It’s been some time, since my last update. As usual busy with work and also busy for my Kasi trip arrangement. The trip is from 30th Jan to 6th Feb. To make it a real adventure we travel by our own, meaning no tour guide or agents whatsoever from Malaysia. I booked most of the hotel by referring to Tripadvisor, and ~ 90% of the comment is true. A big thanks for Tripadvsor.
The main intend for the trip is to do final prayers for my beloved ones, my elder son & mother-in-law at Kasi , or Gangga river. We understand why the city of Kasi is called ancient city…. Such a spectacular view of the river, the engine sound of boat , morning sun , the climate , people’s chanting, praying and of course the local peoples. We spent 3 days there …….
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| A view from our hotel Balcony |
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| My beautiful wife... |
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| Sadhu's at Kasi ... |
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| Night boat travelling at Gangga |
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| Beautiful view of sunrise from hotel balcony |
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| Morning boat travelling at Gangga |
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| View from the Gangga river banks ( Ghat's ) |
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| Another fantastic view of the Ghats |
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| Hotel Ganpati Guest House - Superb hotel ... |
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| Manikanda Ghat - Burning Ghat |
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| Another burning ghat - look at the photo carefully ... see the bruning leg ? |
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| Gangga bath - bath in the holly river |
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| Feeding the bird at Gangga |
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| The famous Gangga evening pooja ... |
The arrangement also consists of visiting the golden triangle of India. Delhi -> Agra -> Jaipur. In between manage to arrange a day trip to Mathura, birth place of Lord Krishna. Its ~ 1.5hrs drive from Agra.
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| Taj Mahal |
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| Wife and her sister |
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| Another angle of the Taj mahal |
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| Wife's siblings |
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| Me of course ! |
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| Wife and river Yamuna behind Taj Mahal |
The fun part is the actual adventure we experience thru out the journey. Below is the list of unforgotten events happens.
1) Caught by the security at Varanasi airport suspect of terrorist.
Story – My wife’s brother bag is spoiled, so decided to buy a bag at Varanasi on the way to airport for departure to Delhi. At the airport change the bag and with good intention leave it at the door side inside airport so that other can use if they want. Than went to check in counter for check-in. Not even 10 min, a group of army with AK47 in their hand stop us and ask if the bag was ours, we admit and they
bring me along to open the bag. To my surprise, there are 2 bomb squad ready with all the tools waiting for me. After I open the bag and show to them it was empty, they warn me seriously for leaving the
bag there. Just miss ..or else sit in jail….
2) Travel without a train ticket from Mathura to Agra
Story - We suppose to get down from the train at Mathura station so that the guide will take us for tour and by road to Agra. After getting a free meal on board we slowly going to get down at station
because the train just stop. Just in 2 minutes the train start to move again. After checking the train stop only for 2 minutes at Mathura, so we are travelling without a ticket to Agra, the TTR told us to get
down at Agra fort station and pay the penalty or 6 month jail. At the entry another officer checking the ticket of the passenger before exit and it’s a bit crowd , we took the opportunity to skip the officer and
exit the gate illegally. Just miss or 6 month jail ….or fine up to 1000 rupees per person.
3) Selling ticket in black to locals.
Story - we visit the Akbar tomb at Agra. Buy the 5 rupees ticket from the counter and during enter catch by the security because our passport in the porch bag. So need to buy 100 rupees ticket because we are foreigner. The ticket is not refundable. Decided to sell the ticket back to the local tourist and waited outside the entry until we sell all the 7 tickets. :)
4) Cheat the ticket seller of Taj Mahal
Story - Entry to Taj mahal is very expensive for foreigner ~ 800 rupees. So decided to take ticket of local, only 20 rupees. Goes to the counter and saying we are from Hyderabad, after a few up and down stare at us the officer give the tickets. So, we got the 20 rupees ticket. Same cheating goes at Jaipur and Agra fort. :)
5) Officer at airport stop us from boarding due to gate close.
Story - I remember seeing the flight time is at 2.40pm. So, decided to check in 1 hour early for boarding because I already print the boarding pass. At 1.25 pm goes to counter for checking because no airasia
counter is open, then the officer frankly say the gate is close and we cannot use this boarding pass for check-in. She say she cannot help. I fight back saying we already here 1 hour early since the flight at
2.40 pm. She ask to check my flight time again, to my surprise it’s at 2.10pm, so we already late by 15 min. She say she cannot help and ask us to refer to another officer if he can help. Lucky the officer is still around and he open the counter again for us and print the boarding pass, bring us to 1st class / business class for custom check , escort us and we all are running like crazy to the boarding gate ..I think 1km away from custom and board the flight, Actually the flight is waiting for us only ..... pheww......the stewards saw us and say ..welcome aboard !! with a big laugh
........... end of our trip.
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| Agra fort |
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| Jaal Mahal - Jaipur |
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| City Palace - Jaipur |
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| Hawa Mahal - Jaipur ( 900 windows ) |
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| Agra Railway Station |
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| Agra Fort ( inside ) |
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| Agra Fort |
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| Shah Jahan private room |
Overall, the trip was so excited and everyone traveled together enjoy the trip very much.
