Apex International Jodhpur

... size and Martin joins in the rush and takes his shoes and socks off and is modelling flip flops like a native. I don't think they were used to foreigners, as no one seemed to speak English but they were happy to see us and tried to sell Martin a traditional shirt. Getting out while we were ahead we turn our thoughts to hats.
Now although the daytime is warm, even hot, the nights are surprisingly chilly, and the locals are wearing cardis and jumpers ...

... late afternoon for our last destination for the day - Mandore gardens. This place is almost like in ruins but has a nice collection of old temples built early period. The intricate sculptures are comparable to those of Mt. Abu, only difference being that these are sandstone structures.

We did some shopping on our way to the hotel - Jodhpur's special saris Bandhanis and hand embroidaries.

... because there were no nets on the windows we were mosquito dinner and are now covered in really attractive red lumps. Nice! We sat outside in the shade to have our breakfast – the rain had only just stopped so everything was still wet but it was lovely to sit there because it was still cooler than sitting inside. It is lovely here, just too damn hot!

After breakfast we set off on our 6 hour drive to ...

... She is immediately likeable for the twinkle in her eye and the smile. She shows us into her house, passing a large Popsicle maker and freezer. She is also the local ice cream dealer and probably has the only freezer in town. She is joined by her cute young daughter of about 17 years, who inherited her mother's smile. Communication is difficult because they speak only Bishnoi and Hindi although a few of the younger kids had ...

... them sweets from a very deep pocket) demonstrated his persona most aptly. Our first and main visit for the day was to the Meherangarth Fort. This is one of the largest forts in India and is built upon a natural rock outcrop from an otherwise flat landscape. This is a very impressive fortress but it has not always been successfully defended. The fort contains several palaces which have been added to over the centuries. It is still ...

... to the lake to pray for their families and futures, it used to be filled with man eating crocs who would pick off pilgrims as they worshiped but they have been relocated apparently). the hassle we got on the side of the lake bordered on sexual assault so we decided to view it from the safety of a roof top restaurant. After buying myself some Ali Baba pants in blue and Orange/Red (one of each not both together) we decide that we had to kill some time and Jess graciously ...

... with everyone else asleep, and my bed one of the higher bunks i actually had to stumble out of the bathroom and lie down on the train floor which just goes to show how close to fainting i was. Once Kels was awake she took very good care of me and i stole half her bed for the rest of the night. When the episode recurred again in the morning another person on the train offered me some 'medication' it was wrapped in paper and it looked alot like ...

... said that the fort was the "creation of angels and fairies and giants." It is huge and was built in 1459 out of red sandstone. We saw the ladies areas, where the maharaja kept 64 wives, and also the bedroom where he met his wives. It had a huge fan that someone had to pull over his bed. We also saw howdahs, which are the things on elephants backs used to carry people, and also palanquins, which were used to carry people - it took at least six ...

We Couldn't wait to get out of Mt Abu, it was a very damp town on top of a mounting, the hotel was damp and only had squat toilets ( Maja was not best pleased). The only redeeming feature was that we had a good days trek and sore lots of monkeys but luckily no bears. The bus journey was from hell, it started with someone in our seats so the driver tried to kick them off but it end in a fight, the he drove like he had just stole it and to cap it all the back tyre blew out and the bus went ...

... long, with the 6th meter constituting the paloo i described earlier. after buying a new sari, one must purchase a fall, a length of fabric about 5 inches wide and 4 feet long and of the same color as the sari, to be sewn into the opposite end as the paloo, weighting the bottom of the sari so that it doesn't fly up while walking. underneath the sari, aside from the regular undergarments one would wear under any outfit, there is also a petticoat, a long cotton ...