Inn Season Jodhpur

It was time to leave Jaipur. Actually, I&#8217;d overstayed. The party I&#8217;d been to wasn&#8217;t going to be bettered, and I&#8217;d had my fill of sightseeing, and free chai, albeit temporarily. Besides, the pollution was burning my throat and I was tiring, slightly, of my feet constantly looking like I&#8217;d been down a coal mine.<br> Incidentally, Suni&#8217;s &#8220;girls&#8221; turned out to be Suni&#8217;s &#8220 ...

... landscape of Rajasthan unfold. We passed through numerous farming villages, where the residents made their money by planting and harvesting grain. Needless to say these people were living in absolutely dire conditions, but nevertheless as we drove past with our windows open, seldom would I not hear a "Namaste" or see a grinning face and friendly wave. We came to our first stop at around midday - Kumbhalgarh fort. This stunning 15th century ...

... if that's true but I do know that it makes this city beautiful to look at. A huge fort that looks like it was built into a mountain towers above the city. The fort itself is beautiful as well. <br><br>Our rickshaw driver seems to be in a particular hurry and was driving so fast in the alleyways that he managed to startle a cow, it actually lifted its leg out of the way for the rickshaw. There's something I've never seen before! <br>The rickshaw could ...

... for a break (I ended up purchasing a Learn Hindi book!) and then stopped at a place (Haveli) for lunch, which I didn't think was much good, and overpriced compared to where we had been. We then only had a couple more hours on the bus before arriving in the city (clearly that) of Jodhpur via the Jodhpur "Bye Pass." :) On arriving in the city, it reminded me a bit of Delhi, in that it was so incredibly full of people, vehicles, and noise. The hotel we stayed at was ...

... but you're higher up. Very high up, actually. They have reigns attatched to a spike through their nose, which sounds cruel but if you ever try to control one you'll understand why. They are very obstinate, but also fairly boring, mostly they just plod along. We set off through the desert. Jess and I chatted with Tiger, which was extremely interesting. He's 24. He was married when he was 14, his wife is the same age as him. They had their ...

... one day, that will be more than plenty of time on a camel, but I was planning on ignoring them, so this way I can wait and see! And the hotel owner is really nice, I think over the last few days I started assuming that everyone was trying to cheat me which is not good, though possibly true :) but I've met several really friendly helpful people here today, and its lovely. Though a few annoying ones too. So, over the last few days. ON the 17th, I took a 'deluxe' bus ...

... you may tour the stable on the premises, which houses 10 Marwari horses. Time permitting, take one of these horses through its paces. After returning to Jodhpur via motor coach late this afternoon, you may end your day with an optional guided walk around your palace hotel and its museum, or tour the maharajah's private vintage-car collection and take a spin in one of the beautifully preserved automobiles. (That's more my style. Cole should ...

... showed us around. Met a great cobler who made Rajesthanie shoes, we decided to buy 5 pairs (I asked if he did buy 1 get1 free but he just looked at me with a blank expression!). Moved onto Bikaner - it has a great Fort but its a smelly city with open sewers. However we ate the best Rasmali here and only cost Rps 30 each! Then to Jaisalmer (Golden City) - another Fort, Jain Temples and Havelis ...

... I have enormous respect for some of the day to day aspects of the world's religions - Islam's unswerving hospitality, Buddhism's moderation in all things - are good practical codes of conduct. But rat-worship, incessant noise and pilgrimages to former quarries call to mind Monty Python's "Life of Brian". Such bizarre habits surely arose in whimsical, coincidental fashions, no? Did God(s) Almighty really decree that rodent saliva was the ultimate tonic? Laura the cynic