along the ganges in varanasi

After a grueling twelve hour turned nineteen hour overnight train from Delhi, I arrived bleary eyed in the oldest city in India, Varanasi. Along this city's banks lies the Ganges river. It is the largest river in India with an extraordinary religious importance for Hindus. Ironically enough, it is also the sixth most polluted river in the world. People travel great distances to bathe, drink, wash their laundry and cleanse their souls in full view on the riverbank.  

postcard from the taj mahal

Having been delayed an entire day courtesy of Indian Railways, my trip mates and I were giddy with excitement that we were FINALLY getting to see the symbol of India's rich history; the famous Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, a Mughal emperor, commissioned this monument not as a palace to live in, but as a mausoleum to house a tomb for his third and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began in 1632 and took nearly twenty years to complete.

As I walked through the Great Gate that leads to the gardens, I heard many people gasp at the beauty of the Taj as they first laid eyes on this great monument. I caught myself doing the same exact thing at first sight. I stood there for quite some time in awe of everything from the massive size of the structure to its extreme intricate details and symmetry. It's beyond amazing and is certainly one of the most, if not, THE most beautiful buildings I've ever seen. I still can't get over that I was actually there to see it with my own eyes.

coogee to bondi walk

My friends and I managed to push our hangovers from our New Year's celebrations to the side and mustered up enough energy to board the bus in Surry Hills to take us to the end of the line - Coogee. We spent the first day of the new year taking in all that this picturesque six kilometer coastal walk offered. Despite the dreary weather we had that day, the landscape was beyond stunning. With its cliffs, beaches, rock pools and bays, the Coogee to Bondi walk is  certainly worth the trek while in Sydney.

india

It is a shock to the senses with pungent smells of pollution, fires, urine, spices and incense. The sound of constant high pitched car horns blaring in the cities’ chaotic traffic. People, cows and stray dogs casually wandering down streets as if they were the only ones occupying them. A kaleidoscope of color surrounds you with women wearing bold beautiful saris, brightly painted buildings, the abundance of strands of marigolds, various fruits and vegetables being sold by street vendors. India is intense. It is overwhelming at times. A complete one eighty degree turn from any environment I have ever experienced before. And I loved it. 

I spent eleven short days in this beautiful country. I left wanting more.

 

hello!

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! After many miles, millions of camera clicks and a lot of procrastination, I've finally created this blog to share my musings and photographs of my travels, both near and far. I feel they belong here rather than being hidden in the depths of my hard drive like they have been. I hope you'll stick around and see what's to come. I'm really excited to share my experiences and photographs with everyone.