1 hour before I purchased a flight ticket for my son Harry to come home, from America,

for Christmas 2012 in New Zealand, my very generous mother,

decided the entire family are going with her on her last overseas trip abroad.

Brother Craig chose India; his "spiritual home".

There is no place I want to go to less,

but if I want to see my sons Luke and Harry at Christmas,

I have to go.

This blog will tell the tale ...from start to finish.

Will I love India or hate it?

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

I don’t want to go to India; REASON No 13. They throw babies off buildings!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204699/Pictured-Horrific-baby-dropping-ritual-India-sees-toddlers-thrown-roof-good-prosperity.html
ironic reason Number 13…bad luck for the babies I say.Ed. This particular ritual took place in the village of Harangal, Parbhani, in western India's Maharashtra. Hundreds of people turned out for the annual event, which is thought to have been followed by Hindus and Muslims for nearly 700 years in the belief the fall ensures good health and prosperity for their families.After the child lands and bounces on the bed sheet, held taught by a group of around 14 men, he or she is then quickly passed through the crowd to their mothers.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Places we will stay … 5) Jaipur
Umaid Bhawan - Jaipur Hotel
D1-2A,Behind Collectorate, (Via) Bank Road, Bani Park, Jaipur-302016, Rajasthan, INDIA
A flamboyant showcase of Rajasthani architecture and flair at its most irresistible, the Pink City of JAIPUR has long been established on tourist itineraries as the third corner of India's "Golden Triangle", just 300km southwest of Delhi and 200km west of Agra. Umaid Bhawan is located in a quiet residential colony in Jaipur, the capital of India's desert state; Rajasthan.Only a kilometer from the central bus stand (Sindhi Camp) and the railway station. We offer a free pickup on arrival to Jaipur from the bus stand and the railway station. Our hotel is highly recommended by Lonely Planet, Let's go, Foot print travel guides on Jaipur Hotels and Jaipur Budget Hotels.
TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWS
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g304555-d472632-Reviews-Umaid_Bhawan_Heritage_House_Hotel-Jaipur_Rajasthan.html
****“A very nice hotel”Reviewed September 3, 2012 NEW
It was nice and clean. The rooms were good sized and had all the amenities for a pleasant stay. The staff were helpful, the internet good, although one had to secure an id and password each day from the front desk. The Umaid Bhawan was very quaint and lovely; the food was really good, too! We would definitely stay there again
***** “No less than a palace - almost...”Reviewed September 1, 2012 NEW
A heritage hotel with great choice of decorations on every floor. There is a swimming pool on-site and a restaurant. Our room came with a complimentary breakfast which had a reasonable choice of food items for vegetarians.The place is very close to M.I Road the modern shopping area with a good choice of restaurants. The taxi ride from the train station was short. The staff was very courteous and checked us in even before their official check-in time since we had little children in the group. There was complimentary wi-fi with good in-room coverage.
**** “I would try this hotel again”Reviewed August 30, 2012 NEW
a nice, clean hotel and the rooms well appointed. We stayed in a delux suite and the facilities were good. Our only problem was there was no hot water 3 of the 4 days we stayed there. Hope they get this fixed before our next visit.the staff is very helpful and efficient and the food was good.
****“A nice place to stay”Reviewed August 30, 2012 NEW
I stay at the Umaid Bhawan for 3 night. It s a very nice place. The room was large and very confortable. The roof restaurant serves good food specialy the home made bread.The front desk was very helpfull for booking bus to Delhi and arrange pick up at the train station.The swiming pool is small but it s a real pleasure to hang out there .
***** “More than just the Best Value for Money in India”Reviewed August 29, 2012 NEW
If you want a romantic, exotic and utterly original hotel . I stayed in the Royal Suite and it was worth every cent of the $50 CDN that they charged - and even fared favourably to the $500/night CDN Rajvilas Oberoi that I stayed in the week before. The service is a little slow in the restaurants. Central to major locations in the Pink City and our rickshaw driver that the hotel recommended was friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable.
**** “Very good stay with pure rajastani environment”Reviewed August 28, 2012 NEW
Excellent hotel at the heart of the city. Property is very good. decent stuffs. Some rooms are little bit small. But not all. The room where we stayed was bit small, but we had an excellent balcony attached with it. So, we did not mind. Rooms are clean and nicely decorated. But it takes long time to deliver ordered food. This is the only problem I found here.Overall a very good experience. 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Movie ‘The Best Marigold Hotel’ trailer…
“Everything will be alright in the end…so if it is not alright ,it is not yet the end”
“So you’re not worried about having sex at your age? If she dies ...she dies “
Ravla Khempur (the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)…
Can we at least visit this hotel? Village & Post Khempur, Udaipur 313203, India
TRIP ADVISOR 4 STAR “A Hidden Retreat” Reviewed 4 July 2012
TRIP ADVISOR 5 STAR “Really special place!” Reviewed 1 July 2012
TRIP ADVISOR 5 STAR “Ravla Khempur” Reviewed 20 April 2012
TRIP ADVISOR 5 STAR “treated like royels” Reviewed 9 March 2012
TRIP ADVISOR 5 STAR “A fabulous place” Reviewed 6 March 2012
TRIP ADVISOR 5 STAR “Unique experience in a beautiful palace” Reviewed 29 February 2012 
Email from Craig...
From: Craig
Sent: Thursday, 30 August 2012 8:08 p.m.
To: Ann
1st leg of hotels. check out on web.  particularly Lake Pichola Hotel!
HOTEL CHANDRA PARK 9, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai, 
MERMAID HOTEL  Kaniampuzha Rd, Ernakulam, Kerala 
JC CHALET Juhu Mumbai
LAKE PICHOLA HOTEL.  Outside Chand Pole. Udaipur - 313001
HOTEL UMAID Bhawan,Jaipur
HOTEL SHEELA,agra
HOTEL AJANTA 36, Arakashan Road, Ram Nagar, Paharganj, New Delhi

From: Ann
To: Craig
Which one is the best exotic hotel?

From: Craig
Sent: Sunday, 2 September 2012 7:43 p.m.
To: Ann
None. it is up the road from Udapuir.  We aint staying in it 
Candice Yates didn’t want to go to India either…

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Email from Craig…
Sent: Saturday, 1 September 2012 9:54 p.m.
To: Ann
Cc: Christine; Emily; June; india , laura, stewart, harry, Luke, Kathrine
Subject: Re: INDIA here we come
Be afraid be very afraid

On 1/09/2012, at 12:55 PM,
From Ann
Craig I HATE Trip Advisor with a passion… but hell the Mermaid Hotel sounds dicey…but I'm game!