Well, I finally got around to making this. I was hoping someone else had been and would do it so I didn't have to. After combing through about 1,000 pics I got it down to 60, and will try not to post all of those, but will probably fail. This page will probably load like shite.

Without further ado, I present India.

Everything you've heard about India is correct. It is dirty. It is chaotic. It is loud. It is depressing. But it also full of color and life, thousands of years of history, and is probably one of the most interesting places in the world. As one commentator put it, "India is one of the few places in the world where you can still feel like Indiana Jones."

This is Atma Thakur, my driver through our two weeks in India. He's from Himachal Pradesh, and comes down to Delhi every tourist season to drive. I don't know how he does it, but I know he sometimes drives people around for 3 weeks at a time. He's on call all day for your transportation needs. He couldn't have been more courteous, and I still email him to this day. His website is discoverwithatma.com.

My (now) wife was to take the bar exam in July 2013. We were looking for a trip to take in August when we saw cheap fares to Delhi and thought, "What the hell?" Monsoon season they say? Can't be that bad compared to New Orleans. 20 something hours in coach, landing at 3AM and setting off from our hotel later that morning for Humayan's Tomb. AND IT IS frickING HOT! I have never felt any like it before. The shade of a tree was no respite. We looked at each with that look, that "we just made a big mistake" look.

Humayan's Tomb:

These guys were working hard moving dirt. For what purpose? I have no idea. But at least Monsoon brings lush green vegetation:

We then head to the Rajpath. This is pretty much set up just like the US Capitol with the Washington Monument. In the distance you can see Rashtrapi Bhaven (White House). This was home to the Viceroy under British Colonial rule. A time period I have always been interested in. We happened to be there during some big festival or something, so it was jam packed. Get used to that in India.

The gates around the "White House"

Opposite this is India Gate, which is a monument to India's wars. That other archway you can see used to hold the statue of King George. Apparently, there was talk of putting Ghandi there, but nothing has happened yet.

Off we go to southern Delhi to the ancient site of Qutb Minar. The detail on every thing in India is incredible:

We got some lunch. If you didn't know, Indian food is way hotter than anything in Louisiana, by about 100 miles. I'm not very good at chronicling my food, so sorry about that. We did chat with these kids playing some sandlot cricket, something you'll see all the time.

I would be misleading if I didn't give a complete picture. Yes, that says "Clean Delhi, Green Delhi" You'll also see many maimed people in the streets with various disabilities, walking on their hands, asking for money, etc. It can be sad or overwhelming, but this is life in most of the world.

From Delhi we rode to Agra. Holy shite driving in India is wild. On their interstates, cows just chill in the road and people drive around them at 70MPH. Somehow we survived. Agra is home to the Taj Mahal. Agra is not a great city by even Indian standards. It's best to see what you came for, and leave, but it is worth it.

Again, it was a festive time. I believe some kind of Muslim holiday or something so the Taj was busier than hoped on the inside. However, there were separate theme park ride type queues for Indian females, Indian Males, tourist males and females to get in. Here is where I mention, if you are not Indian (I'm white), you are a superstar, a wonder, and possible a circus sideshow. Every one takes a look at you as you walk by. If you want to know why that movie star was a dick to you that one time, this is how you find out. In any event, this was cool because my line passed between the male and female Indian lines, and I felt like Drew Brees leaving the tunnel or Brad Pitt.

Oh here's the Taj:

From Agra you could head to Rathambore Park to try to see Tigers, but the parks are closed during the Monsoon season, so be mindful of that in your plans. Outside of Agra is a complex called Fatehpur Sikri. Some Mughal built it as his capital, never moved in, and was abandoned 3 years later or something. What a waste! This area is now a Muslim enclave.

On the way from Agra to Jaipur, you can deviate to see the Chand Baori Step Well. This is all that is in the village, but it was made famous in the Dark Knight Rises. It made up the prison Batman, Bane, etc were in.

Jaipur's is home to Amber Fort/Palace. India pretty much has a fort or palace every 50 feet, like Europe has castles. Every Mughal built one when he had 10 minutes of free time. They are all grand and huge but after awhile, you may have seen them all. It is home to a few other historical sites. It is the home of the jewelry trade in Rajasthan, and is where you can do stuff with elephants if you are inclined. It is also home to a movie theater called the Jag Mandir. This is where we saw the biggest Bollywood blockbuster of all time at that time called "Chennai Express." It had maybe 40 words of English, just the line "Don't underestimate the power of the common man!" at critical scenes, but I loved it. Indian people love the movies.

Amber Fort/Palace (Yes, that's a cobra):

Walking and swimming with elephants. No big deal:

The Movies! Crappy Cell phone, sorry.

Oh, they love building lake palaces in India too. This one you couldn't visit but was outside the window of hotel balcony.