Dear Friends and Family,

Perhaps it is the less than congenial computers or perhaps it is just that I’m too often on the rails or road, but I have yet to put together words that might best describe my latest adventures for you all. Since departing Rishikesh at the end of November, I've been to Amritsar, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and minutes from now, I'm getting on a bus for Ajmer to Pushkar. So today, in lieu of lots words, lots of pictures.

India is wondrous.

With love,

Laura

Kali, Hindu Goddess of Scariness - at Amritsar's Mata Temple.

I've been vegetarian for 45 days - plus!
- with this single, delicious exception.

Amritsar's golden, Golden Temple.

Agra's Itimad-Ud-Daulaugh - tomb of
Empress Nur Jahan's beloved parents Mizra Ghias Beg and Asmat Begum.

Inside Itimad-Ud-Daulaugh.
Many believe that elements of Itimad-Ud-Daulaugh inspired
Emporer Shah Jahan 10 years later when he commissioned his Taj Mahal.

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal.

Heart-stoppingly beautiful inlay at the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal in early morning sunlight.

Jehangir's Palace at the Agra fort.

Sorry - tip your head right - Jaipur's Palace of Winds.

Detail from the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) in
Jaipur's Amber Fort-Palace.

Garden in the Amber Fort-Palace.

Rumored to be the largest silver objects in the world,
built to hold holy water from the Ganges for one Jaipurian Maharaja's journey to England.

Houston, we have another palace: this time Udaipur's Palace.

Udaipur's Jagmandir Island - some also say a stay on this island
inspired Emporer Shah Jahan when he later built the Taj.
Although I personally could't see a single daytime resemblance,
the island was very pretty from a distance, after sunset.