Amber Fort: Beautiful Outside and From a Distance!

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Jaipur's main attraction is the Amber Fort.  This fort is impressive from the outside with its massive walls.  Inside the fort, it has sprawling grounds but there is nothing much to see as the rooms of the fort/palace are bare and stripped of any adornments and fixtures.

Amber Fort is also not well maintained with  paint of the walls  peeling off and I did not see any efforts at restoration.  Nevertheless, it continues to be a major tourist attraction in India and is a popular site for shooting bollywood films.  At that time that of my visit they were filming what looked like an epic bollywood movie in the fort grounds.

Humayun's Tomb: An Oasis of Calm

Another Unesco World Heritage Site in Delhi is Humayun's Tomb.  With its immaculately maintained large garden, this tourist spot is a refreshing oasis of calm in crowded and chaotic Delhi.  The structures will remind you of the Taj Mahal.  This is because Humayun's Tomb was actually the prototype for the Taj Mahal.

The tomb was built by a grieving wife for a beloved departed husband while it was the other way around for the Taj Mahal.  Humayun's Tomb is principally made of red sandstone which makes it a more colorful attraction than the Taj Mahal which is a white marble monument. The Taj Mahal in Agra is the grander tomb but the Humayun's Tomb is still worth a visit.

Qutub Complex: Of Ticket Sellers and A Grand Site

Good thing I did not allow yet another attempt by the ticket seller at the ticket admission booth to short changed me to ruin my enjoyment of Qutub Complex. I was cheated of my change for my admission ticket at the Red Fort. And I remembered that there is a warning in my guide book about the prevalent practice of shortchanging foreign tourists by ticket sellers at India's famous tourists spots. So this time, I was alert and called the ticket seller's attention that he gave me the wrong change.

Anyway, a must see in Delhi is the Qutub Complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Delhi. The place has awe inspiring minaret, the Qutub Minar, and a grand mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It also has well preserved ruins which will remind you of the famous ancient ruins of Greece. This was the best place that I visited in Delhi.

Jama Masjid... Yes The Largest (period!)

Claim to fame of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi is that it is the largest mosque in India. It is impressive indeed but makes for a very stressful visit. There was fairly large crowd when we visited the place at noon time. And there were also many locals who will pester you with offers to serve as your guide. Although admission to the mosque is free, you have to pay Rupees 300 if you bring with you a camera.You also have to leave your shoes at the entrance and at 12 noon, floor was really hot and almost unbearable to walk on!

If you are going to Agra and going to Fathephur Siri, you can opt to give Jahid Masjid a miss. The mosque in the Fathephur Siri complex is prettier with fewer people and provides for a more relaxed visit.

The Fort is Red at Delhi

The facade of the fort in New Delhi is colored red because it is made of red sandstone. It is the least impressive among the four forts that I got to visit in the four cities that I went to in India.

The best thing about the Red Fort are its red walls as viewed from the outside. Inside the fort, the palace and its many rooms have been stripped of all objects. Nevertheless, the structures some of which are made of marble are still a delight to see. But good thing this was the first fort that I went to so I did not have high expectations.

Boracay in June

Boracay is so much prettier in June. At this time of the year the beach and the sea is clean. And the color of the ocean in varying shades of blue is awesome! This is also the month when you can experience a quieter and less crowded Boracay.

Of course, there is the risk of heavy rains because it is the onset of the rainy season. But rains or no rains, Boracay remains a real paradise in June!

My Favorite Take Home Dessert

A favorite take home dessert of mine is the almond gulaman of Salazar Bakery in Binondo Chinatown.  This jelly based dessert has the right sweetness and moisture that makes your sweet taste buds go asking for more. It cost only P39 (US$.95) per plastic container.  I have brought this to several gatherings and is a hit among the guests.