DAY 24 - a night of dressing up and dancing while staying in a former fort

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Can't think we are a week into October already. Didn't manage to sleep well last night. Throat was sore and kept waking up really sweaty but feeling cold. The bus was much better today - actually just walked on and sat down. Plus the seats were much more comfortable. Managed to just chill out with my ipod and actually enjoyed the rest. The jeep journey up to the former fort we are staying in was bumpy but enjoyable and the heritage hotel is wonderful. Every room is different and ours is in a tower/turret with Peter and Susan nex door in a beautiful room with a gorgeous bathroom.

After a royal Rajput welcome, we had a nice lunch when we arrived then chilled out on top of one of the towers, enjoying the view. Then went on a walk through the village where we met locals and saw the work they do and the school. Kids started working on the fabric stuff, sewing sequins etc. around age 5! Saw people doing that, making beads that they shaped on a grindstone then made really nice necklaces from them. Also saw a guy making bobbins of thread, which a girl then used on a loom which we could hear working from the fort. Got annoyed at some kids that tried to pull my skirt down - but the rest were sweet. We passed a girl making bangles on the way back and I bought a few. There were also some kids with a really cute baby goat.

After we scrambled back up to the fort, we went up to on of the towers and had a drink while watching the sunset - was really nice and chilled out. Then all the girls (except Susan who still really isn't well) went down to meet a local woman who dressed us all up in saris and we took pictures. I got changed before dinner as I always spil, but the others all kept them on and were doing some pre dinner dancing with the guys that work here, while a few of the other staff played music. Sarah decided to join in by taking up the cymbals for them and later asked via Sanjay if she could join the band but they seemed confused and a bit scared, particularly when she said they could take it global - not sure they realised she was joking.

Dinner was okay, nothing special, but I managed not to spill so could have stayed dressed up after all. Just as well I didn't eat too much because I ended up doing some post dinner dancing and everyone else got up again too - including Peter, and Susan went to bed.

After much dancing and chatting and Peter getting a turban, we attempted to sleep. It was quite a small room with low ceilings and the heat was horrible - very stuffy. The fan and stand alone unit was really just blowing hot air around and the unit was really noisy on 'windy' setting. We ended up going outside onto the terrace with our sleep sheets, a bed sheet and pillows, to cool off. Listened to music and watched some great lightening that surrounded us far in the distance - stunning sheets that really lit up the sky. While we were out we left the fan unit on 'windy' in an attempt to cool things down. After a few hours outside we were cooled and just about tired enough to fall asleep quickly, so went back inside and managed to get a bit of sleep, leaving the A/C unit on 'windy'.

General thoughts for today

• a great day, stuffy night, but one we wont forget
  
• sad to see children having to work
  

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