Utsav Hotel Rajsamand

... great with an impressive palace from which we took a boat trip around the lake (on one of the boys' birthday) before heading up on a cable car to see this spectacular looking city from above. I'm afraid this is another one of those places I am going to have trouble describing. The pictures will do all my talking for me as you will see for yourself how the surrounding green mountains rest effortless next to the clinical white of the lake palaces and the glistening ...

... that night and watch them preparing our dinner. Feeling a bit queasy I stood at the back of the hot kitchen, trying to find a little fresh air. But as the stove really got going, I knew that I was going to be sick. I grabbed Al and rushed out of the room, searching for a good spot, desperate to find a toilet so that I could feel dignified. I made it to the toilets on the edge of the pool, unlit and home to ghekkos and ...

... e,g, the owner welcomed us and asked us almost immediately "have you seen the swimming pool?" Wow, if he is that proud of it to flag it up as a selling point so quickly, it must be good. NOPE! The pool water was dark dark green and had a very thick layer of something gloopy on the surface. Needlesss to say, our swimming stuff stayed dry. On a positive note ...

... more than what I had paid for, I accepted the key and called Chrissy and the driver in. We had a nondescript lunch in the hotel and then went for a walk around the small town to enjoy the famous frescoes. Mandawa was yet another nice small town to stroll around. We were soon joined on our walk by a couple of young boys who very excitedly wanted to practice their English. The older boy - "Green-Shirt" quickly sensed our coldness and promised me that he didn't want to sell ...

... of our money went directly to the villagers; he said that tourism provides jobs as all the staff at the Fort are locals. We also helped by buying our bottled water at a small shop in the village (it was three times the price at the Fort anyway!). That night we dressed up in traditional Indian outfits for dinner. The ladies wore sarees and us gents wore turbans, tunics and odd, see-through wrap-around pyjama bottoms with slits down the sides. Dinner was ...

... a day less to tie up affairs and loose ends. Considering I was leaving the country for two years, there were quite a few ends to tie up! Many thanks to my friend Anna for helping me exit the Manor flat, and even more for helping me cram two years worth of living material into one big back-pack! I marvel at my friends who can pack.. Anna, Claudia.. my mother is a good packer too, come to think of it. Waiting at ...

... walking the streets. We dropped our bags adn had our first Indian meal-thali which is lots of veggies and beans and sauces and naan which is like warm pita bread. Most Hindus are vegetarian and/or vegan so it is the perfect place to be a vegetarian! After lunch we took an autorickshaw up to see th Amber Palace which is this castle made of pink colored rock. It was beautiful. Then we rode up into the mountains and watched the sunset from the ...

... it as a toilet. Men try to get a feel of your ass. The seemingly softer desert earth turns out to have little stickers tucked away that snag your pants. And there is nowhere to look without seeing something you've never seen before. I loved it. But after the fourth day, I was anxious for everyone to clear the hell out. I actually had to take it really easy anyhow, since I got food poisoning on my third night in India. Slept for a full day, saw a doctor, and was ...

... or ten. Knowing Christian's financial prudence, this seemed acceptable. Unfortunately when Christian returned he confessed to donating 300 rupees - virtually our daily budget. With a lighter wallet we pressed on, and spent the next two days being dazzled and overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the Pushkar Fair. This included the famous closing ceremony involving two hours ...

... on to the next one they simply turned around and drove back to it. So, here we are on what I would deem a major highway, with a car driving right towards us. Vijay (the driver) of course just moved into the other lane to let it pass. Long drive to Pushkar. Spoke a bit with Vijay. He had the usual questions - are you married? where do you live? etc. Getting used to them by now but still don't understand why the first question is always 'are you married?'. At this ...