A Final Tribute To: Monkeys

Monkeys abound in India. After observing many of them from afar and feeding enough of them at arm's length, I can confirm that they are sneaky, bold and mean. I still think they are cute, and very cool.

Walking around the Red Fort, like they own the place.

Feeding my new friend a tasty peanut.

Joey, taunting his new friend, also with a peanut.

This is real.

This is also real. Totally worth waiting for the 40th second:

Please note how no one stops to take a second look at the monkeys scattered across the path, part of the spectacular scenery that is commonplace in Gnarly Town, I mean Darjeeling.

Jaipur

Jaipur, called the Pink City. I'd choose Sun City if I were nicknaming -- the buildings shrunk and shined and danced and darkened as the sun's light traveled through the day.

Elephants were nearly as common as auto rickshaws.

The city stretches flat and full of life, situated in the Thar Desert.

Crumbling buildings, full of mystery and beauty from days gone by.

The Amber Palace.

My obsession with doors continues.

The palace is partly ruins, partly (relatively) well preserved fortress.

Street food. Spicy nuts and chopped-up onions, peppers and other crunchy stuff. Wrapped in yesterday's newspaper. The good stuff you're not supposed to eat.

We wandered down eerily abandoned streets, in search of The Sun Palace.

As we rounded this amazing vista, chanted prayers drifted loudly, beautifully, from the desolate buildings below. Dreamlike.

Coolest reflection pool I've ever seen.

Secret town. Surrounded by rocky hills and primarily inhabited by monkeys.

There were no placards or tour guides to tell us anything about the amazing frescos and delicate architecture of these temples. I did, however, meet a tiny classroom full of teenagers learning Sanskrit. Seriously.

Watching the sun set from the Sun Palace. And taking a moment to jot down a few of a myriad of thoughts.

Jaipur was pretty incredible.

Agra

Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal.

Flanked by symmetrical temples, also massive and intricate.

There was a lot to see.

Impressive, massive marble grandeur. (That's me leaping for joy, and for scale.)

Equally as impressive, the intricate marble detail. (That's me in Joey's artsy shot.)

Beautiful.

This temple (beyond the Taj column) still functions as a Muslim mosque. The other red temple, directly opposite, was simply built to maintain symmetry.

After wandering around the Taj Mahal and then shelling out the two bucks for a tour, we headed across the tourist-trap town to the Agra Fort.

Joey made a friend.

More visitors.

We said goodbye to the Agra Fort (also called the Red Fort) as the sun set.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling, nestled into the steep foothills of the Himalayan Mountains.

We walked through friendly neighborhoods, stacked like colorful shoeboxes into the valley.

We drank lots of loose leaf tea, Darjeeling Tea of course.

We hiked down into Happy Valley Tea Plantation.

A third-generation tea plantation worker invited us into her home for a hot cup of "Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Piko 1" tea and an in depth lesson on the grades and harvests and flushes of tea.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, a jump-off point for treks and fascinating museum documenting harrowing Everest expeditions.

The public library made me want to read a lot of books.

Tiger Hill sunrise -- the third highest peak, Mount Kanchenjunga, behind us; the brightly bundled up couple pointing to Everest in the distance (not actually visible that morning because of the fog).

After a one-night splurge in a heritage hotel, we took our packs and decided to find a cheaper hostel for the remainder of our stay. We lucked out with this room -- complete with a space heater and an amazing view of Mount Kanchenjunga from that massive window.

Kolkata

Kolkata, a city of old and new.

Typical traffic crossing.

Mother Teresa's home (on the left)

Haircut, anyone?

See you next time, Kolkata.

Vannakkam, Tambi!

Welcome, Little Brother!

Magda and I were so excited to pick up Joey from the airport with our special sign. Clearly the other passengers were jealous, and the multitude of families waiting for their loved ones were confused.

Day One.

We began Joey's first Chennice day with a drive through the chaos that is also my everyday life.

I wanted to show Joey a slice of life. Having a new pair of eyes in the auto rickshaw next to me reminded me that even my morning commute is quite lively. I am loving the perspective refresher and am noticing things that I have forgotten are foreign.

Things like the political graffiti on the walls, the myriad of bikers on the roads with lines that no one ever pays attention to, the always bright sunshine, the mysteries floating in sordid puddles, the men peeing on the side of the road, the extra green lonely trees springing up every now and then in the midst of a dirty, cracked road.

I love the motion of the city Joey captured in this photo, taken out of our auto rickshaw.

After an exciting-ly normal drive, we reached our destination: Parrys Corner. An area of town criss-crossed with tiny streets and tinier shops selling everything from office paper to Christmas lights to eye glasses to fresh produce to motorcycles to cleaning supplies to carpets to...you get the idea.

Yes, Joey is really here.

Joey's first South Indian Coffee. Equal parts sugar, steaming milk, instant coffee -- and stares.

Taking in the sights. You could stand in one place for awhile.

Another common sight: me standing on the street looking lost, getting directions, staying lost, getting directions again. Even after almost eleven months (wow).

I love this city for what you find in the details. Like crumbling architectural details -- bits of brick, peeling colors and once-regal windows.

Joey loves the fashionably old turquoise bikes.

Stay posted. Our adventures are just beginning.