Half a World Away

We left Australia over 450 days ago, and in that time haven't spent more than three hours apart. But at the beginning of 2013 we went to visit our separate families on different sides of Asia.

Yaz went to Israel to see her parents, her brother...

...and of course her niece Yael.

Josh went to visit his parents and sister in India.

Josh's parents have moved to India for four years, living in New Delhi. If you're interested in their journey you can follow their blog at http://nerdendolinsinindia.blogspot.in/.

Annouska just happened to be around for an incredible ten days in an an incredible country. Here are some of the highlights.

Humayun's Tomb

The tomb holds Mughal Emperor Humayun and many members of his family.

The Bahai Lotus Temple

The Martyr's Column at the Gandhi Smriti, the spot where Gandhi was assassinated.

The squirrels of Lodi Gardens

The black kites that rule the skies

The city monkeys

On Sunday it was Jeff's birthday, so we (which here refers to Josh and his family unlike all previous blog entries where the term "we" refers to the blog's primary protagonists, Josh and Yaz) went on a food tour of the old Delhi.

It was delicious and a lot of fun as we learned how to eat the various dishes found around town.

Here you can see how to make one of the sweetest things in the world, Jalebi.

While the entire landscape of India is photogenic, the fact that the people are welcoming and friendly to foreigners makes for some wondeful photos.

 One day, Josh went to the muslim area of Nizamuddin.

The local mosque

Outside though, is one of Josh's favourite restaurants of the trip, because for around 20c you can pay for the lunch of a beggar.

On the second last day, Josh and his mum Beverly took a trip down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

If the front gate of the complex were placed in almost any other city of the world, it would be its main tourist attraction.

But it is nothing in comparison to what may be the most beautiful building in the world.

The Agra fort

We (now returning to the more usual use of the term which refers to Josh and Yaz) wish Beverly and Jeff all the best in India and hope to visit them soon. Perhaps the Odyssey II will be set in the subcontinent.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv...