CELEBRATING HOLI

India didn’t even make the original cut when I first started planning my 2013 Asia trip. My initial plan was to do the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, then make my way around Southeast Asia for a few months. But then I thought about how India was RIGHT THERE, conveniently situated between Nepal and SEA. And how Holi, a serious bucket list item of mine, was conveniently taking place a few weeks after I was due to complete the EBC trek. Who knew if the time and place would be this right in the future? And with that logic, India made the final cut as Month #2 of my 5-month journey. I finished up my time there by meeting some friends in Jaipur to celebrate the Holi festival – which, much like my entire time spent in India, can best be described as an intense experience. WHAT IS HOLI?! Holi is known as the Festival of Colors, an annual celebration of the coming of spring. It’s celebrated mainly in India and Nepal by throwing colored powder – with some music, dancing, and bonfires thrown in as well, depending on the town. One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to be a part of the local festivals. I’ve planned trips around these events and it’s always been an incredible experience. In my opinion, there’s no better way to get a feel of a place or culture. #bestislandtraveltowns#summervacation#urbanexplorer