Incredible India!!

Hey Everyone!
Sorry it's been so long since we updated our blog. We are in India now and Internet cafes aren't really common (expecially ones that work!!).
We arrived in New Delhi India on November 8. It is a very large city, and very polluted. Apparently it is rare for the pollution to be so bad thistime of year because the monsoons have washed the particles out of the atmosphere, but the weather was such that there was a permanent haze that made it seem overcast in the daytime, and foggy at night. Delhi was a great place to ride around in an auto rickshaw and shop!We spent the first 2 days there going to markets and shops, and to the main centre of Connaught Place. We visited India Gate and the Red Fort, and even saw a dead monkey on the sidewalk - just another day in Delhi!! Don't forget the cows - they really are everywhere!
After Delhi, we went to the city of Jaipur, which is the capital of Rajasthan province. This place was a little smaller, but just as busy. We visited the city palace, where the Maharaja lives, as well as the Amber Fort. This was the first place we really experienced the poverty of India. It seems impossible to escape, because there are so many people here and they are absolutely everywhere!!Lots of beggars, expecially children and women with small, weak looking babies. There is also alot of crime!! One of the women in our group had her bag stolen which contained all her money, her passport, camera, etc. and had to leave the tour because she acannot get the documents in time to enter Nepal. Really scary!! We have been keeping a close eye and a firm grip on all of our belongings.
After Jaipur, we took another train to Agra, to see the Taj Majal. It was even cooler in person than we expected!! (When we get a better computer, we'll upload some photos!!) We also went to Agra fort.
After that, we headed to a small town in the country called Orchha - it was a much-welcome break from the chaos of the cities!!
Now we are back at it in Varanasi. We arrived today, and tomorrow we are going to take a boat on the Ganges - the holy river - at sunrise. We are very excited to see this holy river and witness the people there worshiping, bathing, and mourning the dead that are there.
The next day we are off to Nepal, hopefully for some more peacuful days!! India has been sensory overload - the sights, sounds, and especially smells are more than we have ever seen before. Definitely makes us grateful for everything we have!! But we are enjoying this very different culture. Definitely something to remember!!
R&A