Blogs from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 8

Rajasthan; India’s desert state. It’s everything one might expect from a desert, especially at this time of year in the searing pre-monsoon heat which makes the land arid and void of colour. Nonetheless, Rajasthan is the most colourful state of all India, for the people paint the landscape here. Our train passed though many small settlements where the women and men alike appeared from a distance as many-coloured, iridescent marbles, reflecting light and drawing the interest of our foreign eyes. The saris and turbans are subject to careful colour coding relating to age, marital status, caste, mood and even season. Upon closer appraisal the married women wear florescent pink scarves, tucked at the waistband and hanging over their faces as a veil to protect from harshness of the Indian sun. Beneath the cloak is a crimson ... read more

ADINATHA JAIN TEMPLE & DRIVE TO JODHPUR. Saturday 24 March, 2012. We were collected from our hotel by Brave Loins and Mr Barun for the drive to our next overnight stop, Jodhpur. This was our first exposure to prolonged driving on the Indian roads. We left Udaipur and joined the toll road out of the city. The toll booth was a little primitive to say the least - no traffic light controls and electric barriers here. Labour is so cheap it is more economical to do it manually. One guy sits in the hut and takes the money. Then he signals to the boy who then drags the barrier (which is a large billboard mounted four wheels with STOP emblazoned on it in 50cm high letters) out of the way to let us pass. We only ... read more

Vor ungefähr 15 Jahren habe ich in meinem Horoskop in einer dämlichen Frauenzeitschrift gelesen, dass die Stadt, die angeblich am besten zu Personen mit meinem Sternzeichen passt, JODPHUR heisst. Ich hatte damals keinen blassen Schimmer wo diese exotisch klingende Stadt liegen könnte, aber bei der Planung unserer Reise habe ich mich komischerweise an diese persönliche Prophezeiung erinnert. Jetzt sind wir also in Jodphur; mal schauen was diese Stadt den Skorpionen und Nicht-Skorpionen dieser Welt so zu bieten hat. Zuallererst Hitze, einen prima Wechselkurs für den Euro und ein nettes Haveli- Hotel mit Swimmingpool direkt am Fuße des riesigen Forts, das auf einem 120 m hohen Hügel über der Stadt thront. Als dann noch das vorzügliche Mittagessen auf der Dachterrasse unseres Haveli mit "Fort-View" serviert wird, kommt Jodphur meiner Vorstellung vom Himmel schon recht nah, vorallem da ... read more

10.00 Hours Thursday 08 March It’s HOLI. So were do we start. There are all kinds of preparations already done as I come down stairs. Loads of food and sweets. Lots of colored power everywhere. And then it just kicks off with people throwing the powder everywhere and I mine everywhere. All over any one that moves no matter if in the house or out. Oh and there’s a lot of water thrown about to make the colour stick I did cover myself in oil before hand to try to ease the clear up job. There is an awful lot of alcohol – Beer, Whiskey and Rum to mention a few. You have to drink it the Indian way I am told, that’s from the bottle that someone else holds. Anyway we did a not so ... read more

08.00 Wednesday 07 March After a late night to bed it's up early to check the guesthouse over. I made a good choice following on from the great arrival welcome last night, I have a big room with double bed a sheet and blanket. Doors on to a verandah and a table and some chairs. Also a large attached bathroom with plenty of hot water. I am given the usual soap , 2 big towels and toilet paper. Down to breakfast of cornflakes , eggs on toast and chai. The guesthouse is 30 minutes walk to the centre of the town (The Clock Tower). I make my way over the railway footbridge and dismiss the rick drivers on the other side and carry on walking towards town. I walk through the markets to the far side ... read more