred cows are everywhere. This photo captures how different their lives are from ours.
Note to self: get latte at Starbucks
The incredible Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur. This hotel is built on a small island.
Note to self: Notify Washington State Ferries that we've located their missing boat
Some stunning Indian women. Oh, wait...
Margaret enjoying a delightful night's rest under her malaria-fighting mosquito net.
Mike enjoying a delightful night's rest under his malaria-fighting mosquito net.
Margaret thought Mike's little tent-like structure was much dorkier than her simple
fabric net, which left Mike very puzzled, as to him they seemed equally
dorky.
Crow with her sister Suzi and Suzi's husband Pramod, who live in Pushkar.
Mike with Pramod's adorable nephew, Monu.
Suzi with Pramod's adorable nephew, Monu.
Pramod and Suzi.
M&M on a balcony on another small island near the Lake Palace Hotel.
On one long drive through the countryside, we came across this old-fashioned ox-powered well. The oxen walk in circles all day long, drawing water up from the well.
Crow and Margaret at the Taj
The Taj Mahal is truly amazing. It completely lives up to its reputation as a stunning piece of architecture.
Note to self: remodel the bathroom