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Published: December 12th 2008
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Sheila Dikshit....
Watch this name. She is the current Chief Minister of Rajastahn and is looking like being the next leader of the BJP, so potentially could be India's next Prime Minister. Only in India can a Dikshit be the next Prime minister. Although i would say NZ's current Prime Minister would be more appropriately suited to a name like Dikshit.
Anway on to Jodphur....
THe blue city has been fantastic. All the houses are washed with a blue indigo in the old city so hence the name. Wandering round the maze of old streets is an adventure. I eventually found a shop that had what I wanted. A Dhurri. A dhurri is a blanket they wear to keep warin the winter. Basically wrap a blanket around you and through it over your shoulder and your ready for a cold night. I reckon this fashion would be good in the volitile climate of NZ. Only problem is that one of those Populist homeless Johnny come lately's in Wellington has destroyed this fashion goldmine.
The Meherangarh fort which is the main site in Jodphur was truely spectacular. Perched on a rocky highside, not surprisingly it's walls have never
been breached. Even more interesting was the history of the Rajput's. Truely a mostachuoed society where men were of honour, lived and died by the sword in protection of the Maharaja.
We also checked the Maharaja's current palace which is on the opposite side of town. The garden was lovely and the museum was mildly interesting. THe museum consisted of his collection of classic cars, a big-up to the Jodphur Polo team, and photo's with other royals who hold no power such as Prince Charles. I guess thats what you do when you a hereditry title with no power and loads of money.
Today we went out the Maharaja's burial ground outside of Jodphur which was nice and peaceful. It also had a little fairground for 5 rupees entry. THe rides were similar to ones found on that Father TEd episode, so was quite a surreal experience.
Next we are off to Jaipur and then on to Rishikesh, where the BEatles spent a bit of time in '68 and came up with the White Album. Let's see what inspiration waits there....
Jodphur.
That bus ride ranks as one of the worst we've had. But
one thing I can say: Indian people most definitely DO get food poisoning too it is not just our weak western stomachs. Given the number of people rising and falling out of their seats like pistons, so they could empty their guts down the side of the bus, I would say they all purchased some dodgy street food at one of the hundreds of bus stops we made. However I do not wish to linger on this memory as it really was revolting. Ben was in the window seat and not 5 minutes earlier he had his window open. Things could have been MUCH worse.
Anyway, Jodphur has a gigantic fort on the hill. This was easily the best castle/fort thing I have ever seen. There are handprints of 5 or more wives that threw themselves onto their husband's pyre to save their disgrace at being widowed. Standing on the ramparts made me feel like an ant and you could totally imagine all the canons going off and the noise it would have made.
Rajastani people are hard core - the men preferred to die in battle than come home disgraced and the women saw it as their duty to
follow their husbands to death even after the British outlawed it. The area around Jodphur was called Marwar or "Land of Death". Pleasant huh?
The town surrounding Mehangarth Fort is blue and very peaceful - in colour that is. Out on the roads the beeps and engines all whirr around in the same crazy Indian way.
That's all I have to say about Jodphur. I've really enjoyed it here - the people are nice, intelligent, well spoken and helpful and it's been good.
I do have an observation to make about India right now which has been noted visibly in Jodphur:
Do not walk around after dark in Indian cities. If you don't end up walking into a Bovine you undoubtedly will slide through a serious pile of animal waste. If you are particularly lucky the sliding motion will carry you into an open sewer of which you will be blissfully unaware until it is too late because most of the streets are pitched into thick darkness. You have been warned...
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