After returning back from a well anticipated one-month trip to India, I realized what an impact this country had left on me.  The second I got off the plane back home, I immediately noticed the luxuries that we all take for granted.  I also noticed that we actually drive pretty well here in Miami.  We stay in our lanes, we don’t have pedestrians crossing at every opportunity in the middle of the road…no elephants, cows, or monkeys intercepting you at intersections.  What a crazy place…but amazing in so many aspects.

I started off in Delhi.  Instead of doing the whole tourist bus thing, I decided to wing it and so I hired a local taxi driver to take me where I wanted to go.  I warned him that it would be a lot of driving for a couple weeks.  He agreed on the price and off we went.  We became friends and before I knew it he was teaching me how to drive, which by the way I do not recommend attempting.  It was great having my own guide and he recommended some great small villages to visit.  I really got a taste of India this way.  We stopped in the city of Jaipur and visited the Amber Fort which contains wonderful mixtures of pink, yellow, and red sandstone all over the complex.  Decorated elephants roamed the streets and wild monkeys would follow me hoping to get some food out of my backpack.  We continued on to Agra and visited the spectacular Taj Mahal.   Being the photographer that I am, I decided to stay until after the sun set.  Dusk brought unexpected shades of blue since the iconic structure is not lit up at night, providing a more peaceful vibe.   After an amazing journey, my driver and I went our separate ways and I hopped on a train to the city of Varanasi.  The train itself was an experience.  In India it’s customary to pile as many people on a train that is humanly possible.  And I was one of them.  I was probably the only tourist on this train.  Twelve hours later and an aching back, we had finally arrived in Varanasi.  This was the highlight of my trip and should not be missed on a trip to India.  Here you can witness some of the oldest traditions in the world.  I visited the Ganges River which attracts thousands of pilgrims every morning for prayers and baths.  The best way to see it is by canoe early in the morning.  I canoed down the Ganges River at the break of dawn and witnessed the gatherings along the bank of the river.  I saw my first live cremation as well as the daily ritual of Aarti by the Hindus.

I was sad to leave India but I knew that I would return some day.  There is so much life and color and culture there and the people were some of the friendliest I have ever met.  To all my friends back in India…Namaste.