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Published: November 14th 2006
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Namaste everyone (for those uneducated few that's 'Hello" in Hindi),
Well where do I start, I've done so much since I last wrote, am backdating this entry as there is too much to all fit into one!! Since my last note we have been moving non stop all around Rajasthan. Still no sign of Fern Britton on her bicycle, Babs ask your contact at 'This Morning' to find out her route for me- although we only have a few days left in Rajasthan now...
I would like to add an apology here to the man from Delhi who keeps emailing me about my comments on the city. But i will politely decline your generous offer of coming back to stay with you. Thanks but no thanks.
After leaving Agra and our beloved Raj behind, we had yet another early start in order to cath a 6.30am bus To Jaipur, which is the capital of Rajasthan, and is known as 'Pink City'. We didn't have much planned for our one night stay here so we did a few tourist landmarks of museums and yet more forts (by this i mean, went in, took a photo and came out) and then
got driven around a few factories and shops. We then got told about a man who reads your Aura by just looking at you, he doesnt charge for it as he believes it is a gift and if he accepts money he will lose his power, so instead, he makes you wait in his jewellery shop and his 20 staff harass the granny out of you to buy something while you wait. Very ethical. I went in briefly to see him, and I'm not convinced, all he said is I worry too much, I think about things too much- both probably true, and a few more general statements that to be fair he only reached through questioning. So i made my excuses and left! In Jaipur we stayed in probably the nicest hotel so far, it had a TV and everything!! (god im starting to get homesick! on that note can someone tell me whats happening in Neighbours?)
The following day we treated ourselves to a lie in (well i slept like a log til 11am but Jo had woken up at 7am! haha) Had lunch in the hotel gardens and then got the afternoon bus on to Pushkar
which took a greulling 5 and a half hours. At this point common sense may tell some people that drinking a litre bottle of water during that journey was
probably not the best idea..., not me!! Hence not the most comfortable journey, and Jo slept the whole way! We arrived into Pushkar to a much more peaceful, relaxed atmosphere from the start. No tuk tuks are allowed here so we were excited about the peaceful nights and mornings, that thought didnt last long. Pushkar is a really holy, yet hippy place. There are over 400 temples, and I'm happy to say we did not make our way around them all! Here it is very strictly vegetarian, even to the extent that no eggs are allowed along with no alcohol, although slightly odd then that everyone is stoned out of their faces!! Of course we did not partake.
Our guest house for the next two nights was really high up, with amazing views from our window and balcony area over the lake. This was really relaxing and worth the extra money we had to pay. We also had a family on monkeys living on our balcony which kept us highly amused!
Although perhaps they couldve done with a lift or a bell boy to carry our backpacks! The stairs got so annoying we did debate moving the second night but we went to look around another guest house and when we saw that there was only one communal toilet (no en suites) and it was literally a hole in the ground, we decided we were better where we were! Day 2 in Pushkar was spent exploring the markets and aftermath of the camel fair - we missed it by 2 days which was really gutting! Much to Jo's annoyance I spent loads of money on things from the market, stupidly in hindsight as my backpack already barely closes, and i've ended up shipping things home! The funniest moment for me was walking down the market and the whole length of the road Jo was followed by this little boy who was serenading her with an Indian musical instrument (I think its a sitar?) she found it so embarassing as everyone was staring at her, i suppose me walking 10 feet behind her to maximise her embarassment and being doubled over howling with laughter didnt really help!! Got my come uppence on
Jaisalmer
Inside the fort the walk back when he started trying to do it to me though!! We had dinner in a rooftop restaurant over looking the lake before heading back for yet another early night! I woke the following morning at 5am to a repeated gong which chimed for 15 minutes, then was followed by about an hours chanting of what i can only assume was religious mantra's. For those who know what I am like in the morning, I couldve stuck that gong where the sun doesnt shine!
Then we had another fabulous 5 and a half hour bus journey to take us to Jodhpur. This journey seemed to take an eternity and the bus was crammed of letching smelly men- we couldn't run off fast enough when we reached Jodhpur! Jodhpur is known as the Blue City as many of the houses and buildings are painted blue, in the olden days it was for religious reasons but now people do it to also repel insects! We didnt allow ourselves long in Jodhpur, just one night, and we spent this walking around the MILLION shops selling textiles. I think I must be a salesmans dream as we found a shop that
Prince Charles had visited with Camilla a month or so ago when they were here, along with other A listers like Brad Pitt and Angelina and Richard Gere. Now if these people have bought something from here, surely it would be rude for me not to!! I bought a gorgeous silk duvet cover which cost the price of a small village, but it was worth it! (by now jo has washed her hands of me and my shopping addiction!!)
Which then brings me on the Friday the 10th when we caught yet another bus and yet another 5 and a half hour journey, to Jaisalmer. This was the most cramped bus ride ever, more leering men, and people sat in the aisle, and even one lady sharing my seat! rudeness. Spent the whole journey worrying about a cockroach which was stuck in the window next to my head in case he jumped out on me! But I would have to say my personal highlight had to be when the peasant sat in the seats above us spat out of their window, and it flew back in our window, hitting both Jo and I square on in the face. DELIGHTFUL.
Jaisalmer is a wierd little place. Its a huge fort with a village built inside it. We stayed here Friday night in a place called Temple View, the manager: Del Boy at first seemed like quite a nice guy, and we ended up booking our 2 night Camel Safari through his own private travel company 'Trotters Independant Travels!' That night he invited us to have dinner with him and the rest of the staff on the roof. This was really nice, we watched the sunset and had our first beers of the trip! The only negative about Temple View was the place was infested with lizards, which is apparantly good as they eat mosquito's, quite ironic then that this be the place that we received our first biteS!! (note plural!)
The following morning we were to wake for Jo's much anticipated camel safari. Believe me, I have heard her talk of nothing else.... I will continue on next blog!!
Namaste (this also doubles up as goodbye- i have a feeling I will have mastered this language by next week!)
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The spitting thing
loving the story about the spitting thing, made me laugh out loud, at least you didn't have to worry about your fake tan going streaky now you've got your real tan! del boy was a long way from home!