Hotel Vishnupriya Udaipur

... wineglasses, even lawn sprinklers made of pure crystal are on view. There are also a few green and blood-red items from Birmingham and Murano, and a hideous bejewelled carpet supposedly worth many millions. As an example of royalty, this collection is hard to beat.


Vintage cars
About 2 km away from the City Palace complex is the ...

... quite exhausting. The couple of days I spend in the area, I visit the villages of Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Fatehpur, Mahansar and Ramgarh using local public transport. It becomes an odissey that tests one's nerves and pacience. I spend more time sitting down in buses than visiting havelis, and it comes as no surprise that after 12 hours (more than 9 in some sort of transport system) and an appalling sun I am totally knackered and wishing to go back to the official circuit.

... s armies!! The area around the main fort was lovely but the interior was a little disappointing. It was quite plain, apart from a small temple in its central courtyard and elephant friezes around the bottom of the rooms. There were stunning views from the upper floor windows with a terrific breeze through one of the typical Islamic windows.

We moved on to Ranakpur, where we were met by the incredible Jain temple, 90kms north of Udaipur. Using white marble, a ...

... I ask the waiter if Indian people like baked beans for breakfast. He said no, it is for the American tourists. I still have not seen anyone eating these beans. After a beanless breakfast we meet Rampal for a trip to the Udaipur City Palace. The largest palace in Rajasthan, the City Palace covers over 5 acres of ground and actually is a collection of several different palaces, built or added to by the 22 different majaranas ...

... I am in heaven!! I have also been to an Indian party and become seriously addicted to lassi ( the wonderful kurd that they eat here, not the American dog). It continues to be hot, so we are off to Dungarpur this afternoon for a night - Vivian and I stayed there last time when we visited India and with this heat, I am really looking forward to the infinity pool!! More when I return.....

... across the way. Then we went back, the price having been negotiated, and they began the process. At times it was difficult holding my arms in various contorted positions so the 12th grader (named Priya) could write/work on them, but in the end, it was an absolute masterpiece. *picture* She even put my future husband's initial on it, hidden in the design. Yes, apparently to have full-arm mehndi is something that brides typically do before marriage. Didn't need to ...

... the Middle East - it's come in handy on so many occasions - as a pillow, shelter from the sun in the desert, cover-up for temples, a belt, and curtains to block out the sun on the early morning bus trips. 2. iPods - for those long, long bus journeys between towns. 3. The family size Chicken El Rancho pizza with extra cheese that gave us such guilty pleasure in Jodhpur. THUMBS DOWN: 1. The blue with silver thread skirt Antonia convinced Caroline to buy at ...

... we thought and alot longer than we thought! due to the fact the 1st atm didnt work and there was a traffic jam on the narrow st. we were walking back to the hotel, when ahead of us we saw anna and amanda. we knew they were unaware of our pressence so decided to play a little prank. we sped up behind them where tamsin grbbed amandas bum as lou snatched her handbag!!!! you should have heard her scream, attracted quite some attention eeeeeeeeeeeeeveryone stared...and this time not cause ...

... or snack, or the given mechanical problems. I met a really nice girl who invited us to her brothers wedding. We didn't make it, but learned so much about the event. It's hard to imagine but there was to be 2000 people there and the event lasts a week. Marriages are still arranged for most hindis and she was excitedly waiting for her parents to pick her husband. She was very bright, very modern and finishing her MBA, she was interested in our marriage as well ...