With no disrespect....

No disrespect whatsoever to the lovely Audrey Hepburn, who was one of my favorite actresses, but this goat also deserves a magazine cover, I think.  Indians appear to take good care of the animals that bring them livelihood, and this nanny goat is no exception.  'twas a chilly morning when we met.

Do I really need to tell you....

....where this is?

This photo shows what most people think of when they hear "India".  The Taj Mahal was begun in 1630 by Emperor Shan Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife, who died giving birth to their 14^th child.  He described the construction thus: 

Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.

This is the classic view, but better ones are had from across the river from the other side.  

Hit the road

So far on all my trips to India I have traveled by air, van, tuk-tuk (shown), bus, a short camel ride, inter-city bus, and train. But not by elephant.  I do think it would be kind of fun, though.

Ladies of the Lake

Another photo from a bus. Not quite sure where I was...been napping.

P.S. Adding this note a bit later...I know now where this is....it is the  Jai Mahal or Palace on the Lake that you can read about by clicking on that link.

Enough blue, now pink

Jaipur, in contrast to Jodhpur, is called the Pink City.  There are various theories just why the city is called the Pink City, and if you care to read them (they're all quite interesting), have a look at this link. Thisman, whom I photographed while whizzing by on a tuk-tuk, is wearing a pink turban, quite appropriately. Notice the ad behind him with a woman's face.  Some Indians prefer light skin, and although I'm not sure what this photo is advertising, I have noticed quite a few skin-lightening creams in stores.

P.S Here's a cute post I've just uploaded for the 16th, since I didn't have Internet that day....

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Here I am below Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur....quite a walk up a winding road. The fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. The imprints of cannonball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate.

Jodhpur, the Blue City

Jodhpur is known both as the Sun City and the Blue City. I've been here once before when it was not sunny, but rainy, but it was still definitely blue.  Quite an impressive sight, especially from Mehrangarh Fort, which you'll see tomorrow.

In the train to Pushkar

Credit cards accepted

Almost makes you feel like using your credit card for cash even if you don't have to.

Room for everyone

Don't you just love this?  This isn't our guest house in Rishikesh, but cows are welcome everywhere.

Snoozing...or not quite...in the shade

Still practicing my hip shots here in India, though this Buddhist monk was nobody's fool, since I think he may have known.  He is a monk at the Gyato Monastery of Tantric Buddhism near Dharamsala.