Yearly Archives: 2012

Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur

By | Accomodations, Travel | No Comments

Just when I thought I saw the best hotel ever, we arrive at out next hotel and get shocked to see another palace that just takes your breath away!! I did not do any research before going because I wanted to be surprised and indeed every next adventure was a pleasant surprise!!!

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The same group as Rambagh Palace in Jaipur – The TAJ Hotels, Resorts and Palaces 

Previous entry:  Rambagh Palace Jaipur by the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces December 3, 2012

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I love the drama whenever we arrive 🙂  Each hotel has their own unique way of welcoming their guests and they really make you feel important- just like a Maharaja/ Maharani 🙂 

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Leigh and bindi 🙂

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Further down

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Amazing!! I tried to get a full shot of this but just could not because it was really very high- I was already on the floor taking this 

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The ceiling

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Happy Diwali! 🙂 Beautiful fresh flowers and rose petals on the floor

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Turn left wing or right wing, we were left wing 🙂

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The Maharaja and his family live in this part of the Palace.  The government was taxing palaces so high – they either made part into a museum or a hotel

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Main entrance to their home which is part of the courtyard that we pass

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At night, they light small tealight all around this courtyard!!!  SO SO BEAUTIFUL!! I was not able to capture it so well but it was really amazing.  Each arch had a tea light which went around the courtyard

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Click below to go to their website for more info

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Dung Paddies

By | Animals and Pets, Great Inventions, Green, Travel | No Comments

I think I am never going to run out of stories from India!  They are such a unique culture!  

Donkeys on the road 🙂 aside from cows, bulls, camels and dogs

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bulls

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A herd of bulls blocking our way

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On the road going out of Jaipur towards Jodhpur, there were a lot of Dung paddies.  Dung paddies are made out of the feces of cows and bulls

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They collect them and with their bare hands, they form them into patties

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They are then dried under the sun and being used in their homes as charcoal/fuel for cooking!  No need to buy gas 🙂

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Doors in India

By | Homes and Interiors, Travel | No Comments

In one of the shows of Million Dollar Decorators, Mary Mcdonald went to India and she described it so well- “India in its nature  is very design related.  There is this hyper awareness of color and texture, pattern and they spent centuries perfecting this.”  

Aside from taking photos of elephants 🙂  I also took photos of doors!!!  There were so many kinds of doors – so unique and so beautiful!  This is dedicated to my Dad who loves antique doors 🙂 

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Risala at The Rambagh Palace Jaipur

By | Foodie, Travel | No Comments

Our last night in Jaipur, we had dinner in the hotel 🙂

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The menu is a mixture of Indian food and Continental – so everyone was happy 

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Foie!

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They make good Italian food in India- the risotto at least.  Dad always orders this so I got to try his risotto in around 3 restaurants in India and they were all good!

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My sisters second favorite Indian desert ( after Gulab Jamun ) – Malpua 🙂

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Gem Palace Jaipur

By | Great Achievements, Travel, Tributes | 3 Comments

One of the highlights of our Jaipur trip was the visit to Gem Palace!  Precious and semi precious stones come from different parts of the world, but they are sent to Jaipur for cutting and polishing.  The best craftsmen are Muslims.  So if you are looking for beautiful jewelry, Jaipur is the place to go. 

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Vintage car collection of the owner by the garage

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 Inside the store

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After a few minutes of viewing, the owner arrived.  Actually he is the son of the owner.  Munuu, the father, had just passed away three months ago.  See his photo at the back. Siddharth took us to a private floor of the store and started showing us his collection!  Which of course is also for sale and shown only to special clients.   

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Siddharth also goes to New York every now and then to attend to his clients by private appointment only

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One of his clients Dianne Von Fustenberg.  She loves the pieces she buys from Gem Palace because she always receives many compliments.  That’s a Gem Palace necklace she is wearing.  She sends photos of herself wearing the jewelry to Siddharth 🙂

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Munuu is known worldwide.  He was a very good designer and jeweler.  Watch out for his book, it will be coming out by next year

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And now Siddharth took over, who by the way is still single.  I was ashamed to ask how old he was 🙂

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 Siddharth starts bringing out his collection- this is a piece for the MMA of NYC which will be exhibited soon

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Beautiful bangle with rubies- made by his father

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Oh my gosh!  Those diamonds look so big but the most valuable part of this necklace is the emeralds!

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Behind the diamonds

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He put those two pieces together and this is how it can look!  Mom tried it on! 🙂

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Another beautiful piece which he put on me 🙂

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More beautiful pieces

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with Mumtaz mahal’s picture inside

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For brides 🙂

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A beautiful HEART emerald!!

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James loves asking jewelers to show him pink diamonds claiming he will buy them for me 🙂  So Siddharth shows some pink colored stones

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He says that this is the stone that is getting to be popular now- Pink Spinel

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Which is why he is collecting loose pieces 🙂

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The table was full – it was as if we were looking at fashion jewelry!  

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Siddharth showed us this piece which he said he will use on his head when he gets married

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Afterwhich he will give it to his bride to wear as a belt!  What a lucky bride 🙂

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We went down because the brother of Munuu, who is partner in the business, wanted to meet us too.

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He showed us this bridal piece which is meant for the Saudi Arabian market.  This is worn by the bride

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With a matching head piece which Maricar wore 🙂  All this selling at around US$ 1 million

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James made sure he signed the book to say he visited the Gem Palace! haha!! He thinks he is Brad Pitt! 🙂  

This was really Brad Pitt, and I am wondering what he bought for Angelina 🙂

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Click below to go to their website

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 Siddharth has another store called Hot Pink.  We had no more time to go but they say it’s beautiful too!

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Click below to go to their website

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Celebrating Diwali in India

By | Christmas, Travel | 2 Comments

We came to India at a very good time, the weather was cool not hot.  They say the good time to travel is November to February is the tourist season of India.  We also came when it was Diwali.  Diwali or Festival of lights.  Diwali is like their Christmas and even New Year because they have lots of fireworks.  They decorate their stores and streets with plenty lights and they give each other gifts.  It’s a time for shopping – people spend and stores expect good sales because it is good luck 🙂  So aside from Namaste greetings, there was also Happy Diwali! 🙂

 Raj told us that this store in Jaipur always wins first prize – when I saw it- it reminded me of COD department store in Cubao 🙂  

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They built this facade just for Diwali.  

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It’s a replica of the structure in the Amber Fort

Previous entry:  Amber Fort Complex Jaipur December 5, 2012 

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In the hotel lobby, full of Marigolds in celebration of Diwali

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Wheat is sign of good luck and wealth 🙂

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Matrimonials

By | Hot Off the Press, Travel | 2 Comments

Another interesting practice in Indian Culture.  They have a Matrimonials classified ads section every Sunday in their newspaper.  They are looking for partners 🙂  

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Heart2Heart likes the LOVE QUOTES!

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India

By | Photography, Travel | 2 Comments

India is such a beautiful place – with so many things to see and discover.  As we were most of the time riding the bus going around – it was difficult to take nice photos especially since I did not have my SLR.  There were so many moments I wanted to capture but I could not.  But my camera was still overworked!  I could not put it down even for a single moment because there were just too many beautiful things to capture!  I was able to get a few and I am sharing them here at H2H

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They use CNG

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Raj told us that when two guys are holding hands, it does not mean they are in a relationship.  They could be just close friends.  That’s how it is in India

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Students touring also the sights

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Love these shots! All are candid

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Many dogs lying around on the ground

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A child beggar outside our bus 🙁

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There were many moments like this during the road trips- just could not capture it because the bus was moving too fast. Many interesting people and colorful outfits by the ladies!

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Colorful families

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One of the gods that they worship

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There were quite a number of places like this, where there was trash just there on the streets

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A couple of these in tourist attractions 🙂  

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By the Amber Fort

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Barber shop

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barber shop 🙂

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With a zoom lens I would have probably also taken more shots.  Sometimes they ask for money even if you just take their photo.  Like this woman cleaning the garden in one of the palaces. I guess some will try to make money if they could

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I just turned around and caught this shot!  One of my favorites!

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There were many beautiful images like this, but could not capture from the bus- I like these type of shots too

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At a Catholic church that we went to

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People shots I really love – and you see them all over!!

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The kids in India are so cute! Their eyes are beautiful!! There are also many beautiful Indian women

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I took this from afar – that guy carrying bread and selling them

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Heart 🙂

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Family of four in a motorcycle – was hoping to take a proper photo and with five people 🙂  

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Clock tower market – it was closed due to holiday

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Taken during one of the road trips

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