India & Thailand Luxury Vacation Review: Haridwar, Jaipur, Holi Festival, Phuket, Spice Market, Taj Mahel, Wildlife & Food

A few of the highlights (there were so many!) of our holiday were: The sunset Aarti in Haridwar, and the Hotel in Haridwar. The sunset ritual was magical and memorable, and we felt so fortunate to take part in it. The food at the restaurant in the hotel is beyond delicious! It is flavorful, satisfying and comforting. We are still talking about the yummy paprichard (spinach) dish. I wish they offered a cookbook in English.
Our day spent in Old Delhi was fantastic! We learned about Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism, which we found fascinating and thought provoking. The spice market-Wow! Another feast for the senses.
The Taj Mahal was absolutely majestic! The Taj was the impetus for us going to India in the first place, and it far surpassed every imagining and expectation we had.
The holi festival in Jaipur-We had SO MUCH FUN!! The hotel in Jaipur, where we celebrated holi, is a beautiful, serene refuge from the busy city, with delightful people on staff. We had the only room with a bathtub, which was sheer bliss for me.
The elephant tour was a dream come true. We feel like the luckiest people in the world having been up close to "Birdi," the new love of our lives.
The cooking demonstration at the hotel in Jaipur was a fun experience and we learned so much!
In Thailand, we spent a relaxing five days at the beach, at the spa, dining and golfing. One of the highlights for Sam was the kayaking experience in Phang Nga Bay. Having a chance to rest and reflect on our honeymoon, at the hotel in Phuket was the ideal way for us to conclude our vacation.