Tues. 1/30/18 Laxmi Vilas Palace - Brahaptor
We were picked up this AM by Ram, our driver and Ali. We toured Fatehpur Sikri till about noon time. Fatehpur Sikri was built in 1571 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. After the tour, Ali left to take the bus back to Agra, and Ram brought us down to the Laxmi Vilas in Brahaptor. This place is beautiful. There are two different parts. The old original section where we are, then a new building. Our room is beautiful. Big wood doors, then stained glass window doors leading out to a balcony overlooking a huge pool. The building has several courtyards, and the details of the architecture are amazing. We watched a fun puppet show in the courtyard, then ate a very late lunch. We rested for a bit and caught up with emails, then met for cocktails and dinner.
We were picked up this AM by Ram, our driver and Ali. We toured Fatehpur Sikri till about noon time. Fatehpur Sikri was built in 1571 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. After the tour, Ali left to take the bus back to Agra, and Ram brought us down to the Laxmi Vilas in Brahaptor. This place is beautiful. There are two different parts. The old original section where we are, then a new building. Our room is beautiful. Big wood doors, then stained glass window doors leading out to a balcony overlooking a huge pool. The building has several courtyards, and the details of the architecture are amazing. We watched a fun puppet show in the courtyard, then ate a very late lunch. We rested for a bit and caught up with emails, then met for cocktails and dinner.
Wed. 1/31/18 The Tigress Hotel - Sawaimadhopur
Quite an adventure for us today. We were met by a guide at the hotel, then our driver Ram drove us all to the train station. Ram was driving on to Sawaimadhopur which took about 6 hours by car, but only 2 1/2 by train. The train reminded me of the trains I saw for the Trans Siberian railway in Russia. The seats were in compartments with two upper berths and two lower berths and a curtain. During the day the berths were converted to bench seats, at night beds. It was a beautiful ride through the country side. We were met by a guide and transferred to our hotel, The Tigress. We were shown quickly to our rooms, then we were whisked away on an afternoon safari that went from 2:30 to 5:30. The safari was on a jeep with a naturalist and driver. We saw lots of peacocks, India's national bird, crocodiles, deer, monkeys, and other birds, but no tigers today. We head out again tomorrow AM at 6:30, so maybe,then. I had my amethyst ring I had to put on tonight at 7:19 which I did over cocktails. We had a wonderful dinner outside with live entertainment, then off to bed.
Quite an adventure for us today. We were met by a guide at the hotel, then our driver Ram drove us all to the train station. Ram was driving on to Sawaimadhopur which took about 6 hours by car, but only 2 1/2 by train. The train reminded me of the trains I saw for the Trans Siberian railway in Russia. The seats were in compartments with two upper berths and two lower berths and a curtain. During the day the berths were converted to bench seats, at night beds. It was a beautiful ride through the country side. We were met by a guide and transferred to our hotel, The Tigress. We were shown quickly to our rooms, then we were whisked away on an afternoon safari that went from 2:30 to 5:30. The safari was on a jeep with a naturalist and driver. We saw lots of peacocks, India's national bird, crocodiles, deer, monkeys, and other birds, but no tigers today. We head out again tomorrow AM at 6:30, so maybe,then. I had my amethyst ring I had to put on tonight at 7:19 which I did over cocktails. We had a wonderful dinner outside with live entertainment, then off to bed.
Thurs. 2/1/18 The Tigress - Sawaimadhopur
Up early and we scored big on he safari, a very rare sighting of a mother tiger and her three daughters. They actually walked down a river bed, then right next to the jeeps who had gathered to them. It was amazing and thrilling. On the way back from the safari we stopped at a small school for a brief visit. Our guide was a friend of the principal of the school. We ate a late breakfast, then did some shopping at the local If gift store. I had two beautiful silk tops made, and bought a trinket for Jon for our upcoming 25 th anniversary in Sept. In the afternoon we had Ram take us to the Ranthborne fort, followed by shopping at the women's co op and handcraft store. The fort was amazing. All the locals wanted selfies with us. The fort is miles long and beautiful. We hiked all the way to the top for spectacular views. We got back very late afternoon, showered the cocktails and dinner out in a courtyard with live entertainment again.
Up early and we scored big on he safari, a very rare sighting of a mother tiger and her three daughters. They actually walked down a river bed, then right next to the jeeps who had gathered to them. It was amazing and thrilling. On the way back from the safari we stopped at a small school for a brief visit. Our guide was a friend of the principal of the school. We ate a late breakfast, then did some shopping at the local If gift store. I had two beautiful silk tops made, and bought a trinket for Jon for our upcoming 25 th anniversary in Sept. In the afternoon we had Ram take us to the Ranthborne fort, followed by shopping at the women's co op and handcraft store. The fort was amazing. All the locals wanted selfies with us. The fort is miles long and beautiful. We hiked all the way to the top for spectacular views. We got back very late afternoon, showered the cocktails and dinner out in a courtyard with live entertainment again.
