friday market

On Fridays, there is a market in Nargol. Villagers dress their best to make for a most colorful and vibrant little market. It's beautiful!

beach days

After several days in Mumbai and Puna filled with dinner parties, site seeing, squash, and reading, I tagged along with Imti and friends and family to the beach house in Nargol. It was magical. It was there that I had some of the best meals of my life in an epic home. I can only hope to ever get invited back to such a place. Only horses in the now empty stalls could have made it better. 

the largest tide I have ever seen

The week was spent stuffing our faces, taking long walks on the nearly private beach, playing games in the sand, and kicking up our feet. One for the books!

mumbai

From Bangkok, Nate left for home to return to school while I milked my unemployed days and ventured to India - both top and bottom on my list. I'd heard so many mixed reviews but figured now was a great a time as any! So leave it to Imti to hook me up with an awesome trip that began in Mumbai with his most lovely family. 

Worli - a vibrant fishing village where unfortunately, photos are not allowed

the Taj at the Gateway to India

ghost boats

most beautiful railway station

the riding club where Imti's horse days began

i like to ride my bicycle

Us three musketeers ventured out for a miscalculated bike ride. We found some overrated "hot springs" and some beautiful lake side resorts. Seeing as how lazy we are, we opted to hire a little guy to boat us and our bikes to the other side of the river. Turned out to be a beautiful day out on the water. 

don't be deceived. that's petrol, not water

day of indulgence

We had a relaxing day of utter indulgence. It included a cooking class and eating until it hurt and then a bike ride to watch the sunset at a winery. 

As part of the cooking class, we started at the market in town. With our instructor we collected all the goodies we would need to create a decadent meal. 

the 3 musketeers 

inle lakeside

The 3 of us decided to check out Inle Lake. Tim had never been before and we heard some positive reviews. After spending a few days there, I have to say that I've seen better. It was pretty filled with tourist and hence has lost it's cultural charms. Needless to say, we found ourselves sharing a lot of laughs and made it a great time. 

First thing we did was a day long tour on the water. It included visiting a number of trade shops, some interesting, some not so much. 

We got off to wander and walked into a soccer game. There were so many colors going on that we couldn't figure out what the teams were. 

women weren't allowed at the 5 Buddhas so I watched from afar while Tim and Nate were given good luck

a monk feeding the birds

fishing

hanging gardens

some sweet girls harvesting flowers threw me a bouquet

Around sunset, some fake fisherman come out onto the waters to pose for tourists... as strange as it was, they still looked pretty cool