So this will be the first leg of our second destination in India...Agra.
If you missed our visits in Jaipur, you can read all about it in :
INCREDIBLE INDIA : JAIPUR, HAWA MAHAL
INCREDIBLE INDIA : JAIPUR, ALBERT HALL
INCREDIBLE INDIA : JAIPUR, AMBER FORT
INCREDIBLE INDIA : JAIPUR, ALBERT HALL
INCREDIBLE INDIA : JAIPUR, AMBER FORT
After we explored most of the interesting places in Jaipur, we head to our next destination, Agra. It gives me the excitement knowing that our next destination will be one of the 7 wonders of the world.
We had 2 nights in Agra and we chose Pyrenees Home Stay as our lodging. You can view the Taj Mahal from the rooftop of Pyrenees Home Stay. All rooms are equipped with a satellite TV, shower and toilet. It offers a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk. Free WiFi is available in the public areas of the property. There are also books and magazines to read and do research on places in Agra. You can view the hotel here.
The price of the home stay was very affordable. The total cost was Rs5,600 (RM 330) for 2 rooms, 2 nights which include the food we had at the roof top cafe. You can charge it to your room bill. Yes, most budget hotels in India are dirt cheap, clean with all the amenities, helpful and friendly.
A currency exchange and luggage storage facilities are available. Pyrenees also offers bicycle rentals and laundry facilities at an extra cost.
Our journey from Jaipur to Agra took about 9 hours on an overnight express bus. Our departure time was 6.30pm (from Jaipur) and we arrived Agra around 4.30am the next day. Women of all nationalities are entitle 30% off the bus tickets in Jaipur. Not sure why but why not?
There are 2 types of express bus that you can choose from. The AC and non-AC. Hey, tell you what, air conditioner is a big of a deal in India. The ticket price is around RM 30 per person. They also provide mineral water for each passengers on board.
There are 2 types of express bus that you can choose from. The AC and non-AC. Hey, tell you what, air conditioner is a big of a deal in India. The ticket price is around RM 30 per person. They also provide mineral water for each passengers on board.
The bus will stop every few hours at a designated service area along the 'highway'. The toilets are clean but the variety of food are not many so you can buy your own snacks prior to departure. Bus schedules in India can be unpredictable. Your departure time can be 6.30pm but it could be earlier. But normally they're on time. So make sure you're at the bus station earlier.
As you arrive Agra, there will be tuk-tuk drivers come flocking around you. Do not panic and say no to them in a nice way. Ask any tuk-tuk driver on how much do they charge to bring you to your destination (keep your hotel address in hand. Bookings.com has mobile app that you can easily download and save the address in your phone). Please note that there might be midnight charges.
The tuk-tuk price is negotiable.We were charged Rs 300 to Pyrenees Home Stay and as I mentioned earlier, hotels in India are flexible that most of the hotel allows you to check-in earlier than the check-in time because normally they will prepare and reserve the room only for you once you have confirmed your booking.
1. Remember to bring your bags containing important documents on board and put the rest of the luggage underneath the bag compartment.
2. Advisable to choose bus with A/C because the condition of the bus is cleaner and the type of passengers are decent ones which sometimes can be other tourist from other country.
2. Advisable to choose bus with A/C because the condition of the bus is cleaner and the type of passengers are decent ones which sometimes can be other tourist from other country.
Street of Jaipur nearby to the bus stations.
Amber fort was our final destination during our first stop in Jaipur. Because the location is far away from the city, around 45 minutes by tuk-tuk ride, we put Amber fort as our last place to visit in our itinerary.
Amber fort or 'Amer fort' as pronounced by the local stood high up on the hill, situated 16 kilometers from the main city of Jaipur. Amer Fort is also known as the Amer Palace.
Amber, or Amer, is derived from Amba, the Mother Goddess who was the protector of the world.
Amber, or Amer, is derived from Amba, the Mother Goddess who was the protector of the world.
Amer Fort is known for its artistic Hindu style elements. With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake.
Amber fort has also a series of water and drainage system built in the palace. The water is circulated around the palace in order to lower down the temperature during a hot weather or during the summer. The system is also used for their jacuzzi pool (yes they have jacuzzi too but in a more luxurious way).
Photo courtesy: The Independent Tourist
Amber fort has also a series of water and drainage system built in the palace. The water is circulated around the palace in order to lower down the temperature during a hot weather or during the summer. The system is also used for their jacuzzi pool (yes they have jacuzzi too but in a more luxurious way).
Photo courtesy: The Independent Tourist
At the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2013, Amer Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Situated nearby to it are also Nahargarh fort and Jaigarh fort, it took us about 2 hours to finished the whole of Amber fort. We didn't had the chance to visit Jaigarh and Nahargarh fort due to time constraint.
You can take the tuk-tuk from the hotel and it cost around Rs 350 for one trip. The journey takes about 30 minutes and the entrance of the fort is not accessible to any vehicle but if you choose not to hike up the fort, you can take the elephant.
The main attraction of this fort, I believe is the Mirror palace or Sheesh Mahal. What is Sheesh Mahal?
Sheesh Mahal is situated in the third courtyard, where the private quarters of the Maharaja, his family and attendants were located. The building is exquisitely embellished with glass inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceilings. The mirrors are of convex shape and designed with coloured foil and paint which would glitter bright under candlelight at the time it was in use. Also known as Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), the mirror mosaics and colored glasses were a "glittering jewel box in flickering candle light"
Below is the garden of the fort before starting the hike up to the main entrance.
The photos below represents the real India. A common situation you can see every part of the country, regardless in the city or rural. At times, they're worst.
We spent most of our time doing people-watching activity after exploring the places we went. You know, it's very interesting to see how the locals lead their daily lives. Very....inspiring and sometimes....uninspiring.
“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”
― Oprah Winfrey
Albert Hall Museum is a museum in Jaipur city in Rajasthan state of India. It is the oldest museum of the state and functions as the State museum of Rajasthan.
This museum amazingly houses 19,000 historic objects and has various collections like metal ware, ivory work, lacquer work, jewelry, textiles, pottery carved wooden objects, arms and weapons, clay models , sculptures, educational, scientific and zoological objects, tribal costumes, ceramics, oil and miniature paintings, inlay work, musical instruments, clocks and marble statues.
The central museum is the most visited destination by tourists of Jaipur. It is famed for its enormous and exclusive collection. One section of the museum, also known as Darbar Hall, has the largest floor covering in the world. This is the oldest and finest identified carpet, and is solitary in its kind. This museum remains open all days expect on the Holi festival. The museum is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Albert Hall is 20 to 30 minutes walking distance from City Palace but you can opt to go by tuk-tuk.There are many bookstalls and food joint along the way. Preferably you walk as you can blend in with the locals and see their day-today life activity.
Albert Hall tickets are also included in the Rs 400 City Palace ticket.
Albert Hall is 20 to 30 minutes walking distance from City Palace but you can opt to go by tuk-tuk.There are many bookstalls and food joint along the way. Preferably you walk as you can blend in with the locals and see their day-today life activity.
Albert Hall tickets are also included in the Rs 400 City Palace ticket.
Hawa Mahal is one of the many places in Jaipur that you have to visit. It is situated not far from our hotel and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes of tuk-tuk ride.
Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds", is a palace in Jaipur, India, so named because it was essentially a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivities while unseen from the outside. Constructed of red and pink sandstone, the palace sits on the edge of the City Palace, and extends to the zenana, or women's chambers.
Its unique five-storey exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework.
The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to obey strict "purdah" (face cover). The lattice also allows cool air from the Venturi effect through the intricate pattern, air conditioning the whole area during the high temperatures in summers.
As Hawa Mahal is known as "Palace of the Wind", you can actually feel the breeze going through the inner building as you walk through the place. Not one place left without the breeze. Because the building were built by red sand and some parts are made of marble, you can feel the coolness.
The fort that is situated on top of the hill is the Nahargarh fort. It's around 30 minutes of tuk-tuk ride and cost around Rs 350.
Back when I purchased my first A Soap Affair product here, I thought that there will never be a second order. But....I was wrong on my judgement. I received my 2nd order a few days ago. But it took me a while to post it because I have not taken any photo of it..as of yet until now.
I have tried their original olive oil bar soap so this time I wanted to try something else. HOT CRUSH was my choice and I love how the color turns out. Slightly orange mix with perhaps some dust of paprika.
HOT CRUSH is balanced out with a splash of fresh Orange Juice, and lots of Orange Essential Oils to boot. And then they all go in a superbly moisturizing 72% Olive Oil soap formula. Fresh, and smelling wonderfully of mellowed citrus fruits that will enhance your senses especially for a Monday morning bath to beat your Monday blues.
Since I have tried their product before, this time I would like share some of their goodness with my lucky winner, All you have to do is answer 2 questions and the winner will receive a bar of HOT CRUSH bar soap.
1. Give me one ingredient contained in HOT CRUSH.
2. Please complete this slogan 'I deserve a bar of HOT CRUSH because..........' in not more 200 words.
The dateline will be on 20th April 2015. So get your fingers busy and send in your entries now. Please also include you full name, contact number and address to thehumanrabbit@gmail.com.
I was inspired by one of our top Malaysia artist FB post, Red Hong Yi that I wanted to share a post on what's my favorite thing of all time.
Recently Hong Yi posted a post on her FB page that she decided to organize a solo exhibition, hopefully by end of next year. She was asking for a favor from her account followers on what are their most meaningful object. It could be a gift or something that you have bought yourself. You can read about Red Hong Yi here.
So today I would like to share with you, my favorite object of all time. Possibly the only one.
It's a watch that was presented to me by my father on my 21st birthday. The time when my father was working in Sri Lanka. The fact that the watch came from the other side of the globe, makes it even special.
I've been fond for watches since I was a kid. I'll ask for watch as my birthday present, every year.
This watch basically grew up with me. I love this watch perhaps because it symbolizes my adulthood. My dad said that I should get a proper watch as I'll be entering into the working world in the next few years. So he wanted to get me something decent.
I wanted something classic yet chic look, and stainless steel watches has been my preference, therefore the Tissot PR50 became my choice, Stainless steel can never go out of style and they're everlasting.
Wherever I go, she comes with me and I would never trade anything for it. My dad don't spend unnecessary because he knew, it is never easy to earn a living especially when you're abroad, away from the family. He has never bought anything expensive for himself. So for him to present me that watch means a lot.
Until today, I wear the watch everywhere. Sometimes to the office or formal functions. That watch gives me the sense of warmness that is hard to explain. But definitely I'll keep the watch for until the end of time.
Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.
~Ruth E. Renkel
This watch basically grew up with me. I love this watch perhaps because it symbolizes my adulthood. My dad said that I should get a proper watch as I'll be entering into the working world in the next few years. So he wanted to get me something decent.
I wanted something classic yet chic look, and stainless steel watches has been my preference, therefore the Tissot PR50 became my choice, Stainless steel can never go out of style and they're everlasting.
Wherever I go, she comes with me and I would never trade anything for it. My dad don't spend unnecessary because he knew, it is never easy to earn a living especially when you're abroad, away from the family. He has never bought anything expensive for himself. So for him to present me that watch means a lot.
Until today, I wear the watch everywhere. Sometimes to the office or formal functions. That watch gives me the sense of warmness that is hard to explain. But definitely I'll keep the watch for until the end of time.
Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.
~Ruth E. Renkel
