Enter 2009

I have a terrible record of fulfilling new year resolutions, so this time I'm going to use technology to see if it helps. The resolutions will be here and I'll keep updating the list whenever any "target" appears to be "achieved".

So here's the list (in no particular order):

• Start a company (and make it successful!)
• Improve guitar skills - be able to play Hotel California and Free bird solo
• Eat healthy and work-out regularly
• Write a book
• Hold a photography exhibition
• Travel frequently (plenty of places remain to be seen!)
• Reduce carbon footprint (save energy)
• Stop wasting time on the net!

Quite ambitious, but as a write this I'm in a highly motivated state, and I'll use this post to remind me of my highly motivated self when things are looking bad.

A happy 2009 to everyone!

Udaipur - "Grand" is the word

I visited Udaipur for a couple of days. Well whatever travel blogs say about Rajasthan in general and Udaipur in specific is very true. Udaipur (formerly kingdom of Mewar) is rightly Venice of the East with its lakes, and like other destinations in Rajasthan it is very colourful.

Of course, if you actually want to experience the royal lifestyle of Mewar kings, like stay in Lake Palace or dine in the great Durbar hall with the "grandest" chandeliers you can ever hope to see, you should have a lot of money.

A hand-held panorama of Udaipur from City Palace.

Without sounding too critical, it is worth noting that you won't love the lakes if they're dry. So if the rains have been good, the lakes are nice and the fountains have water. If the rains have been scanty, the lakes dry up and don't look so good.

View of the ghats behind Jagdish temple from Lake Pichola

Udaipur is a small city, it won't take too long to go from one end to another. Due to time constraints I couldn't visit too many places. Plus I was careless enough to run out of battery on day two! Check out the Picasa slideshow below for the entire album: