[Split Ends - North India]

Jaipur was rather full- of traffic, animals (camels, elephants, cows, dogs etc), forts, palaces and sand. Located in a semi arid region it has wonderful changing colours, especially around sun rise and sun set.

It was a hot and dry ride to the city of Agra, where we partially rode through a gritty sand storm, stinging our eyes and faces. It was the second time I saw the Taj Mahal and I must say it was just as impressive as the fist time, if not more. (I do have the suspicion though that the white marble is less white than 4 years ago...)

This time I noticed just how much detail went into building this symmetrical complex, and the feeling of warmth it gave. I wouldnt call it a romantic structure but it certainly had a lot of heart in it.

Ironically it seems, this is where Shael and I parted ways. I just couldnt see myself going back to Holland and finally it just seemed that we needed to follow our own paths. It was with alot of love and pain in our hearts that we said good bye on the morning of 1st April (another irony?).

So instead of selling the motorcycle as we originally planned, I decided to continue traveling on it by myself. I had the strong call to go back to the Himalayas (I so love these mountains), which after a few days, I am now at their foot hills, in a non tourist place (Mandi). Traveling by myself on a motorcycle has its challenges, particularly navigation, which by enlarge, I am pretty crap at! It also has been raining alot and today I wanted to ride on... but my wet weather gear keeps me dry for about 5 minutes...so in the end I will stay another night in Mandi.

My first stop is a village nestled in a valley called Kasol, and later a mountain top retreat called Manali. (when it stops raining!)

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