India: My travels through this wonderful Country

Being a Photographer, India was one of the most attractive destinations for me because it is a rich place, visually and culturally speaking. One of the most wonderful places I visited there was Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan. I started by going to a Maharaja's Public Apartment up in a hill, to which I took an elephant ride for only Rs.300 (about US$6); I was nervous at first as I am acrophobic but I held tight and it was alright, I was even able to take some photos while going up the hill, nice ones as I could see the city downwards. Something to notice is tickets to enter the Apartments are more expensive for a foreigner than for locals. Then, I headed to the City Palace and the Maharaja was actually there, you could tell because there is a flag indicating so, just like the one at Buckingham Palace. I recall that day being very hot and sunny -as almost every day in India-.

For lunch, I had my very first Chicken Tikka ever and I LOVED it! With India being a mostly vegan country, food options are somewhat limited sometimes, so that was the best option for me and I think I can still savor it on my palate. It was chicken in a red thick spicy Masala -which is a mixture of spices and herbs, sort of a sauce-, with some herbs, so it was very aromatic and slightly creamy, it was absolutely delightful. We ordered butter and garlic Chapatis (kind of a tortilla or pita bread) and they're amazing, soft and buttery. I tried eating like Indians -with the hands and no forks- but it didn't last long. After the meal, they offered me a bowl of dried spices called Mukhwas, which are mouth fresheners. When you first put them in your mouth it feels fresh, but then there's a little contrast as you feel you're putting dirt into it, kind of a weird sensation but surely worth trying at least once.

While I was there, I tried shooting as much as I could as I was, somehow, trying to absorb and save in images everything my eyes saw, all those amazing colors, people and the million things going on at the same time. In the evening I got in a car and we started driving among tons of people walking on the streets, vendors, cows, rickshaws, and cars, it was all very crowded and lively; it was also very noisy as everyone in India hunks at all times. I opened the window as it was hot and as soon as I did, a bunch of many different smells came in right through: it was like a weird mixture of incense, spices, food and pollution, all very intense and well combined to make sure you know you're in India. That particular smell has been the one I know I will forever associate India to.