Fine and dandy like cotton candy

I'm in Mandu! You know? Mandu! Oh... you don't know about Mandu? Well, its very pleasant. Mandu is one of many hill stations in India. Hill stations are mainly what remains of old walled cities and their ajoining fortresses, palaces, etc. Mandu, while not as amazing as the ruins above Bundi are pretty fantastic. I'm always amazed how walking 5 minutes off a main road will land you in a place deviod of tourists and sporting amazing structures, views, and local people. Its a testement to the fact that when people travel, they don't often explore as much as they could. Of course, this isn't a blanket statement. I've met plenty of people willing to throw caution into the wind and trudge through wild areas, although not lately. This is a little sad because it would be nice to have a company when exploring the depths of a tomb of ancient palace. I will admit without hesitation that when I am alone, its difficult to go really deep within a pitch dark inner maze of rooms in a building that has been slowly collapsing for the last 300 years. Oh well.

I'm famous... well not really, but from the attention that I get in India you would think everyone knew me by name. Yesterday I was riding and a group of men surrounded me, which is not altogether uncommon. What made the experience really funny is one of the men pulled out a piece of paper and pen and asked for my autograph. One of his friend turned to him and said "you mean address?". The man with pen and paper in response said "no, no, no, I want his autograph". So, I gave my very first autograph. The whole situation was beyond funny, having reached some trancendant level of humor I can only begin to fathom. Today as I explored a crumbling tomb, a young man kept screaming across the valley at me "I love you". There really isn't any response for that one, at least that I could come up with of the top of my head.

I'm taking a lot of really boring pictures. I can't stop myself.

The fact that I'm travelling has finally started to seem mundane. Crazy things happen and I'm usually prepared for them. You could say that I've come to terms with expecting the unexpected, which is a new one for me.

The motorcycle is grand. Its like riding a bicycle in fast foward. I will post a more indepth entry when I find cheaper internet. Bye for now.