Celebrations

I turned 29 this weekend. Crazy. 

My friend Natasha hosted a beautiful birthday dinner at her home on Sunday night. 

 Great friends wear party hats in your honor (...and they did all night long!)

She prepared a delicious Southern Spread and thought of everything...

How precious are the menus? 

 I couldn't have felt more special. 

Natasha was the one snapping these photos and I don't even have one of her to post! Instead, check her out here. 

Thank you just doesn't even cut it. 

***********

Somebody else had a birthday TODAY!

 It's tough being 7. 

xx,

Lauren

Last India Post!

February 8...

Our last day in Udapiur AND MP's 29th birthday! 

After visiting the Temple we ventured to the City Palace. 

 The town of Udaipur. 

Looking out to the Lake Palace. 

I loved this palace...but we were about ready to call it quits on our palace tours.  

 We started to get pretty cheesy in our photos. 

The City Palace is a hot spot for Indian weddings. Here they are taking down the set from last nights wedding. 

We made our way out of the Palace. 

Saw a sleeping guard. 

 And a family taking photos. 

 My favorite photographs of my travels are the local people living their everyday lives. I always feel uncomfortable taking pictures of their faces, so many of my pictures are from behind. 

 We left the Palace and drove around the lake once more. 

 Saw more animals

and made it back to our hotel to wander the grounds. 

 Our hotel was attached to the Udaivillas. 

I had to check it out. 

 If money is no object, this is where you want to stay. 

 We took a few more pictures. 

 and made our way to lunch. (The grounds of our hotel were full of wild peacocks. Loved them). 

 MP picked our lunch spot. We were boarding a flight that night, so it was his birthday lunch!

 The spot was picture-perfect. 

Unfortunately, as soon as we sat down, I started feeling ill. If you know me, you know what comes next...

I woke up on the ground. 

MP said I passed out in the chair. Luckily, a French couple was beside us and helped MP get me horizontal. 

I made him take a picture to document the occasion (and I can't believe I'm posting it). 

 After an hour or so, MP finally got his birthday lunch. 

I however, did not partake in this feast. 

I snapped a few more shots before we headed to the airport. We flew back to Delhi and then onto Hong Kong. I was ready to get home. We were both exhausted. 

This trip was an adventure. It took me awhile to process everything that we saw....

India is one of those places that people say you either love or hate.  

I loved parts of it. I hated parts of it. 

Will we go back? 

Yes!

It's a place that you must be open to embrace (the good, bad, and ugly). 

It'll make you see the world from a whole new perspective.

 I hope that if you ever get the opportunity, you will open your heart and experience it.

Without judgment.

Without preconceived notions.

I hope it will humble you.

I hope it will make you eternally grateful. 

It will be a trip you never forget.

 I promise. 

xx,

Lauren

Macau Weekend

We spent Saturday night in Macau with some of our friends.

We saw the House of Dancing Water Show. It was excellent! 

Everything was done in a 26 foot pool that converted into a solid floor throughout the performance. 

It took 5 years to plan and 2 years of rehearsals. 

 $250 million US dollars was invested in the show. The acrobatics and diving were incredible. 

There were 258 automated fountains; 77 performers from 18 countries; 8 ten-ton elevators that made it possible to convert the pool into a floor. 

Come to HK to visit me, and I'll take you to the show!

We went to dinner afterwards and then tried our hand at some gambling in the casinos.

 A great night with wonderful friends.

 MP won $25 playing Craps!

 He was being greedy, and could have walked away with alot more.

It's never good to be greedy :)
Hope you had a great weekend too!
xx,
Lauren