A promise fulfilled.....

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Almost the moment we left the outskirts of Jaipur and entered the surrounding countryside I felt myself relax and inspiration return. I sat staring out of the window absolutely enchanted. The landscape stretched out flat for as far as the eye could see, criss-crossed by electricity and telephone cables, flashes of vivid green irrigated land appearing every now and then, in stark contrast to the grey/ golden sandy soil and hardy looking stumpy trees. It completely lived up to my exspectations; road side truck stops dripping with tinsel, women dressed in brightly coloured sari's carrying heavy loads on thier heads or tending the fields (pink neon is definitely in this season!), men dressed in white with orange and red turbans, sitting under the trees, in the cafes, drinking chai and chatting animatedly.

As I watched the sun set, the peace broken by the various types of horns sounding and the Indian music blaring out from the tractors and trucks, the landscape changed, bluegums and palm trees appeared, nomadic tents were pitched along the roadside, with children playing in the dried up river beds and deep gullys carved out by the monsoon rains.

Finally in the darkness, we turned a corner and the lights of Bundi appeared in the valley below; but I was transfixed by the fairy like palace that towered above the town, glowing golden in the spotlights. I couldn't stop myself from smiling and it got better; I'd booked to stay in an old Haveli and my little room was perfect, lots of alcoves, painted with flowers and adorned with peacock fans. What more could a girl ask for.

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Comments

[David]

Hmmm
That's one thing you see in any country west of Paris, women doing all the actual work men hanging out like Asbo teenagers. And of course they'll want their tea on the table when they get home too. I'm moving...