We could not stop looking to the elderly couple sitting in front of us in our hotel in Udaipur during our first breakfast there. We do not consider India as an easy destination for grown-up but young people as us, and were surprised of their presence there. Of course, we started talking to them, and they told us they were staying in Udaipur for a few weeks in their several months long trip in India. We did not know what was more surprising: them staying for a few months in India, or more than 3 days in a small city as is.
The reason to stay long in Udaipur became clear to us after we explored it. It is a nice and modern town, which gives more space to the tourist to decide (space in the most physical and straightforward meaning of the word), and with beautiful surroundings, while having a stress-free time. A good holiday destination, and perfect rest place for this couple who live in Canada, but were originally French and German, and who have been all around the Globe.
Leaving the hotel, we went down through the street which was a ghat, a street leading to the water of the lake. Surprisingly enough, we found a group of around 200 people, dressed up with their colourful dresses in what seemed to be a religious celebration. People were happy, and the children asked us to take pictures of them (and also with them).
All this happened near the Pichola lake next to which lies Udaipur, and which has several palaces around and in the middle of it. One of them is one of the most expensive hotels in the world, and it is literally in the middle of the lake: the only way to access it is by boat. A boat similar to the one we took to see Udaipur from the water, and see what else had the lake to offer (not much after all).
The evening was the most entertaining one in the whole trip. Thanks to our friends from Canada, we booked a traditional dance spectacle and it did exceed our expectations. The dancers danced with huge pots on their heads, with rhythmic and precise movements while juggling with their hands. Apart from the dance, we also enjoyed a small theater play, and a puppet show. The theater plot was about one of the Hinduism Gods, Shiva, and is one of the ways, Hinduism traditions were made popular to everyone. After the spectacle, we spoilt ourselves with a nice dinner in an amazing rooftop restaurant at the lakeside.
There are many ways to visit and live India, and there are many Indias. Delhi is not Varanasi, Varanasi is not Agra, and Agra is by no means Udaipur. It is now up to you to decide what to see. At least, you can decide.
Milano was okay, but the daytrip to the Lago di Como was gorgeus. You can reach the Lago di Como from Milano in less than an hour and for around 3 euros. Quite fast, cheap… and worth it!
First thing I did when I arrived there, was taking a boat that goes all the way up the lake till Bellagio. Great views from the boat, with high mountains surrounding it and with small towns spread on them.
Lago di Como is well known because Mr.Clooney (George) owns a Villa there… I don’t know which one, but there are lots of nice (and extremely expensive) places to live in… althought the weather seems not to be too fine. I enjoyed some clouds which added an extra of humidity and decreased the temperature a couple of degrees. It seems it is quite common on that area, as in Milano.
The boat ended in Bellagio, where apart from repairing my broken glasses (I almost lose one of the glasses!), I enjoyed a delicious pizza and a small cute town. It is said to be the most beautiful one around the Lake, and in fact, it has inspired some of the most famous casinos in Macao, and of course in Las Vegas (you probably remember them from the Ocean’s Eleven saga).
Just two hours later, I was back on the boat, with some time to take a look to Como and its cathedral, and take the train back to Milano.
More pictures from Lago di Como in this slideshow.
After the Forbidden City, I took a taxi to go to the Summer Palace, which is quite far from the centre. This is probably the spot which surprised me the most in Beijing in a positive way, as I did not expect it.
It is a huge area in the northeastern part of Beijing, dominated by a big lake, and surrounded by nature and some small hills. A real relaxing place, which probably delighted many chinese emperors in the past.
For good and for bad, I went in Winter, so once again I did not suffer crowds of people, but on the other hand, the lake was frozen, and one would not sit down for a long time to enjoy the “fresh air”… 😉
